CWU FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Central Washington University Wildcats (4-3, 3-1 GNAC)
vs. Western Oregon University Wolves (4-2, 3-1 GNAC)
Date: Saturday, October 16, 2010
Time: 6 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time
Site: Qwest Field (FieldTurf; 67,000 capacity), Seattle, Wash.
All-Time Series: Central Washington leads 27-16
Last Meeting: CWU 20, WOU 6 (Nov. 7, 2009 at Monmouth, Ore.)
Buy Tickets: Click here or buy at the gate
Game Notes: Download
Television: None
Radio: KXLE-AM 1240 (Ellensburg)
Live Stats: Click here
Live Audio: Click here
Video Stream: TBD
GAME OVERVIEW: EXPANDED
• Central Washington returns to Great Northwest Athletic Conference play this week with Battle in Seattle VIII versus Western Oregon. The Wildcats stepped out of GNAC play to face Southern Oregon last week, but will now begin the second half of the eight-game league schedule with the first of their two meetings in 2010 against WOU.
• The Wildcats have won 12 consecutive meetings with Western Oregon, and lead the all-time series by a 27-16 count. Central's last loss to the Wolves was a 14-2 decision nine years ago (Oct. 14, 2001) in Monmouth, although the two schools have had some great barn-burners over the recent years. Last season, CWU needed a last-second field goal to defeat WOU in Seattle before beating the Wolves 20-6 in Monmouth to close out the regular season. In 2008, the Wildcats earned seven-point wins in both of the meetings between the two schools.
• The Wildcats are 6-2 all-time at Qwest Field, including a 6-1 record in previous Battle in Seattle games. Central is making its second trip of the season to the home of the Seattle Seahawks, having dropped a 35-32 decision to Division I Eastern Washington at the Showdown on the Sound on Sept. 11. In previous Battles in Seattle, CWU won five of six games played against Western Washington University before the Vikings eliminated their football program after the 2008 season, and the Wildcats then claimed a thrilling come-from-behind win over Western Oregon last fall.
• With this week's game, the Wildcats will have played more games at Qwest Field than any other university in the stadium's nine-year history. Central's eight previous games at Seahawks Stadium/Qwest Field is currently tied with Washington State University as the most games played by one school at the facility. Eighteen different schools have played at least one game at Qwest, and Western Oregon will join CWU, WSU, and Western Washington (six) to have visited the stadium on more than one occasion.
• This week's game is the final game away from Tomlinson Stadium for CWU in 2010. The Wildcats will have three home games and an open date over the final four weeks of the regular season, squaring off against Humboldt State (Oct. 23), Simon Fraser (Nov. 6) and then Western Oregon (Nov. 13) in Ellensburg. Central played its final out-of-state game on Oct. 2, falling to Humboldt State, 25-24, in Arcata, Calif. The Wildcats finished with a 2-1 record outside the state of Washington this season, marking the fewest such games since 2005.
• Central has not lost consecutive Great Northwest Athletic Conference games since the league's inaugural season in 2001. The Wildcats enter this week's game on the heels of the one-point loss at Humboldt State two weeks ago, which snapped a 28-game winning streak in GNAC games and a streak of 34 straight wins over GNAC opponents. In 2001, CWU dropped its first two GNAC games and finished the three-game conference slate with a 1-2 record. Since that season, however, Central has a 33-3 record in GNAC games. And although the Wildcats have not lost consecutive GNAC contests in nine years, that is not the last time they lost consecutive league games. In 2006, CWU lost its final two North Central Conference games to Minnesota State and Nebraska-Omaha as it wrapped up the first of a two-year stint in the now-defunct conference.
• CWU has a 27-2 record in the month of October over the past seven season. The month of October has, by far, been the most successful for Central Washington football in its recent history. Dating back to the 2004 season, the Wildcats have won 93.1 percent of their games in the month of October. Over the same time span, Central has a 19-9 record (67.9 percent) in the month of September and a 9-5 mark (64.3 percent) in the month of November.
• Aided largely by its current 12-game winning streak against Western Oregon, Central Washington has won its last 14 football games against teams from the state of Oregon. In addition to the win streak against WOU, Central also has win over Eastern Oregon (Oct. 9, 2004) and Southern Oregon (last week) since its last loss against a school from the Beaver State. Included among that streak is eight consecutive home wins against visitors from Oregon.
