ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Nov. 8) – The Central Washington University football team hosts Azusa Pacific University in their 2018 regular season finale. Prior to Saturday's game, the Wildcats will host Senior Day.
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
vs Azusa Pacific
Tomlinson Stadium
Ellensburg, WA
Live Stats |
Live Video
QUOTABLE
"It's a battle for GNAC supremacy," CWU Head Coach
Ian Shoemaker said. "We have a chance to capture a GNAC Championship and we expect Azusa to come out hungry for a share of that title. The Cougars are a good program and Saturday will be a hard-fought battle between the two top teams on the west coast."
SCOUTING AZUSA PACIFIC
The Cougars enter the week at 7-3 overall and 6-1 in GNAC play. Their only GNAC loss came in Glendora to Central Washington on Oct. 6 in a 45-31 loss.
Most recently, Azusa Pacific squeaked out a 20-17 win over Humboldt State in overtime. Jacob Hall knocked through a 13-yard field goal in overtime to give the Cougars a victory.
Tyrone Williams Jr. finished 15-for-24 through the air, for 186 yards, and one interception. Aaron Baltazar was held to 93 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground, while Bryce Grandison rushed for 63 yards. Ma'ake Muti record 1.5 sacks for a loss of six yards. He also forced a fumble. Josh Olave intercepted a pass from Joseph Sweeney and returned it 28 yards.
For the season, the Cougars are averaging 28.8 points per game and are holding opponents to 22.3 points per game. The Cougars' offense averages 389.8 yards with 237 coming through the air. Defensively, Azusa Pacific holds opponents to 358 yards, 144.2 of which come on the ground. In 38 trips to the red zone in 2018, the Cougars have come away with points 32 times.
Grandison has handled most of the rushing duties since Zikel Reddick left the lineup. In 10 game this season, Grandison has carried the rock 89 times for 460 yards. Reddick had compiled 411 yards, on 78 carries, in the team's first eight games.
Williams Jr. has handled the Cougars' air assault, throwing for 18 touchdowns. In 156 completed passes, Williams Jr. has compiled 2,038 yards, but has been intercepted 11 times. Weston Carr is the Cougars leading receiver, reeling in 32 passes. Carr has compiled 639 yards and 11 touchdowns on the campaign, both team highs. In pure receptions, Brandon Jackson is the clubhouse leader. In nine games, Jackson has caught 38 passes for 435 yards. Five of his receptions have led to touchdowns. Gaige Allen is sandwiched between Jackson and Carr in catches, hauling in 34. He has not caught a touchdown, but has compiled 499 yards.
Defensively, Aaron Berry leads the Cougars in tackles with 84. He has also compiled three sacks, forced three fumbles, and recovered a pair.
LAST TIME OUT
Central Washington University set a CWU record for rushing touchdowns in a game as they routed Southwest Baptist, 74-28.
The Wildcats' 74 points is the second-highest mark all-time, just one point shy of the CWU record (75) set against Fort Lewis on Aug. 30, 2002. The 667 yards of total offense ranks third all-time in Central Washington history.
Central Washington set a school record with 11 total touchdowns, nine on the ground, one in the air, and one pick six. The previous record was 10 touchdowns against Fort Lewis on Aug. 30, 2002.
Reilly Hennessey threw for 153 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for a pair of TDs.
Donte Hamilton intercepted a pass from Bryse Salik and returned it 64 yards for a TD. Hamilton led the Crimson and Black defense with 13 tackles.
Uli Ma'ae finished with nine tackles, while
Kai Gamble chipped in seven.
RUSHING ATTACK
The Wildcats' rushers found the end zone nine times, breaking the previous record of six rushing touchdowns. The previous record was six rushing touchdowns in four separate games. Three of those games came against Simon Fraser, two in 2012 and one in 2018. The Wildcats also rushed for six touchdowns at Dixie State on Sept. 23, 2017.
Central Washington also set a CWU record for rushing yards in a game (514), surpassing their previous record of 486 at Lewis & Clark on Oct. 19, 1985. They also set the record for highest average gain per rush at 9.3 yards per carry. The Wildcats also edged out their previous record of 9.2 yards per play, set this season against Simon Fraser, with 9.3 yards per play.
Roots finished with 140 yards on the ground, putting his season total at 1,004 yards. Cooper needs only 96 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
GNAC HONORS
Cedric Cooper and
Donte Hamilton earned GNAC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week, respectively. Cooper rushed for 203 yards and four touchdowns. Hamilton brought in 13 tackles and a 64-yard pick six on defense.
RED ZONE PROFICIENCY
The Wildcats have found the red zone 60 times in 2018. In 54 of those chances they have come away with points. In six games this season Central Washington has put up points in every trip to the red zone.
GNAC TITLE
A win for Central Washington gives the Wildcats sole possession of the GNAC title. A win for Azusa Pacific gives way to a shared GNAC title between the Wildcats and Cougars.
