ELLENSBURG (Oct. 10) -- Wildfires have forced Wildcats onto the road for six weeks. But the air has cleared and Central Washington University football will finally make its Tomlinson Stadium debut this Saturday (Oct. 13). The Wildcats will host Simon Fraser University in their annual Homecoming game at 1 p.m.

CWU (4-2, 4-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) moved its previous two scheduled home games to Pop Keeney Stadium in Bothell, Wash., on Sept. 22 and Sept. 29, due to poor air quality in the Kittitas Valley resulting from nearby wildfires. The wildfires have since been contained, and the Washington State Department of Ecology expects the air quality to be much better by this Saturday.

The Wildcats enter the second half of conference play with a one-game lead in the conference standings. This week's opponent, Simon Fraser, is in fifth place at 2-3 in the conference (3-3 overall) but is coming off a 66-38 victory over Azusa Pacific University. CWU defeated the Clan, 56-28, in Burnaby, British Columbia, on Sept. 8 in the first meeting between the two schools, and the Wildcats lead the all-time series, 24-9.

CWU students are encouraged to pick up their complimentary tickets in advance through Wildcat Tickets in the Student Union & Recreation Center (SURC). Online tickets are available for advance purchase to the general public through Wildcat Tickets -- either in the SURC or online at www.cwu.edu/tickets. Prices are $12 for adult general admission, $7 for seniors (aged 65 and older) and emeritus faculty, and $5 for non-CWU students. Children under the age of five are admitted free.

In addition, barring any unforeseen changes in weather or air quality conditions, the scheduled home games for CWU women's soccer for this Thursday (Oct. 11) and Saturday (Oct. 13) will be played in Ellensburg at the CWU Soccer Field as originally scheduled. The Wildcats host Montana State University Billings on Thursday at 4 p.m., and Northwest Nazarene University on Saturday at 11 a.m.