• Three of Central's coaches—including head coach
Blaine Bennett—coached previously at Western Oregon. Bennett spent six years as a head coach (and nine years total) at the Monmouth school. Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator
Joe Lorig and linebackers coach/special teams coordinator
Stacy Collins both played for and were assistant coaches under Bennett at WOU, and both earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the school. In addition, Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations
Jonathan Gordon is a 2001 graduate of WOU.
• Bennett has a 4-0 all-time record against Western Oregon, having swept both previous season series against his former employer. He is also in search of his 27th win as Central Washington's head coach this Saturday against the Wolves, which, if accomplished this week, would come in his 33rd game leading the Wildcats. Bennett finished his six-year tenure as Western Oregon's head coach with 27 wins in 59 career games.
• Central has a 6-3 all-time record on Oct. 16, including two wins in as many contests versus WOU on the date. The two wins over the Wolves on Oct. 16 were both Homecoming games in Ellensburg—a 24-14 in the Evergreen Conference opener in 1982, and a 25-13 decision in 2004.
CENTRAL NOTES
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PITCHING A SHUTOUT: Central Washington's defense held Southern Oregon to 112 yards of total offense as the Wildcats earned their first shutout victory since the 2009 season opener with a 27-0 win over the Raiders last Saturday at Tomlinson Stadium. Central forced Southern into punts on 10 of its 11 possessions, and the Raiders' best scoring opportunity—and their only trip into the red zone—resulted in a missed 35-yard field goal. The last CWU shutout was a 10-0 decision at Mesa State on Aug. 29, 2009, and Central has posted seven shutouts over the past seven seasons (including at least one each year from 2004-07 and one in each of the past two campaigns).
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CAREER-BEST DAY FOR ROBERTSON: While the Central defense was busy keeping Southern Oregon off the field, sophomore QB
Ryan Robertson (Sammamish/Eastlake HS) was busy having a career-best passing day on the gridiron. Robertson tied his career-high for pass completions while setting new career-best marks for passing yards and completion percentage in the Wildcats' 27-0 win over the Raiders. He completed 29 of 38 passes (76.3 percent) for 322 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, helping Central to its best single-game passing total since the 2008 NCAA Division II playoffs. For the year, Robertson has completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 1,326 yards and eight touchdowns.
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IMPRESSIVE DEBUTS FOR TWO WILDCATS: Although it was the seventh game of the season, Central Washington had two players make their Wildcat debuts last week against Southern Oregon. True freshman
Levi Taylor (Spokane/Lewis and Clark HS) and senior transfer
NaDerris Ward (Oakland, Calif./McClymonds HS) both had impressive performances in their first time on the field this season, as Taylor led CWU with 106 all-purpose yards and Ward had two receptions for 37 yards against the Raiders. Taylor had been the Wildcats' number three running back for the first six games but was pressed into service with senior
Bryson Kelly (Mukilteo/Kamiak HS) out of the lineup due to injury. He responded with 62 receiving yards on six catches and 44 rushing yards on 10 carries. Ward, who transferred to CWU mid-season from the University of Oregon, started as part of a two-tight end set and made his first catch on a fake field goal in the first quarter. He later added a 29-yard reception—the Wildcats' longest play from scrimmage in the contest.
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GAISIE ADDS RECEIVING TO HIS RÉSUMÉ: Junior
Dominique Gaisie (West Covina, Calif./Bishop Amat HS) added pass receiving to his statistical résumé last week against Southern Oregon, catching two passes for nine yards. Gaisie, who has been listed exclusively as a defensive back and kick/punt returner this season, took the field on offense versus the Raiders and was one of eight pass-catchers for Ryan Robertson in the game. In addition to his newest exploits as a pass-catching threat, Gaisie ranks third among CWU defensive backs with 20 tackles, having made six starts at cornerback this season. As a returner, he has 16 of Central's 19 punt returns this year and has overtaken senior
Chris Smith (San Diego, Calif./Helix HS) for the team lead in kickoff returns as well (Gaisie has 15 for 323 yards).
