ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University football played host to Azusa Pacific Saturday night inside Tomlinson Stadium for its 2019 Homecoming game. The Wildcats (2-4, 1-1) were dominant the whole night on both sides of the ball as they mauled the Cougars (1-4, 1-2) for a 44-6 win on Homecoming night.
 
"Our kids have done a good job of continuing to learn where they are making mistakes and continuing to fix the problems," CWU Head Coach Chris Fisk said. "We've had some of the same problems during the first few weeks of the season, which is too long to have those problems. Things came together tonight as guys where in the correct gaps they were supposed to be. They made the plays they needed to make instead of trying to do too much." 
 
Tyren Sams intercepted a pass from Anthony Catalano on the Cougars' opening drive.  Catalano's pass on fourth down was snagged by Sams to put an early halt to the Cougars' first drive.
 
The Wildcats got on the board first with 11:26 to go in the opening quarter. The Wildcats forced a turnover on downs on the Cougars opening drive and bounced back going 70 yards to get on the board first.
 
From 22 yards out, quarterback Christian Moore found Tyson Rainwater in the back-right corner of the end zone. Following the PAT, CWU held a 7-0 lead and it was the first time in the season they had scored against the opposition first.
 
The Cougars looked to respond on the next drive and got down to the Wildcats six-yard line. On a fourth-and-two, CWU got another turnover on downs to hold its lead. The offense once again rewarded the defense for its stop.
 
Central extended its lead to 10-0 when they nailed a 38-yard field goal attempt on the boot of Patrick Hegarty. His first made field goal of the 2019 season gave the Wildcats a two-score edge with 3:16 left in the first quarter. It remained 10-0 going into the second.
 
The Wildcats extended the lead to 17-0 with 9:20 to play in the second quarter when Moore threw his second touchdown of the half, this time to Robert Mason III from 34 yards out. With the PAT good, the Wildcats held a commanding lead over the Cougars.
 
Azusa Pacific was able to finally get on the board with 6:10 left to play in the first half. Their defense picked off Moore deep in CWU territory and capitalized on it. Quarterback Anthony Catalano hit Noah Bogardus for a 32-yard pass to make it 17-6 game following the PAT.
 
The Crimson and Black got the seven points back on the ensuing possession when Moore found a third CWU receiver for a touchdown. It was Tony Archie who made the catch, this one from 44 yards out, and the Wildcats led 24-6 with 4:15 left in the first half.
 
Azusa tried to get another three points on the board on their next possession but the CWU defense was too much to handle for the front line. Marcus Schimmelfennig got through the line and blocked the field goal attempt and Hamilton Hunt was there for the recovery at the CWU 19.
 
Central was unable to use the field goal block as the clock had just 1:08 on it. They punted the ball and the clock ran down to :00 to make it a 24-6 lead for CWU going into the locker room.
 
The Wildcats got the ball to start the second half after they deferred to start the game. The offense once again made the Cougars defense pay. Moore hit Rainwater for a second time and early in the third from 22 yards for the touchdown.
 
Moore's touchdown pass was his fourth of the night and the second to Rainwater. With the PAT good, CWU held a 31-6 advantage over Azusa Pacific with 13:05 left in the third.
 
"Christian [Moore] is finding the consistency he didn't have through fall camp and the early part of the season," Coach Fisk noted. "Anytime you bring in a new offensive coordinator and a new offense, there's some familiarity issues. I think Christian [Moore] and Coach [Kelly] Bills are getting to know one another. Coach [Kelly] Bills is figuring out what Christian [Moore] does well and we are playing to those strengths." 
 
The Crimson and Black once again found the end zone after they forced the Cougars to punt once more. On a fourth and sixth, CWU looked to kick a 40-yard field goal but played the fake and it worked perfectly. JoJo Hillel threw a 23-yard strike to James Marsh. The PAT missed but the Wildcats extended their lead to 37-6 with 9:04 left in the third.
 
Central's offense was clicking on all cylinders and it showed on a drive late in the third. The team got the ball with 6:23 on the clock at their own 10-yard line that ate up all but the final 54 seconds of the quarter. The drive ended with a 42-yard field goal attempt by Hegarty, but it fell short.
 
Despite the miss, the Wildcats were in complete control with a 37-6 lead going into the final 15 minutes of action.
 
The Wildcats defense continued to bully the Cougars going into the fourth. After they forced them to punt, the Cougars recovered a muffed catch by CWU and managed to get deep into CWU territory early in the fourth. It did not matter as the Wildcats forced another turnover on downs to get the ball back.
 
The offense continued its dominance as well with another touchdown pass. Once again hooking up for the score was Moore to Rainwater for a third time. Moore hit Rainwater for a 13-yard pass and with the PAT the Wildcats lead jumped to 44-6.
 
The Wildcats held on for the final of 44-6 and avenged their loss to the Cougars from 2018. The win also snapped a two-game skid for CWU.
 
Moore finished with 423 yards through the air, with five touchdowns, on 37 attempts.  He completed 26 of his passes.  Roots finished with 102 yards on 17 carries, averaging six yards per carry. Rainwater led the receiving corps with 10 catches, 177 yards, and three touchdowns. Archie and Hillel each had a receiving touchdown each as well.  Defensively, Isaiah Carbajal and Windy Isaia each recorded a pair of sacks. Jeremiah Vasquez led the Wildcat defense with eight total tackles. Grady Graff finished with seven.
 
"We had a heck of a day throwing the ball. We had 200-yards rushing, but we had six holding penalties," Coach Fisk said. "There are still things we need to fix offensively. Overall, belief and staying within the system are huge. We have a process and a plan and our kids are sticking with the plan and believing in the plan even when you're 1-4. Our tam comes in and works hard day in and day out and that's kind of the secret sauce to it." 
 
Central Washington is back in action on Saturday (Oct. 19) as they travel to Western Oregon for a GNAC matchup. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.