Box Score Box Score

ST. GEORGE, Utah (Sept. 4) -- Senior running back Bryson Kelly (Mukilteo/Kamiak HS) ran for a career-high 110 yards on 30 carries and the Central Washington University football team overcame an early 7-0 deficit by scoring 24 straight first-half points as the 13th-ranked Wildcats defeated Dixie State College of Utah, 24-14, in Great Northwest Athletic Conference football action on Saturday night at Hansen Stadium.

The Wildcats evened their season record at 1-1 (1-0 GNAC) with their 32nd consecutive win over a current or recent member of the GNAC. Dixie State fell to 0-2 (0-1 GNAC).

Kelly, who accounted for all but nine of Central's 119 yards on the ground, helped the Wildcats chew up clock late in the game and turned in a steady performance throughout. His longest carry of the night was just 13 yards.

Central fell behind 7-0 in the first quarter as Dixie State scored on its opening possession on a 17-yard pass from Cody Stevenson to Alex Nelsen with 8:40 remaining in the period. The Wildcats countered on their next series with a 28-yard field goal by sophomore Pavel Panchenko (Napavine/Toledo HS) that cut it to a 7-3 deficit. After each team traded punts on their next possessions, CWU took advantage of a costly fumble by the Red Storm on its latter punt. Sophomore Tre Watson (Seattle/John F. Kennedy HS) pounced on the mishandled punt at the Red Storm 13, and the offense punched the ball into the end zone three plays later as senior quarterback Alex Cate (Salt Lake City, Utah/Cottonwood HS) connected with junior Demetrius Guice (Portland, Ore./Central Catholic HS) on a 10-yard pass play to give the Wildcats a 10-7 lead.

Punts again followed on consecutive series before the Wildcats came away with the second of their three takeaways in the game as senior linebacker Jared Silva-Purcell (Honolulu, Hawai'i/St. Louis HS) intercepted Stevenson at the Dixie State 15 and returned it for a touchdown.

The Wildcat defense continued to hold its ground against the Red Storm offense, and Central's offensive eleven was able to add an insurance score right before the end of the first half. Redshirt freshman Ishmael Stinson (Tacoma/Charles Wright Academy) scored his first collegiate touchdown on a six-yard carry with 43 seconds left in the second quarter to cap a 21-point period and make it a 17-point lead (24-7) at the intermission.

Each team's defense played well to open the second half, as Central had four punts and a missed field goal among its five offensive possessions and Dixie State was held to punts on three straight series before its final score came with 5:49 remaining on a four-yard pass from Stevenson to Nash Fowler. That score was as close as the Red Storm would get in its upset bid, and the Wildcats escaped Hansen Stadium with its fifth win in as many series match-ups.

The Wildcats had a 253-206 edge in total offense, with an even balance between passing (136) and rushing (119). Cate accounted for 116 of the passing yards, completing 11 of 20 throws in three quarters of action. Guice (3 catches for 40 yards), Phil Frost (Cashmere; 3 catches for 24 yards), and Kollin Hancock (Columbus, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln HS; 2 catches for 36 yards) were the top receivers.

On defense, senior Adam Bighill (Montesano) again led the way with nine tackles. Silva-Purcell added six stops and the duo of Dominique Gaisie (West Covina, Calif./Bishop Amat HS) and Paul Wright (Martinez, Calif./De La Salle HS) had five stops apiece. Gaisie also sparked the Wildcat special teams with 96 return yards.

Dixie State's Stevenson was 21 of 42 passing for 187 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions as Central Washington again kept the Red Storm running attack in check with just 19 yards on the ground. Nelsen (8 receptions, 52 yards) and Fowler (7 catches, 49 yards) were the top receivers, with each scoring a touchdown. The Dixie State defense was led by Washington natives Nick Cragin and Keauntea Bankhead with 12 and 10 tackles, respectively.

Central Washington returns to non-conference action next weekend as it faces NCAA Division I-Football Championship Subdivision foe Eastern Washington University in the Showdown on the Sound at Qwest Field in Seattle. Kickoff between the longtime rivals is set for 6 p.m. The Wildcats will then face a rematch against Dixie State on Sept. 18 in Ellensburg.