ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Central Washington Wildcats Football is set for a high stakes matchup this weekend when they take on conference leading Western Oregon on the road in Monmouth. The Wildcats will look to hand the Wolves their first Great Northwest Athletic Conference loss and put themselves back in the hunt for at least a share of the conference crown.

GAME INFORMATION
at Western Oregon Wolves
Saturday, Oct. 19
1:05 p.m. PT
McArthur Field
Monmouth, Ore.

ON THE AIR
• The game will be broadcast on KCWU Radio's 88.1 "The Burg" and 881theburg.com with Jeff MacMillan and Dave Heaverlo calling the action. The pregame tailgate show will get started at 12:30 p.m. PT on the Wildcat Sports Radio Network.
• The game will be webcast online for free through Central Washington's Stretch Internet portal at http://www.portal.stretchinternet.com/cwu/. The game will also be available to view On Demand following the conclusion of the live event.

KICKOFF
• Central Washington hits the road this weekend as GNAC play rolls on. The team takes on Western Oregon for a rematch and the chance to stay in the hunt for a conference crown.
• The Wildcats are coming off their biggest win of the season in a 44-6 thrashing of rival Azusa Pacific at home for Homecoming. The win also snapped a two-game skid for the Wildcats. They stand at 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the GNAC.
• The Wildcats were picked to finish second in the GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll behind Azusa Pacific. They received one first-place vote and tallied eight points in the poll.
• The Wolves are 4-2 overall entering the weekend and are 3-0 in GNAC play. After a 0-2 start to the year, WOU has won its last four, including a win at CWU back in week four. They have already defeated each GNAC team once and are the only undefeated team left in conference play.
• Western Oregon was picked to finish third in the GNAC preseason Coaches Poll behind CWU and Azusa Pacific. The Wolves tallied 16 points and received on first place vote.
• The Wildcats will return home next weekend for another GNAC contest as they take on Simon Fraser for the first time in the 2019 season.
 
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Chris Fisk
On the Big Win Against Azusa Pacific for Homecoming: It was good to go out and get a big win like that in front of our home crowd. We dominated all three phases of the game and I was super proud of the way our guys played and executed the game plan. It felt good to finally put a complete game together.
On Carrying the Momentum from the APU win into the Western Oregon Game: We're still going to do what we've been doing. We made some changes to get where we were last week and we're going to do those things. Already losing to Western Oregon at home provides the motivation our guys need. This game is a key tilt in the conference standings and our guys are aware of that and understand the mission of what they need to do this weekend.
On What It Will Take to Beat a 3-0 [GNAC] Western Oregon Team: We have got to stop the run. That was the glaring things from the last game [against WOU], so run defense needs to be much improved. We can't allow their quarterback to scramble and run around on us on third and long. We have to get off the field on third down. We also have to win the time of possession. That last game we did not have enough offensive possessions to do a lot and we need to get our defense off the field and avoid those long drives. Our defense takes that personally so we're excited to go redeem ourselves.
 
GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• The Wildcats picked up a GNAC Player of the Week honor for the sixth consecutive week and second straight one on Offense following the win against Azusa Pacific.
• Christian Moore was named the GNAC and D2football.com Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row after his first collegiate start at quarterback led to a big win for the Wildcats.
• The redshirt sophomore had a career day as he threw for 423 yards on 26-37 pass completions and racked up five touchdowns. He found three different receivers for his five touchdowns and also was a threat on the ground rushing for 70 yards on 11 carries. He finished the night with 493 yards of total offense.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• The Wildcats and Wolves will square off for the second time this season and the 63rd time overall. CWU leads the series 41-21.
• In Monmouth, CWU is 17-13 against WOU and has won each of the last three contests. WOU last defeated CWU at home in 2015. Since the turn of the decade, the two teams are 4-4 in the last eight matchups.
• Since the turn of the century, CWU is 27-6 against Western Oregon. Since the turn of the decade, CWU is 14-5 against Western Oregon.
• Western Oregon Head Coach Arne Ferguson is just 5-22 all-time against CWU. Prior to the win back on week four, WOU had dropped the previous six games to CWU.
 
