Football | 9/1/2016 11:47:00 AM

ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Sept.1) – The Central Washington University football team will open up its 2016 campaign this Saturday at Providence Field when they face off with Portland State University at 2:30 p.m.
 
Portland State is a member of the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), and is ranked 12^th in the nation after making it to the second round of the FCS playoffs last season.
 
"This matchup will challenging in many of ways.  It challenges us physically, like any other game, but it will also give us some good insight into our preparation, both as a staff and a team," CWU Head Coach Ian Shoemaker said about the upcoming matchup.  "They beat two D-I teams last year, including a Pac-12 school, they play a high level of football.  We are excited to get on the field with them come Saturday and really test ourselves against a team of their caliber."
 
The Vikings return 45 letterwinners from 2015, including quarterback Alex Kuersa who ranked fourth in the nation with 16.0 yards per completion.  Although, Kuersa picked up a lot of yards per pass, it was the ground game that powered their offense.  As a team PSU ran for over 3000 yards and 33 touchdowns.  Kuersa is also the team's top returning rusher racking up 755 yards on the ground.
 
The Wildcat defense gave up over 200 yards per game on the ground last season, but with a fresh defensive scheme implemented by first year defensive coordinator Scott Power, and a host of returning defenders, coach Shoemaker is confident in his seasoned defensive front.
 
"Our front seven is very good, and have been menacing against the run so far during camp," Shoemaker said.  "We have a big group of returning players that know how to battle and are getting better each day."
 
Holding down that defensive front is 2014 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year, Tovar Sanchez.  Sanchez missed 2015 due to injury, but is fully healthy and has a chance to become the school's all-time leader in sacks if he can capture six this season.  Joining Sanchez are Elisha Pa'aga, Bo Banner and redshirt freshman Christian Penny.
 
The defensive line will also get a boost from transfer Osu Olive who at 6-foot-1, 315 pounds, is a disrupter who played three seasons at the University of Wyoming.
 
Middle linebacker Kevin Haynes has led the Wildcats in tackles in each of his first two seasons at CWU and this year he will wear the #44 jersey, carrying on the tradition started in 2008.
 
Offensively the Wildcats return virtually every starter from 2015, including the four offensive lineman.  Justin Lane will be under center again in 2016 and will look to improve upon a promising season last year.
 
"We have a strong offensive group that knows our offense and has played together for a long time," Shoemaker said.  "It is just a matter of putting all together for the length of the game, and executing to our potential."
 
Lane threw for over 2,000 yards and had 12 touchdown passes.  He also owned a streak of three-straight 300 yard passing games, a feat only one other quarterback in CWU history has accomplished.
 
Lane will have a host of returning pass catchers at his disposal as the top six pass catchers from a season ago are back, including preseason all-American receiver Jesse Zalk, who led the GNAC in receiving yards per game last year.
 
Live video for the 2:30 p.m. game can be found at GoViks.com, and live stats at Vikslive.com. Radio broadcast of the game can be heard locally on 88.1 FM The Burg, which can also be streamed live via iHeartradio.