Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. (Sept. 3) -- Senior Ryan Dyer (University Place/Life Christian Academy) blocked a 48-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the game to preserve Central Washington University's 13-10 football victory over host Minnesota Duluth on Thursday night at James S. Malosky Stadium.

Playing in front of a crowd of 5,389 at the stadium and, for the first time ever, a national television audience on CBS College Sports, the ninth-ranked Wildcats improved to 2-0 on the season. They also snapped the second-ranked Bulldogs' 17-game win streak with the win. UMD, the defending NCAA Division II national champion, is now 1-1 on the season.

Dyer's blocked field goal was the second blocked three-point attempt in the second half by the Wildcat special teams. Junior Eugene Germany (Pomona, Calif.) blocked a 23-yard attempt by David Nadeau with six seconds left in the third quarter, keeping the game tied at 10-10 at the time.

Central scored the game-winning field goal with 4:13 remaining, as senior Garrett Rolsma (University Place/Curtis HS) drilled a 24-yard attempt to put the Wildcats in front 13-10. That three-pointer culminated a time-consuming 13-play, 69-yard drive that ate up more than six and a half minutes of game clock.

The Wildcats drew first blood on the scoreboard in the opening half. After holding the Bulldogs to a three-and-out on the first possession of the game, Central went 52 yards on 10 plays with Rolsma booting a 36-yard field goal with 8:08 left in the first quarter. Minnesota Duluth responded with an 80-yard drive that Isaac Odim capped off with a two-yard scoring run, and the Bulldogs took a 7-3 lead in to the second quarter.

UMD added onto its lead in the second quarter with a 20-yard field goal by Nadeau. The Bulldogs had taken the ball to the one-yard line before being stopped twice for no gain and another time for a two-yard loss from there, which forced the field goal attempt.

As was the case in the season opener at Mesa State last Saturday, Central started with the football to open the second half and scored on its first drive -- again with redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Robertson (Sammamish/Eastlake HS) connecting to senior Johnny Spevak (Edgewood/Puyallup HS) on a six-yard score with 10:55 left. The score was Spevak's 44th career receiving touchdown, setting a new school record, and Rolsma's extra-point extended his record streak to 68 straight PATs made.

Germany's blocked field goal on the next possession helped a marathon UMD drive go for naught. The Bulldogs used better than 12 1/2 minutes of game time and charted 18 offensive plays before Germany swatted Nadeau's field goal attempt and swung the momentum in the Wildcats' favor.

Neither team scored on its first drive of the fourth quarter, but Rolsma gave Central the lead with his field goal and the Wildcats prevailed with a fourth-down stop and the aforementioned game-ending blocked field goal.

Robertson completed 21 of 30 passes for 155 yards in his second career start, while senior Cole Morgan (Seattle/Ballard HS) also played under center by going 1-for-3 for minus-1 yards passing. He also had a crucial 15-yard carry on third down during his only offensive series late in the first half.

Senior Randall Eldridge (Lynnwood) led the Wildcats in rushing for the second straight week, totaling 65 yards on 15 carries.

On defense, senior Buddy Wood (Chattaroy/Riverside HS) led Central with nine tackles. Senior Prince Hall (Moreno Valley, Calif.), who made his first Wildcat start, added seven tackles including two tackles for losses. Dyer, who added four tackles to his blocked field goal, was credited with the Wildcats' lone quarterback sack while finishing with 1 1/2 tackles for losses.

Minnesota Duluth, which had not lost since a 31-14 decision against North Dakota on Oct. 27, 2007, was led by Odim, who totaled 120 rushing yards on 25 carries. Chase Vogler, who relieved injured starter Jon Lynch in the first quarter, finished 13 of 22 passing for 126 yards. Robbie Aurich (13 tackles) and Brandon Wood (10 tackles), led the UMD defense.

Central returns home to Tomlinson Stadium for back-to-back home games beginning next Saturday (Sept. 12) against nationally-ranked West Texas A&M in a rematch of last year's first-round NCAA Division II playoff game. The Wildcats will then take on Azusa Pacific on Sept. 19. Both games are scheduled to start at 1 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.