Football | 10/23/2015 2:04:00 PM

ELLENSBURG, Wash (Oct. 23) – The Central Washington University football (3-4) team will play host to No. 16 Humboldt State University (5-1) amidst an eventful Saturday that is Homecoming. The Wildcats are returning to Tomlinson Stadium after a hard fought bout with Western Oregon in Monmouth, Ore.
 
The Wildcats have the Lumberjacks number in terms of series victories. The Wildcats own a 20-10-1 overall record versus this weekend's opponent, and boast a 10-3 record at home with the last lost in Tomlinson Stadium versus HSU coming in 2011.
 
Quarterback Justin Lane has been on a hot streak of late. The signal caller has totaled 667 passing yards and four touchdowns in his last two contests. He has led the Wildcats offense to a 29.5 point per game scoring average. His 1,162 passing yards ranks third in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. Lane's primary target has been wide out Jesse Zalk. Zalk leads the GNAC in receptions per game, snatching 5.3 catches per contest, and totaling 32 catches on the season. He also leads the conference in receiving yards per game with 83.3. Zalk ranks second in the country in all-purpose yards gaining 207.7 yards per game, behind Humboldt State's very own Ja'Quan Gardner.
 
"Lane has been making good reads, especially last week and his numbers back that up," CWU Head Coach Ian Shoemaker said about his junior signal caller. "We need to get back to a balanced attack, by establishing a run game which will make life easier for Justin."
 
Gardner will lead the HSU attack. The halfback leads the country in rushing yards posting 1,233 yards in six games. He averages 205.5 yards per game on the ground and has found the end zone 16 times to lead the conference.
 
"Gardner is a special back, and one of the best we will face this season," Shoemaker said.  "Every team's game plan is to keep him in check, which is a tall order, but something our guys are capable of doing."
 
The Wildcats defense allows 203.3 rushing yards per game, limiting the opposing team's offense to 31 points per game. Sophomore linebacker Kevin Haynes will try and plug up the holes that Gardner likes to run in. Haynes ranks fifth in the GNAC with 8.2 tackles per game.
 
Haynes and crew hope to limit the conference's leading scoring team. The Lumberjacks post a 43.3 scoring average, and average 483.3 yards per game, which also leads the GNAC.
 
At the helm of the Lumberjacks' offense is quarterback Robert Webber. The sophomore averages 166.5 yards per game, and has thrown for a GNAC-leading 10 touchdowns.
 
Senior defensive back Myles Carelock will look to continue his defensive prowess for the Wildcats. The ball-hawking defensive back snatched two interceptions last week versus WOU to bring his total on the year to three.
 
Homecoming and all its festivities will be streamed live at Wildcatsports.com and radio for the game can be found locally on the Wildcat Sports Radio Network at 88.1 FM.  For those outside of Ellensburg, you can listen live online here, or you can download the 88.1 The Burg app at via the Apple Store or Google Play and listen live. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.