Football | 10/8/2015 11:12:00 AM
ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Oct. 8) – The Central Washington University football team will bring its three-game win streak back home to Tomlinson Stadium this Saturday when they host South Dakota Mines and Technology at 1 p.m.
The Wildcats are coming off their biggest win of the 2015 season, defeating Azusa Pacific 24-21 in a dramatic finish.
Arthur Burns filled in for the injured
Jordan Todd at running back and had the best day of his career carrying the ball 26 times for 142 yards and three touchdowns.
With Todd still sidelined with a foot injury, Burns and
Quincy Carter could be in for a big day as SDSMT gives up 218.8 rushing yards per game, including nearly 500 yards in their last outing against Humboldt State.
"Arthur and Carter paced our offense last week and we will look for them to produce for us once again," CWU Head Coach
Ian Shoemaker said. "Having a productive running game allows us expand our playbook and give the opposing defenses more to worry about."
The offense will get a much-needed boost with the return of
Jesse Zalk to both the passing game and special teams. Zalk is the teams leading receiver with 18 receptions and 236 yards. He has been instrumental on special teams averaging 13.64 yards per punt return with a 79-yard touchdown.
During the three-game winning streak, the CWU defense has stepped up its game totaling 15 sacks in the process and now leads the GNAC with 16 total sacks.
Winslow Kouassi has led the backfield pressure with 3.5 sacks, followed by
Carson Kass and
James Fakkema with three each.
"Our defense has been instrumental in our accomplishments the past three weeks," Shoemaker added. "Their success getting to the quarterback and disrupting plays has made it difficult for our opponents to convert first downs and has opened up opportunities for our secondary to make big plays."
Offensively, South Dakota Mines averages 438 yards a game, 221.2 on the ground and 216.8 through the air. The Hardrockers have been using the quarterback tandem of Jake Sullivan and 2014 GNAC Newcomer of the Year Trent McKinney so far this season. McKinney is most dangerous of the two having accounted for 10 total touchdowns, six passing and four rushing.
"South Dakota Mines can really put up points and we will need to minimize their impact on the game," Shoemaker said about the Hardrockers. "McKinney is a difference maker with both his arm and his feet and keeping him and their backup from making a large impact on this game will be key."
Last season the Wildcats defeated the Hardrockers in the first ever meeting between the two schools, 61-34 in Rapid City, SD.
This Saturday gates open at 11:30 a.m. and the FanZone opens at 11:00 a.m. The FanZone will feature Domino's Pizza, Wing Central's Roadhouse Grill, The Red Pickle food truck, Iron Horse Brewery, and a bounce house for kid's enjoyment.
Live stream for the game as well as live stats can be found via
Wildcatsports.com and locally the game will be aired on the Wildcat Sports Radio Network at 88.1 FM, or you can download the 88.1 The Burg app via the Apple Store or Google Play.