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MANY DIFFERENT PASSERS, PASS-CATCHERS: With four regular-season games remaining this season, Central Washington has already utilized a large number of different passers and pass receivers in 2010. The Wildcats have had five different players attempt at least one pass, while 16 others have at least one reception. In comparison to recent years, this marks the first time since 1997 that CWU will have at least five players attempting a pass (and the fifth time in the past 20 years). As far as receivers are concerned, the 16 different pass-catchers are tied for the second-most since 1991, outdone only by 17 different receivers in 12 games during the 2008 campaign.
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DAVIS' KICKING FRENZY: Sophomore K
Sean Davis (Federal Way/Todd Beamer HS) continues to leave a remarkable impact on the scoreboard with each and every game he plays. Since taking over the team's kicking duties (for field goals and extra points) in week three against Eastern Washington, Davis has made 9 of 10 field goals and all 11 of his extra-point attempts, totaling 38 points over that span (7.6 points per game). He now trails RB Bryson Kelly by just 10 points for the team scoring lead and, with one more game played at this current pace, he would rank sixth in the NCAA Division II in field goals per game. In breaking down Davis' field-goal efficiency this season, he is 8 for 8 between 20 and 49 yards while splitting his two attempts from 50 yards this season.
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GNAC INDIVIDUAL LEADERS: The duo of Bryson Kelly and Sean Davis rank one-two in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in scoring with 8.0 and 7.6 points per game, respectively. Kelly fell to third in rushing yards despite not playing last week, but he still leads the GNAC in rushing touchdowns, and Davis is tops in the league with nine field goals made. Quarterback Ryan Robertson is tops in the conference with a 63.9 percent completion percentage and 1,326 total passing yards. Dominique Gaisie is the conference leader in total kick returns and total punt returns, while LB
Adam Bighill (Montesano) leads the league in interception return yards (66). Defensively, senior DT
Eugene Germany (Pomona, Calif.) has a conference-best six sacks and 9.5 tackles for losses—both of which rank him among the NCAA Division II national leaders.
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GNAC TEAM LEADERS: Thanks to a stout defensive performance last Saturday against Southern Oregon, Central Washington took over the GNAC lead in total defense (291.9 yards per game) and improved upon its top mark for rushing defense (99.6 yards per game). The Wildcat special teams lead lead the conference in kickoff coverage (43.7 net yards per kickoff), field goal percentage (73.3 percent), and extra-point percentage (100.0 percent), and the defense is tops in quarterback sacks (14). Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the football, Central Washington is tops in the GNAC in first downs per game (21.0), time of possession (32:24 per game) and red zone scoring efficiency (85.2 percent).
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NATIONAL RANKING SUCCESS: Although no longer ranked in the NCAA Division II national polls, Central has had a successful run in the national polls since becoming a NCAA member prior to the 1999 season. The Wildcats own a 41-11 all-time record (78.8 percent) when ranked among the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) top 25, including the program's first-ever number one ranking in the nation at the end of the 2009 regular season.
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TEAM CAPTAINS: Three seniors and a junior were selected as team captains for the 2010 season. Taking on the captaincy role for the Wildcats this season are seniors LB Adam Bighill, RB Bryson Kelly, and WR
Jamal Weems (Seattle/Cleveland HS), as well as junior DE
Tyrell Nielsen (Woodland). All four were voted as team leaders for the first time in their respective careers.
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INJURIES IMPACTING TWO-DEEP: Injuries have impacted Central Washington's two-deep throughout the entire season, and this week's game is no exception. The Wildcats have just six defensive backs on the two-deep at their four secondary positions this week, as senior
Eric Hunter (Pasco) will be the backup at both cornerback positions and redshirt freshman
Oscar Eason (Seattle/Mount Rainier HS) is slated to be the backup at both safety spots ... On the offensive line, Central is beginning to get some of its depth back following injuries, as senior
Luke Conklin (Walla Walla) returned last week, while both senior
Brian Agnis (San Diego, Calif./Mission Bay HS) and junior
Brian Vander Yacht (Bellingham/Meridian HS) should return this week ... At the running back position, the status of senior Bryson Kelly is still uncertain for this week's game, so one of two freshmen—
Ishmael Stinson (Tacoma/Charles Wright Academy) or Levi Taylor—are likely to start in the backfield against Western Oregon. Stinson got his first career start in last week's win over Southern Oregon. True freshman
Louis Davis (Tacoma/Wilson HS) will also suit up at running back this week for the first time in his career.
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2010 Roster
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2010 Schedule
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2010 Statistics
