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With wins in consecutive games away from home, the Central Washington University football team returns home Saturday to take on Dixie State University in its annual Homecoming contest at Tomlinson Stadium. Game time is 1 p.m. Pacific.

The Wildcats won both games in the state of California over the past two weeks, defeating Azusa Pacific University by a 7-3 score on Sept. 28 and then knocking off Humboldt State University by a 21-13 count last Saturday (Oct. 5). CWU (3-2, 3-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) comes into play on Saturday tied for first place in the GNAC standings with Azusa Pacific, and the Wildcats are looking to improve upon their 1-2 home record this season.

Dixie State, meanwhile, touts a high-powered offense that leads the GNAC in both scoring average and total offense. The Red Storm (2-3, 2-2 GNAC) is one of three teams tied for third place in the six-team conference, just one game back of CWU and Azusa Pacific. Dixie State has won its last two games following an 0-3 start, including a 39-12 home win over Simon Fraser University last Saturday in St. George, Utah.

CWU boasts one of the top defenses in the NCAA Division II, as the Wildcats enter play this week ranked sixth in scoring defense (13.0 points per game), sixth in rushing defense (77.2 yards per game), and ninth in total defense (282.6 yards per game). The Wildcats are also the top-ranked team in the GNAC in sacks, tackles for losses, punt returns, kick returns, and rushing offense.

Dixie State is the top passing team in the conference -- and is ranked 29th nationally -- with 295.8 passing yards per game. The Red Storm accumulated 479 passing yards when the two teams met in St. George last October, helping Dixie to its lone win in the all-time series, 29-21. In 2013, DSU is also second in the conference in rushing yards (149.8 yards per game).

CWU sophomore Isaiah Davis is coming off his second straight week as the recipient of the GNAC/Red Lion Hotels Player of the Week award, claiming the honor on defense this past week after three second-half interceptions, two breakups, and seven total tackles in the Wildcats' win at Humboldt State. He had been the league's special teams player of the week following the win at Azusa Pacific on Sept. 28.

The two schools did not play on the gridiron until the 2008 season, and CWU has won nine of the previous 10 meetings in the head-to-head series. The Wildcats are averaging better than 36 points per game in the all-time series, including 51 points in last year's season finale at Tomlinson Stadium. As mentioned, Dixie State's lone win in the series came on its home turf 53 weeks ago.

CWU head coach John Picha (3-2, first year) has not faced Dixie State as the Wildcats' top mentor on the sidelines, but has been an assistant in all 10 of the previous meetings between the two schools. Meanwhile, former NFL lineman Scott Brumfield (8-29) is in his fourth season guiding Dixie State, having posted a 1-5 record as head coach against CWU.

The game can be tracked via live video, live stats, and live audio at the links above.