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MONMOUTH, Ore. (Nov. 9) -- Redshirt freshman quarterback Jake Nelson (Lake Stevens) threw for a career-high 244 yards, but the Central Washington University football team allowed several big plays on defense in a 32-26 loss to host Western Oregon University on Saturday afternoon at McArthur Field.

The Wildcats suffered their first road loss of the 2013 season, falling to 6-4 overall and 6-3 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. Western Oregon is also 6-4 and 6-3 after earning just its second win over CWU in the last 20 head-to-head meetings.

Nelson completed 23 of 36 passes for two touchdowns but had three interceptions in the contest. The last of those three picks proved to be the difference-maker, as AJ Hull returned it 25 yards for a touchdown to give WOU a 32-19 lead with 1:02 left in the contest.

CWU scored the game's first points on a 20-yard field goal by freshman Sean McDonald (Sammamish/Skyline HS) on the Wildcats' first possession. That 3-0 lead was the only advantage the visitors would have on the scoreboard in the game, as Western Oregon took a 6-3 lead on a 78-yard touchdown pass later in the quarter. The Wolves then tacked on another touchdown just before halftime, but both times, WOU missed the extra point.

The Wildcats took advantage of a short field to work with early in the third quarter, as sophomore Jordan Todd (Bellevue/Interlake HS) scored on a four-yard touchdown run in his return to the lineup, and McDonald's extra point made it a two-point differential (12-10) with 12:30 left in the third quarter.

Western Oregon used another big-play pass to extend its lead later in the quarter, as Ryan Bergman threw a 61-yard TD strike to Antoinne Wafer. However, the ensuing extra point was blocked by the Wildcats, and senior Stan Langlow (University Place/Curtis HS) returned it for a defensive two-point conversion, once again bringing CWU to within a one-score differential at 18-12.

CWU was never able to tie the game or take the lead in the fourth quarter. Western Oregon scored on another passing touchdown -- the last of four by Bergman on the game -- with 10:28 remaining to take a 24-12 lead. The Wildcats closed to within five points when Nelson and junior Greg Logan (Graham/Graham-Kapowsin HS) connected on a 30-yard touchdown pass with just over five minutes remaining, but after the CWU defense forced WOU to punt with 1:19 left, Hull intercepted Nelson and returned it for the game-clinching score.

Nelson did move the Wildcats down the field and into the end zone in the closing minute. He connected with sophomore DJ Richardson (Los Angeles, Calif./Gardena HS) on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 17 seconds remaining, but the on-side kick that followed was recovered by Western Oregon and the Wolves took a knee to finish the game.

The Wildcats finished with 326 yards of total offense, with a season-low 82 rushing yards. Todd was held to 53 yards on 18 carries after missing last Saturday's game due to injury, and the sophomore still needs 12 yards to become the 12th player in CWU school history with 1,000 or more rushing yards in a season -- a feat he will attempt to accomplish in next Saturday's season finale at Dixie State University. Logan led the Wildcats in receiving yards with 94 on four catches, while redshirt freshman Jesse Zalk (Battle Ground/Prairie HS) and junior Adam Schechter (Simi Valley, Calif.) had seven receptions apiece.

Western Oregon chalked up 580 yards of total offense -- the highest total by a CWU opponent since 2011. Bergman completed 21 of 39 passes for 405 yards and the aforementioned four touchdowns, with two of his receivers -- Wafer and Dustin Hurd -- totaling 124 yards each. Running back Joe Harris went for 141 yards on 13 carries, with that average aided by a 90-yard non-scoring carry.

CWU, which was eliminated from GNAC title contention with its loss and an Azusa Pacific University win on Saturday night against Dixie State, will look to secure a second-place finish when it travels to Dixie State next Saturday (Nov. 16) for a 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (5 p.m. Pacific) contest with the Red Storm (4-6, 4-5 GNAC).