LAST MEETING WITH WESTERN OREGON
• The Wolves racked 499 yards of total offense, including 328 rushing yards to secure a 36-26 road win against the Wildcats back on Sept. 28 inside Tomlinson Stadium.
• The Wildcats put up 340 yards of total offense but were held scoreless in both the first and fourth quarter in the 10-point home loss.
• Canon Racanelli was just 14-26 passing with 195 yards but was picked off twice in the loss.
• Michael Roots scored all four of CWU's touchdowns and tallied 99 yards on 19 carries. He also had two catches for 31 yards.
• Ryan Ramones was the top receiver with 47 yards on three receptions.
• Hamilton Hunt led the way in total tackles with 18 and had 11 come on his own merit. He also had one [ass breakup.
• Jeremiah Vasquez has finished with double figure tackles with 10. Chaz McKenzie had one interception, while Billy Greer tallied two sacks.
 
ABOUT THE WOLVES
• Western Oregon rides a strong wave of momentum having won each of its last four games after starting the year 0-2. The four-game win streak also includes three GNAC wins and has the team at 3-0 in the GNAC.
• As a team, WOU leads the GNAC in all four major defensive categories of scoring, passing, rushing, and total yards.
• The Wolves also have the top rushing offense averaging 242.3 yards per game and are second in passing, scoring and total offense.
• Ty Currie is still the team's leading passer with 1,126 yards on 74-137 passing. He has nine touchdowns on the year and holds a 54.01% pass completion percentage.
• Currie averages 187.7 yards through the air per game. His average is third highest in the GNAC.
• Omari Land is the leading rusher with 536 yards on the year and an average of 89.3 per game. Both marks are second in the GNAC.
• Both Land and Currie have seven rushing touchdowns on the year which is tied for the GNAC lead.
• Tyler Reid leads the receivers with 13 receptions for 251 yards. He averages 41.83 yards per game and has one touchdown this season.
• Thomas Wright and Marquis Sampson are the leaders in touchdown receptions. The duo has two each, respectively.
• Three players are tied for the team lead in total tackles in Jaylin Parnell, Nate Proctor Jr. and Tyler Wharf. All three have 37 total tackles. Wharf is the leader in solo tackles with 21, while Parnell is second with 20.
• Tyrell Cummings leads the way in tackles for loss with 5.0 for 31 yards. He is also the sacks leader with 3.0 for 26 yards. His sacks total is tied for second most in the GNAC.
• Curtis Anderson is the top threat in the secondary with four interceptions on the year. His total is tied for the GNAC lead.
• Derek Parnell has also helped in the secondary breaking up 10 passes on the year to go along with one interception.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• 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 GNAC) were dominant the whole night on both sides of the ball as they mauled the Cougars (1-4, 1-2 GNAC) for a 44-6 win on Homecoming night.
• 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. 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 and stayed at that for the final.
• Moore finished with 423 yards through the air, with five touchdowns, on 26-37 passing. Roots finished with 102 yards on 17 carries.
• Rainwater led the receiving corps with 10 catches, 177 yards, and three touchdowns.  Archie and Mason III 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.
 
THE WILDCATS IN GNAC PLAY
• CWU is 1-1 to start GNAC play following the 44-6 home win over Azusa Pacific
• The Wildcats are 1-1 in GNAC play under Chris Fisk.
• Overall, CWU is now 85-24 all-time in GNAC play since 2001.
 
THE WILDCATS AT HOME
• The Wildcats are 1-2 in 2019 in games played at Tomlinson Stadium.
• The Wildcats are 189-81-5 (.696) overall in 61 seasons of playing home games at Tomlinson Stadium. They are 1-2 under Chris Fisk.
• CWU has posted 15 undefeated marks at home in the 61-year history of Tomlinson Stadium since its construction ahead of the 1959 season.
 
