Football | 11/3/2016 11:37:00 AM

CWU FOOTBALL GAME NOTES: (5-3, 4-2 GNAC)
 
OPPONENT: Simon Fraser (0-8, 0-6 GNAC)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, Nov. 5 @ 1 P.M.
SITE: Ellensburg, Wash. – Tomlinson Stadium
LIVE STREAMING:  Stretch Internet.
 
 
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
 
The Wildcats are coming off of a heart breaking loss to Azusa Pacific last Saturday.  The Wildcats entered last week ranked 7^th in the NCAA Super Region 3, with the top seven teams earning a spot in the NCAA Championship Playoffs.  Azusa Pacific was 6^th in the region and 15 nationally, and improved its resume with a 44-7 win over CWU.
 
CWU is looking to get back on track this week, and depending on the outcome over the next two weeks, and how the rest of the region fares, the Wildcats are still hopeful that a playoff spot can be obtained.
 
NATIONALLY RANKED DEFENSE
The CWU defense has been a rock all season, and they have the stats to back it up.  They rank first in the nation with 10.3 tackles for loss, led by Tovar Sanchez who leads the GNAC with 2.0 tfl per game.  The Wildcats also rank 14^th in the nation in rush defense allowing just 92.4 yards per game.
 
The CWU red zone defense ranks 12 nationally, allowing opponents to score just 63-percent of the time.  The Defense also ranks in the top 25 for least amount of first downs allowed with 144.
 
WALLEN LEADS GNAC WITH 4.0 GPA
A perfect 4.00 grade point average for Central Washington defensive back Drew Wallen leads the list of 45 selections to the 2016 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Football All-Academic Team.
Wallen, who is a business administration major, is the only 4.00 student on the squad that recognizes performers of sophomore standing or better with a 3.20 cumulative GPA or better. Wallen has played in all eight games for the Wildcats so far this season and has eight tackles on the season.

 GNAC ALL ACADEMIC WILDCATS
Sean Elledge               3.40
Kevin Haynes               3.47    
Jackson Huerta            3.36
Jonathan Kuhn             3.57
Tanner Lucas               3.62
Brian O'Donnell          3.32
Kyle O'Donnell            3.35
Lucas Peterson            3.66
Justin Petersen           3.40
Chandler Strueli          3.74
Tyler Stumph              3.23
Dillon Sugg                  3.25    
Drew Wallen               4.00
 
CAREER STAT UPDATES        
Kevin Haynes: 10^th in total tackles with 252
 
Justin Lane: 4^th in yards per pass at 7.9… 4^th in average per completion with 14.0… 5^th in pass efficiency 134.6.
 
Tovar Sanchez:  1^st in sacks (26), tackles for loss (56.0), yards lost from tackles for loss (273), yards from sacks (179) 4^th in forced fumbles with 6… 9^th in fumbles recovered with 4.
 
Jesse Zalk:  1^st in kick return yards (2,131), Kick Returns (81), kick return touchdowns (3)… 2^nd in all-purpose yards (4,765), needs just 184 yards to break the record… third in punt return touchdowns (2), and average kick return yards (26.31)… 5^th in pass receptions for touchdown (21)… 6^th in pass receptions (170)… 7^th in receiving yards (2,190)… 8^th in punt returns (40)… 9^th in punt return yards (384).
 
SCOUTING THE CLAN
Simon Fraser enters this week 0-8, 0-6 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.  The Clan is on a 21-game losing streak that dates back to 2014.
 
Simon Fraser has scored a combined 16 points since CWU and SFU last played, a 55-6 win for CWU.  In those three games SFU has been outscored 137 to 16, and out gained 1,261 to 421.
 
This past weekend, the Clan lost to Humboldt State 47-9 with the Lumberjacks racking up 546 yards of total offense, 196 on the ground and 350 through the air.
 
Offensively the Clan feature Miles Richardson at Quarterback.  Richardson has completed 119 passes on 274 attempts for 1,224 yards, three touchdowns and 16 interceptions.  The majority of Richardson's completions have gone to Justin Buren and Gavin Cobb who combine to total 65 receptions for 800 yards and two touchdowns.
 
The lone bright spot for the Clan has been linebacker Jordan Herdman who leads the GNAC with 98 tackles, averaging 12.2 tackles per game.  Herdman also led the GNAC in tackles in 2014, and earlier this season became the conferences all-time leader in career tackles, passing CWU alum Buddy Wood who was the previous record holder.  His twin brother Justin ranks sixth in the conference with 60 tackles.
 
 
SERIES HISTORY
Dating back to 1967, Central Washington holds a commanding 31-10 record over Simon Fraser.  The Wildcats have won the last six matchups, and 16 of the last 18.  The Wildcats have a 16-3 home record against the Clan, with the last home loss coming in 1980.  CWU has won the last 16 home games.
 
DID YOU KNOW
The Wildcats and Clan have played three games outside of Ellensburg and Burnaby, B.C. (home of the Clan).  On Sept 22 1979 the Wildcats lost to SFU 9-23 in a game played in Vancouver, B.C.  On Sept. 13 1997, the two teams met in Yakima, and on Sept. 27, 2014 the teams met in Bothell, Wash., a 63-7 win for CWU.