CWU FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Central Washington University Wildcats (3-3, 3-1 GNAC)
vs. Southern Oregon University Raiders (2-3)
Date: Saturday, October 9, 2010
Time: 1 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time
Site: Tomlinson Stadium (Natural Grass; 4,000 capacity), Ellensburg, Wash.
All-Time Series: Central Washington leads 21-6
Last Meeting: CWU 31, SOU 14 (Oct. 17, 1998 at Ashland, Ore.)
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Game Notes: Download
Television: None
Radio: KXLE-AM 1240 (Ellensburg)
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GAME OVERVIEW: EXPANDED
• Central Washington plays its final non-conference game of the 2010 season against Southern Oregon on Saturday. The Wildcats are searching for their first non-league victory of the season in their final opportunity, having fallen to Minnesota Duluth (35-10) and Eastern Washington (35-32) in their previous out-of-conference games this year. Central has not had a winless on-field record in non-conference play since 1980 when the Wildcats went 0-4 but were later awarded a non-league forfeit victory by Whitworth.
• The Wildcats have won the last eight meetings with Southern Oregon and are 21-6 overall all-time against their former rivals from the Columbia Football Association. This week's game will be the first meeting between the two schools since both were affiliated with the CFA and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in 1998. Central's last loss to the Raiders came in the first round of the NAIA Division I playoffs in 1987 in Ashland, while the Wildcats' last regular-season defeat against Southern Oregon was five years earlier in 1982.
• With last week's loss to Humboldt State, Central Washington fell out of both of the NCAA Division II national polls this week. The Wildcats dropped out of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II top 25 for the first time since Oct. 2, 2007, ending a streak of 39 straight polls that had been the seventh-longest active streak in Division II. In fact, CWU was not even listed among others receiving votes in the AFCA poll despite the fact that their three losses have been to teams with a combined win-loss record of 12-3 (Minnesota Duluth 5-0, Humboldt State 4-1, Eastern Washington 3-2).
• Since becoming a football-playing member of the NCAA Division II prior to the 1999 season, Central Washington has played 15 games against NAIA members with a 13-2 record. The Wildcats' only two losses to NAIA foes during that span were both against Carroll College (MT), as they suffered a 38-28 defeat in Ellensburg to open the 2003 season and a 27-21 overtime loss in Helena to debut the 2004 campaign. Other NAIA opponents for the Wildcats since 1999 have included Simon Fraser (3-0), Western Montana/Montana-Western (4-0), Azusa Pacific (2-0), and Eastern Oregon (1-0). CWU also has a 3-2 record against Carroll over that span.
• The Wildcats play their final five games of the regular season in the state of Washington, including four at home inside Tomlinson Stadium. Central twice had consecutive games away from home in the first six weeks of the season, but will be the beneficiary of the home-and-home Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule in the final half of the year. Following the Wildcats' game with Southern Oregon on Saturday, they play their only remaining game away from Ellensburg with Battle in Seattle VIII against Western Oregon on Oct. 16. CWU will then close the year with three home games and a bye over a four-week span.
• 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 26 of 28 games (92.9 percent) played in the month of October, with their only two losses coming at South Dakota (10-7 in 2006) and at Humboldt State (25-24 last week). 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 14-game winning streak against Western Oregon, Central Washington has won its last 15 football games against teams from the state of Oregon. In addition to the win streak against WOU (whom the Wildcats face twice over their final four games this season), Central also has a win over Eastern Oregon since its last loss against a school from the Beaver State. Included among that streak is eight consecutive home wins against visitors from Oregon.
• Two members of the Central Washington coaching staff previously spent time as assistants on the Southern Oregon staff. Special teams/linebackers coach Stacy Collins was with the Raider program for a brief time in the spring of 2007, while CWU graduate assistant coach Damaro Wheeler was an assistant coach at SOU during the 2009 season.
• CWU head coach Blaine Bennett became familiar with Southern Oregon during his six years guiding the Western Oregon program from 1995-2000. Bennett guided the Wolves to a 3-3 mark against their in-state rivals during his tenure in Monmouth, including wins in his final two match-ups with SOU in 1999 and 2000.
• Central has a 6-6 all-time record on Oct. 9, beginning with an 11-0 win over Yakima High School on Oct. 9, 1909. Wildcat teams have been streaky on the date over the course of the program history, winning the school's first three games on Oct. 9 (in 1909, 1926, and 1937) before six straight losses on 10/9. Since their last Oct. 9 loss in 1982 against Pacific Lutheran, Central has won three straight games on the date including a 31-7 home win over Eastern Oregon six years ago.
CENTRAL NOTES
• SEVERAL STREAKS SNAPPED AT HUMBOLDT STATE: The 25-24 loss at Humboldt State in last week's game meant the end to several winning streaks by Central Washington. The Wildcats saw a 28-game in-conference winning streak snapped, while their 34-game win streak against current or former Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents also ended (both streaks dated back to a 28-21 loss to Western Washington on Sept. 25, 2004). As far as the series with Humboldt State was concerned, Central saw a 16-game win streak over the Lumberjacks fall and suffered its first loss at the Redwood Bowl since 1968. In addition, CWU sustained its first regular-season road loss against a Division II opponent since Sept. 15, 2007, when the Wildcats dropped a 35-28 decision to North Dakota.
