ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Sept. 25) – The No. 14 Central Washington University football team takes on West Texas A&M at Tomlinson Stadium for the first home game under the lights in program history.
GAME INFORMATION
Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
Tomlinson Stadium
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"It's exciting, not only for the students but for the community. Our guys are pumped to play under the lights and make history by playing in the first night game at Tomlinson Stadium. The lights, the turf, and the changes to the stadium have created a brand-new atmosphere and we are excited to make Saturday night a memorable event within the Ellensburg community. We know West Texas is going to come ready to play and they'll bring a bit of a different system and style than we are used to. We are looking forward to a battle under the lights."
SCOUTING WEST TEXAS A&M
The Buffaloes are 2-2 on the season, including a 1-1 mark in Lone Star games. Earlier this season, the Buffs played Azusa Pacific University and fell 17-7.
In their latest outing, the Buffs picked up a 27-17 victory over Western New Mexico. Mitch Hood finished 8-for-17 for just 85 yards, with one touchdown, and one interception. Duke Carter IV ran for 150 yards and one touchdown. As a unit, the Buffs offense finished with 250 yards.
Defensively the Buffs allowed 426 yards of offense, including 354 yards through the air. Western New Mexico quarterback Blayne Armstrong finished 34-for-49 in the aerial assault, connecting for two touchdowns.
The Buffaloes have played a pair of opponents who were receiving votes at the time of the game, Azusa Pacific and Tarleton State, but West Texas fell in both games.
Their game against Azusa Pacific was a defensive battle. The Buffs fell behind 14-0 with four and a half minutes left in the first half. Hood then led the Buffs on a nine-play, 81-yard drive to bring the Buffaloes back within one touchdown.
Hood finished with 229 passing yards on 23 completed passes.
Tobias Harris picked off a pass from Tyrone Williams Jr. on the ensuing Azusa Pacific drive, giving WT one last chance at the end zone in the first half. The Buffs drove inside the Cougars' 10-yard line, but came away empty handed.
Harris later picked off another Williams Jr. pass in the fourth quarter. The ensuing offensive drive for WT reached the red zone, but the Buffs failed to convert a fourth-and-one sealing the game for Azusa Pacific.
In their game against Tarleton State, the Buffs held the Texans scoreless on their first three drives, before a 34-yard field goal gave Tarleton State a 3-0 advantage. The Texans extended their lead to 16-0, before Carter IV carried a 10-yard rush into the end zone.
Tarleton State then scored on their first two drives of the second half, pulling ahead 37-7. They tacked on one more score for a 44-7 final.
LAST TIME OUT
The Wildcats routed Simon Fraser University 63-10 on Burnaby Mountain last Saturday.
Christian Cummings barreled his way through the defense for three rushing touchdowns.
Reilly Hennessey threw one touchdown and rushed for two more.
Michael Roots led all DII rushers on Top 25 teams with 186 rushing yards. The Wildcats compiled a total of 601 yards of offense. The Wildcats scored at least 14 points in every quarter.
In the first half, the CWU defense held Simon Fraser to just 42 rushing yards on 11 carries. They held Simon Fraser to a total of 65 yards on the ground for the game.
BJ Hawthorne intercepted his first pass of the season.
Uli Ma'ae and
Tevin Gray each recorded seven tackles, while
Jack Weidenbach chipped in six.
BIG MAN WITH HANDS
In last week's victory over Simon Fraser,
Winterhawk Leighton caught a touchdown pass from
Michael Roots in the second quarter.
Reilly Hennessey handed the ball of to Roots near the goal line and Roots shoveled it to a wide-open Leighton to give the Wildcats a 28-0 lead.
TOMLINSON STADIUM RENOVATIONS
For the first time since 1959, major renovations have taken place at Tomlinson Stadium. A turf field replaces the natural grass surface the Wildcats have played on since Tomlinson opened in 1959. In addition to the turf surface, lights were added around the field to accommodate evening and night games. Renovations to the ticketing booths, gates, as well as the restrooms were also completed over the summer.
OFFENSIVE PROWESS
The Wildcats' offense has been stellar in 2018. They lead the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in points per game (43.8), which is also eighth among NCAA DII teams. They also lead the GNAC in first downs per game (24.5), rushing yards per game (244.5), total yards per game (466.2). All of which are inside the top 20 programs in Division II.
The Wildcats rank 17
th in the country in 3
rd down conversion percentage (47.1), are tied for 10
th in 4
th down conversion percentage (80.0), and 12
th in total first downs (99) and red zone offense conversion percentage (.955)
SPECIAL TEAMS POINTS
The Wildcats are currently tied for second in the NCAA in blocked kicks with four.
Chase DeMoor and
Chaz McKenzie have each blocked a pair of kicks. Both of McKenzie's blocks have been returned for touchdowns, the first returned by McKenzie himself. Virginia Union leads the NCAA with six blocked kicks.