THE WILDCATS ON THE ROAD
• Central Washington is 1-2 on the road under Chris Fisk.
• The Wildcats picked up their first road win of the season with 36-27 victory at Western New Mexico.
• The Wildcats have finished each of the last two seasons with five or more wins on the road, including a perfect 6-0 mark in 2017.
 
WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF
• The Wildcats are 1-0 this season when leading opponents at halftime.
• Central Washington in 1-4 under Chris Fisk when tied or trailing at halftime.
• The Wildcats finished 2018 with a record of 7-1 when leading at halftime.
 
21 AND UP
• CWU is 0-2 under Chris Fisk when scoring 21 or more points and is 1-1 when scoring 30 or more points. They are 1-1 when scoring 40 or more points.
• CWU finished the 2018 campaign with 7-2 mark when scoring at least 21 points in a game.
• When scoring 30 or more points, the Wildcats went 8-1 when scoring at least 30 points last season and were 8-0 when scoring 40 or more points.
 
HIGH POWERED CAT ATTACK
• The Wildcats have scored at least one touchdown in 170 consecutive games to keep a streak of not being shutout intact.
• The scoring streak dates back to week four of the 2004 season.
• In 2019, CWU has rushed for 100-plus yards in six games.
 
2019 GNAC STAT LEADERS
• CWU still leads the GNAC in total offense. The team averages 550.3 yards per game. That mark is seventh in Division II going into the weekend.
• The Wildcats now lead the GNAC in scoring with an average of 34.3 points per game, which is 39th in Division II.
• CWU's passing averaging of 310.0 yards per game leads the GNAC. The average is ninth in Division II.
• The Wildcats are second in the conference in rushing offense with 190.3 yards per game. They are 42nd in Division II with that average.
• Michael Roots is still the GNAC leader in rushing yards per game (134.0) and total yards (804).
• Roots' total rushing yards is currently fifth best in Division II, while his average ranks sixth.
• Tony Archie is tied for the GNAC lead in receiving touchdowns with five and is fourth in the GNAC in receiving yards per game (67.0).
• Archie's total receptions (28) leads the GNAC and his receptions per game (4.7) is also the top average in the GNAC.
• Roots is sixth the GNAC in total offense averaging 134.0 yards per game for the Wildcats. He leads the GNAC in all-purpose yards averaging 176.8, which is sixth in Division II.
• Eric Wilkes is the GNAC leader in average kickoff return yards at 23.3. His 303 total return yards and 13 total returns are second.
• Defensively, the Wildcats have two individuals ranked in the top-five in the GNAC in total tackles. Hamilton Hunt leads the team with 49 and is second in the GNAC overall.
• Jeremiah Vasquez is tied for fourth in total tackles in the GNAC with 39. His mark is second best for CWU.
• Billy Greer is the conference leader in sacks with four this season. His 21 sack yards is second most. He is tied for third in tackles for loss with 5.5.
• Tevin Gray owns the GNAC's top spot in tackles for loss. He has 6.5 on the year for total loss of 28 yards.
• Isaiah Carbajal is second in the GNAC in tackles for loss with 6.0. He has 13 yards total in those tackles.
• Tyren Sams is tied for the lead in interceptions for the GNAC with four on the year.
• Sams' 53 return yards from those four picks also leads the conference. McKenzie is tied for third in total interceptions with two.
• Patrick Hegarty is second in total punt yards with 996.
• Gavin Todd is the GNAC leader in both PAT and field goal percentage at 88.9.
• Todd is also the GNAC leader in field goals attempted and made. He is 8-9 on the year and his 88.9 field goal percentage is seventh best in Division II.
 