• MORE RARITIES: In addition to the end of several win streaks by the Wildcats, they also experienced several statistical rarities in last week's loss to Humboldt State. Central lost when leading after the third quarter for the first time since Oct. 7, 2006, when CWU led 7-3 entering the fourth quarter at South Dakota before losing 10-7 on a touchdown with 15 seconds remaining. The Wildcats are now 48-3 when leading after three quarters since 2004 ... Also dating back to the 2004 campaign is the last time Central struggled on third down as much as they did at Humboldt State last week. The Wildcats were just 1 of 9 on third-down conversions, their lowest percentage since a 1 for 14 efficiency in a win over Western Washington on Oct. 30, 2004. CWU had converted on at least five third-down chances in each of its first five games this season ... The Wildcats had a time-of-possession disadvantage for just the second time in six games this season—and just the third time in their last 15 games—last weekend in Arcata.
• GNAC INDIVIDUAL LEADERS: Three Central Washington players currently lead the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in a total of four major statistical categories heading into week seven of the 2010 season. Senior RB Bryson Kelly (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak HS) is the top player in the conference in both rushing yards (109.3 yards per game) and scoring (8.0 points per game). His rushing total ranks 16th in the NCAA Division II, while he is one of several players tied for 55th in scoring among the D-II ranks. Also leading the conference statistically are two defensive players—redshirt freshman S Stan Langlow (University Place, WA/Curtis HS) and senior DL Eugene Germany (Pomona, CA/Pomona HS). Langlow leads the league and ranks 21st nationally with four interceptions (0.67 per game), while Germany is tops in the conference in quarterback sacks with 0.83 per game. Germany's sack average is tied for 32nd in Division II.
• GNAC TEAM LEADERS: Central Washington is currently tops in the GNAC in four statistical categories—scoring offense (29.50 points per game), rushing defense (115.83 yards per game), punt returns (9.53 yards per return), and quarterback sacks (2.00 sacks per game). By comparison, the Wildcats led the conference in 12 of the 18 statistical categories listed by the NCAA in its weekly statistical reports.
• LANGLOW STEPPING INTO SECONDARY STARDOM: S Stan Langlow has been a standout in the Central Washington secondary this season, leading the team and Great Northwest Athletic Conference with four interceptions in six games. The former Curtis High School standout has intercepted one pass in each of the last three games, becoming the first Wildcat with a pick in three straight contests since J.R. Jamerson totaled five interceptions over a three-game span in 2005. Langlow is halfway to the school record for consecutive games with an interception, as Jason Patterson picked off at least one pass in each of his final six games in the Crimson and Black during the 2001 season.
• BIGHILL ON THE SPOT: Senior LB Adam Bighill (Montesano, WA) was Central Washington's leading scorer in last week's game against Humboldt State, doubling his career point total with a pair of touchdowns against the Lumberjacks. Bighill scored both of the Wildcats' touchdowns in the second half, and both came on special teams plays. In the third quarter, he was the beneficiary of a fake punt play, catching a pass from senior P Kyle Petersen (Alta Loma, CA/South Hills HS) at his own 46-yard line and bolting down the west sideline, breaking two tackles along the way, for a touchdown that netted 60 yards on Bighill's first career reception. Then, in the fourth quarter, Bighill blocked a Humboldt State punt and returned it for a score, marking the second straight season that he had accomplished that feat in the Redwood Bowl.
• DAVIS' FIRST MISS: Sophomore K Sean Davis (Federal Way, WA/Todd Beamer HS) had his run of consecutive made field goals come to an end against Humboldt State. Davis, who was the two-time reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, entered last week's game with six consecutive made field goals and extended that streak to seven straight (a CWU school record to start a season) with his 23-yard kick in the second quarter. However, the streak ended when his 50-yard attempt with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter had plenty of distance but sailed wide left in what would have been his second 50-yarder of the season. Davis is now 7 for 8 in field goals and 8 of 8 in extra-point attempts, having played in just four of Central's six games.
• 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. A complete listing of the Wildcats' all-time results when ranked in the NCAA Division II polls can be found on page 5 of this week's game notes.
• 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 (Montesano, WA/Montesano HS), RB Bryson Kelly (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak HS), and WR Jamal Weems (Seattle, WA/Cleveland HS), as well as junior DE Tyrell Nielsen (Woodland, WA/Woodland HS). All four were voted as team leaders for the first time in their respective careers.
• MORE COMINGS AND GOINGS: One week after welcoming a new player to its active roster and seeing the departure of two others, Central Washington has one newcomer and another departure on the roster for this week's game. Joining the Wildcats is TE NaDerris Ward (Oakland, CA/McClymonds HS), a 6-foot-5, 266-pound senior transfer from the University of Oregon. Ward began his career as a tight end at the University of Georgia and played in four games for the Bulldogs in 2007 before transferring to Oregon prior to the 2008 season. While with the Ducks, Ward was moved from tight end to offensive line and appeared in two games for Oregon in 2009. He will play tight end for CWU, and will wear jersey number 86 ... Leaving the team following the Humboldt State game was junior WR Codey Berry (Puyallup, WA/Cascade Christian HS). Berry had played in five of Central's first six games this season, totaling six receptions for 42 yards including his final reception of six yards on the Wildcats' next-to-last offensive play at Humboldt State last week.
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2010 Roster
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2010 Schedule
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2010 Statistics
