ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 20^th ranked Central Washington University football remains unbeaten (4-0) after defeating Dixie State University 58-40 Saturday night in St. George Utah. 
 
Dixie State (1-3) scored a 75-yard touchdown on the game's first play, but the Wildcats shook off the early miscues by scoring 21 unanswered points to gain a two-score lead.  Central Washington started to pile on in the third quarter, ending the frame with a comfortable 49-14 lead.  The Trailblazers benefited from great field position in the fourth quarter to score 26 points in stanza, but it wasn't enough as CWU took home the 18-point victory.
 
For the second-straight game, the Wildcats relied heavily on its running attack, totaling 291 yards on the ground.  Christian Cummings recorded his second-straight 100-yards rushing game, posting 108 yards on 23 carries and three scores.  Fellow running back Jordan Tufaga added 66 yards on 10 carries, while quarterbacks Reilly Hennessey and JoJo Hillel gained 71 and 42 yards, respectively.
 
Hennessey was efficient through the air, completing 11 of 19 passes for 151 yards and two scores.  Seniors Christian Gasca and Kyle Self were the recipients of the touchdown tosses, with Gasca hauling down a 29-yard touchdown, while Self trudged in from 13 yards out.
 
Six different Wildcats crossed the end zone for scores, including Hillel on a 25 yard QB Keeper, while Justin Peterson earned a touchdown by falling on a Hennessey fumble that rolled into the end zone early in the second quarter.
 
The CWU defense allowed 381 yards, with a large chunk (177 yards) of that coming in the fourth quarter where CWU backed off its attack with its second-string defense.  Dixie State finished with just 97 rushing yards, after gaining 75 on the first play of the game.
 
Central held the Dixie State offense in check after the opening DSU scoring drive, forcing two turnovers and a three-and-out in the following three DSU possessions.  In fact, Dixie State had just two drives that didn't end in a three-and-out in the first half, and one of the two ended with an interception. 
 
Tyler Hasty, Jackson Huerta, and Max McIntosh each had interceptions on the day, all of which were returned for considerable yardage, most notably Huerta's, which was returned 45 yards deep into DSU territory.  Huerta finished with four tackles and ran back a blocked PAT 92 yards for two-points.
 
Senior linebacker Kevin Haynes led the defense with seven total tackles, while James Fakkema and Billy Greer each earned a sack in the game.
 
Central Washington will play in Ellensburg for the first time this season, when they play host to Simon Fraser next Saturday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m. in Tomlinson Stadium.
 
QUOTES FROM COACH SHOEMAKER:
"We didn't start out on the right foot, but we quickly adjusted and put some good series together in the first half, on both sides of the ball.  Our offensive line was physical, which allowed run the ball effectively. When you couple a good rushing attack with outstanding defense, more often than not you will head into halftime with a lead."
 
"We came out and stuck to the game plan in the third quarter.  The defense was stout; we did not allow them to gain very many yards, and the turnovers gave us great field position.  We were able to open up the passing game after establishing the run in the first half, which kept them (Dixie State) off balance."
 
"Things got a little out of hand for us in the fourth quarter.  We made some mistakes, but fortunately we were in a position to allow that to happen.  We took out a lot of our starters so that our second-string could get some work in.  There is still a lot of learning going on for this team, but the mistakes we made in the fourth quarter will give us a lot to work with during our film sessions next week.  Our second unit is a group that we will rely on as the season moves forward, so any experience we can allow those players to get will be beneficial down the road."