WILDCATS IN THE RECORD BOOKS
• A pair of Wildcats are climbing the top-10 all-time in the CWU record book in Michael Roots and Gavin Todd.
• Roots is eighth all-time in total rushing yards with 1,871. He is 208 yards from moving up to seventh.
• He needs just one more rushing touchdown to take sole possession of ninth and two to tie for seventh.
• Todd is now tied for sixth all-time in program history in field goals made with 18. He needs two more to move up to fifth all-time.
• He is 10th in CWU history in field goals attempted with 23 and is now one away from moving up to a tied for ninth all-time.
 
AROUND THE GNAC
• All four GNAC squads will square off in a pair of conference contests this Saturday, Oct. 19.
• CWU is on the road at Western Oregon. Kickoff is at 1:05 p.m. PT.
• Simon Fraser travels to Glendora, Calif. to battle Azusa Pacific. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. PT.
 
A WIN OVER WESTERN OREGON WOULD...
• Give CWU its second GNAC win of the season and a 42-21 series lead over WOU.
• Hand the Wolves their first GNAC loss and a season split with the Wildcats at 1-1.
• Give the Wildcats their first win of the season over WOU.
• Give Chris Fisk his first career win against WOU.
 
A LOSS TO WESTERN OREGON WOULD...
• Be the second straight loss to WOU and move the series to 41-22 all-time.
• Hand CWU its fifth loss of the season and second straight to WOU.
• Hand Chris Fisk his second career loss to WOU.
• Give WOU its first ever series sweep against CWU in GNAC play.
 
WILDCATS FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In 104 seasons of CWU Football the Wildcats have compiled a 522-338-24 (.604) record in 884 total games played.
• The Wildcats have won 10 or more games nine times in the history of the program and have posted 11 seasons of eight or more wins.
• Since joining the NCAA in 2001, CWU is 140-66 (.680) all time in 206 games played.
• CWU won a school-record 12 games in 2009 and made it to the Quarterfinals of the NCAA-II Playoffs.
• CWU has won or shared a combined 16 conference titles in school history with the last coming in 2018.
• The Wildcats have qualified for NCAA-II Playoffs five times in their history since joining the NCAA in 2001, the last coming in 2017.
• As members of the NAIA the Wildcats made the NAIA Playoffs nine times and compiled an overall record of 10-8-1. They won a share of the NAIA National Championship in 1995 and made the semifinal round four times.
 
FISK AT THE HELM
• Central Washington Head Coach Chris Fisk is 1-4 all-time in his young career of leading the Wildcats.
• His first career win as the Wildcats head coach came on Sept. 21, 2019 in a 36-27 road win at Western New Mexico. His first career home win was a 44-6 victory over Azusa Pacific on Oct. 12, 2019
• Prior to becoming the CWU Head Coach, Fisk was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for CWU from 2016-18.
• In his second year as the offensive coordinator in 2017, Fisk helped guide the Wildcats offense that was one of the most-prolific in Division II as they made the NCAA-II Playoffs for the fifth time in school history.
• As the offensive coordinator, Fisk had the Wildcats offense rank in the top-five in Division II in total offense and scoring each of the last three seasons.
 
WILDCATS IN THE PROS
• There are five former Wildcats currently playing in the Canadian Football League (CFL) in Bo Banner (DE), Adam Bighill (LB), Kevin Haynes (LB), Bryson Kelly (DL), and Mike Reily (QB).
• Three former CWU football players have been selected in the National Football League (NFL) Draft. Byron Johnson was drafted in 1966 by the Dallas Cowboys, David Knapman was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, and Eric Boles was drafted by the New York Jets in 1992.
• CWU Hall of Fame Quarterback Jon Kitna played in the NFL for 16 seasons from 1997-2013 for four teams in the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, and the Dallas Cowboys.
• Kitna finished his professional career with 169 touchdown passes and 29,745 passing yards in 141 games played. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys.
 
UP NEXT
• CWU will be back home for another GNAC contest when they take on Simon Fraser for the first time this season on Saturday, Oct. 26. Kickoff will be at 6 p.m. PT inside Tomlinson Stadium.