Box Score

BOTHELL (Sept. 29) – The Central Washington University defense held ninth-ranked Humboldt State University to a third-quarter field goal, and the Wildcats used a combination of a strong offense and some new elements to their game in defeating the Lumberjacks, 31-3, on Saturday night at Pop Keeney Stadium.

The Wildcats, who were among “others receiving votes” in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll, improved to 4-1 overall and 4-0 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with Saturday's win. They moved into sole possession atop the conference standings, one game ahead of the Lumberjacks (4-1, 3-1 GNAC).

Humboldt State, which came into the game averaging 42.5 points per game through its first four contests, was held off the scoreboard in the first half by the CWU defense. Only a 43-yard field goal by Matt Bruder on the Lumberjacks' first possession of the second half interrupted the Wildcats' shutout.

Among the new elements utilized by the Wildcats in Saturday's win was the first-ever offensive touch by junior Ridge Nielsen (Mesa, Ariz./Mountain View HS) that resulted in the game's first points. Nielsen, a backup linebacker who sporadically doubles as a fullback on offensive series, caught a 10-yard pass from senior Ryan Robertson (Sammamish/Eastlake HS) to cap the game's first possession and give CWU a 7-0 lead. Senior Sean Davis (Federal Way/Todd Beamer HS) then added a 32-yard field goal – the Wildcats' first made three-point score of the season – on the next possession to push the margin to 10-0.

Neither team scored in the second quarter and the count remained at 10-0 until Bruder's field goal early in the third quarter. CWU responded with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 5:36, as Robertson found sophomore receiver Greg Logan (Graham/Graham-Kapowsin HS) on a seven-yard touchdown pass for Logan's first collegiate score and a 17-3 lead. That scoring drive was extended on a fake punt play at midfield, when junior linebacker Riley Wall (Olympia/Capital HS) scampered 32 yards on 4th-and-1. Wall's carry was also the first of his career.

Senior Demetrius Sumler (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic HS), who finished the game with a career-best 152 rushing yards on 27 carries, then put the game out of reach with a 68-yard touchdown run with 3:15 to go in the third quarter. Sumler later added a nine-yard score for the game's final points.

The Wildcats' defensive efforts helped keep Humboldt State out of the red zone – and out of the end zone on the visitors' three trips inside the CWU 20. The Lumberjacks had a 25-yard field goal blocked late in the second quarter after a 15-play, 69-yard drive, and later turned the ball over on downs on a fourth-quarter visit to the red zone.

Anchoring the CWU defense was junior linebacker Stan Langlow (University Place/Curtis HS), who had a game-high 12 tackles. Freshman cornerback Isaiah Davis (Bremerton/South Kitsap HS), who made his first career defensive start while also returning kicks for the Wildcats on Saturday, added 10 stops and three passes broken up. CWU broke up eight passes as a team, including two on plays when they hit Humboldt State quarterback Alex Rump while he was throwing the football.

A season-high nine receivers had at least one pass reception for the Wildcats, led by a seven-catch, 86-yard effort by senior Anthony Spain (Grants Pass, Ore./North Valley HS). Robertson completed 21 of 31 attempts for 186 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.

Central Washington, which still has yet to play a game on its own Tomlinson Stadium turf in Ellensburg due to its original schedule as well as the relocation of its last two home games to Bothell due to poor air quality, will have a true road game next Saturday (Oct. 6) at Dixie State College of Utah. The Wildcats are then slated to face Simon Fraser University for their annual Homecoming game on Oct. 13.