ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Oct. 10) -- The Central Washington University football team gained 579-yards and senior running back
Arthur Burns ran for 228 yards, scoring three touchdowns, but the Wildcats fell to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 49-44 Saturday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium.
The loss snaps the Wildcats winning streak at three games as CWU falls to 3-3 on the season and 1-1 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. The Hardrockers improve to 4-2, 1-1 in the GNAC.
The two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense with CWU outgaining SDSMT 579-422.
In addition to Burns setting another career-high in rushing,
Justin Lane also through for a career-high of 300 yards on 16 completions with a touchdown.
Jesse Zalk returned to action after missing a game and caught six balls for 116 yards and a score.
Kevin Haynes once again led the Wildcats with 12 total tackles, a sack, and one pass break up.
Despite the Wildcats best day offensively, they were unable to overcome an early 14-0 deficit. South Dakota Mines scored on its opening possession and on the ensuing drive for the Wildcats
Justin Lane was intercepted by the Hardrockers and the pass was returned 21 yards for the score.
Burns scored his first touchdown of the day to cut the SDSMT lead to 14-7 at the 9:32 mark in the first half. Unfortunately, the Hardrocks scored on each of their next two drives to take a commanding 28-7 lead to end the first quarter, and ended the first half up 28-10.
The lone score of the third quarter came off the legs of Burns, who carried the ball seven times for 54 yards ending with a one-yard score on Wildcats final drive of the third quarter to cut the SDSMT lead to 28-17.
The Hardrockers scored early in the fourth quarter to gain a 35-17 advantage, but the Wildcats didn't go down without a fight as the Wildcats outscored SDSMT 27-21 in the fourth quarter. Four different players scored touchdowns for the Wildcats in the final stanza, the first a 29-yard touchdown run by
Quincy Carter and the final a three-yard tote by Lane to cut the lead to 49-44.
The Wildcats attempt to recover an onside kick with 35-seconds left but the play was recovered by the Hardrockers, finishing CWU's attempt at a come from behind victory.
Up next the Wildcats travel to Monmouth, Ore. for a 1 p.m. matchup with Western Oregon on Oct. 17.
