ELLENSBURG, Wash. - It's Homecoming Week! Central Washington Wildcats Football is back home this weekend to host rival Azusa Pacific University for the 2019 CWU Homecoming Game. The Wildcats will look to get back to their winning ways when they battle the Cougars this Saturday night inside Tomlinson Stadium.

GAME INFORMATION
vs. Azusa Pacific Cougars
Saturday, Oct. 12
6:00 p.m. PT
Tomlinson Stadium
Ellensburg, Wash.

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 and Soma Lambert on the sidelines. The pregame tailgate show will get started at 5:30 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
• Wildcats Football is back home this weekend for the third time this season and just their second overall Great Northwest Athletic Conference game. CWU hosts the Azusa Pacific for the 2019 Homecoming Game.
• CWU is coming off a near come-from-behind road win against West Texas A&M Buffaloes last Saturday. The Wildcats surged for 31 second half points but fell by one score, 48-41, to the Buffs on the road.
• 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 Cougars are coming off a bye week and did not play last weekend. Their last game, on Sept. 28, was a 38-12 win over The Clan of Simon Fraser (B.C.). APU is 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the GNAC.
• APU was selected as the favorites in the 2019 GNAC Preseason Coaches Poll. They received two first-place votes and tallied 24 points in the poll. The Cougars were the preseason favorites after finishing 2018 with an 8-4 overall record, going 7-1 in the GNAC, and winning a share of the conference crown.
• The Wildcats will continue GNAC play on the road next Saturday, Oct. 19 as they travel to Monmouth, Ore. to take on Western Oregon for the second time this season.
 
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Chris Fisk
On Corrections His Team Needs to Make Going into Week 6: It hasn't changed from where we were a week ago. We're just trying to fix the things we need to fix and become more consistent. We need to find a way to start games fast, and that's something we're more focused on and we're still focused on trying to fix our run defense. Also, still trying to find a consistency in the passing game and on offense to not turn the ball over.
On the Matchup Against Azusa Pacific: It's always going to b a physical matchup is all this [game] always ends up. It becomes one that is in the trenches based on whether or not they can run the ball or if when can run the ball. If you look at last year's game [with Azusa Pacific] for the conference championship, when they beat us here at home, we allowed their quarterback to run all over the field so we are going to have to do a great job containing their quarterback. Overall, have a lot of respect for Coach [Victor] Santa Cruz, the program, the job he does and the consistency they play with year in and year out. They play hard, they have very good talent on both sides of the ball, along with special teams, and they've got a dedicated coaching staff that works very hard.
 
GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• The Wildcats picked up a GNAC Player of the Week honor for the fifth consecutive week and the second overall one on Offense.
• Christian Moore was named the GNAC Offensive Player of the Week after taking over reigns at quarterback for the Wildcats midway through the second quarter against the Buffs.
• Moore put 339 yards of passing on 18-31 completions and tallied four touchdowns in CWU's near comeback win. He also rushed for 13 yards on seven carries and finished the game with 352 yards of total offense.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• The Wildcats and Cougars will battle on the gridiron for the 18th time overall this Saturday. CWU currently holds a 10-7 advantage in the series.
• In 2018, the two squads split at 1-1 with both teams getting a win on each other's home turf. CWU won 45-31 in Glendora, Calif., while APU won 42-35 in Ellensburg.
• Since the turn of the decade, the Wildcats and Cougars are an even 6-6 against each other in 12 matchups.
 
LAST MEETING WITH AZUSA PACIFIC
• CWU and APU matched up at the end of the season in Ellensburg for the GNAC Title and a berth to the NCAA-II Playoffs. The Cougars walked away with a 42-35 win and a share of the conference crown.
• The Wildcats held a slim 21-20 lead going into the fourth quarter, but the Cougars outscored them 22-14 in the final 15 minutes to secure the road win.
• Cedric Cooper led the offense with 166 yards of total offense and three rushing touchdowns. He rushed for 121 yards on 19 carries and caught three passes for 45 yards.
• Reilly Hennessey went 15-27 for 315 yards passing and threw two touchdowns. He also rushed for 63 yards to finish with 378 yards of total offense.
• Ryan Ramones led the receiving corps with 150 yards on the day on three catches. He also pulled in one touchdown.
• Three Wildcats finished with double figure tackles. Cod O'Connell led the charge with 13. He also had the most solo tackles with eight.
• Donte Hamilton and Billy Greer each finished 10 tackles, respectively. Both players had two solo tackles and eight assisted.
• Uli Ma'ae finished with nine tackles and had one tackle for loss that totaled 10 yards.
 
ABOUT THE COUGARS
• Azusa Pacific will come into Tomlinson Stadium with a 1-3 overall record and a 1-1 mark in conference play. The Cougars are coming off their first win two weeks ago against Simon Fraser, 38-12.
• The Cougars did not see any action in week four as the team was on a bye week. The started the season dropping their first three contests, including the GNAC opener against Western Oregon, picking up a win.
• Two players have split time at quarterback for the Cougars in Tyrone Williams Jr. and Anthony Catalano.
• Catalano has played in all four games this season. He is 33-67 on the year with 381 yards and has three touchdown passes to go with one interception.
• Williams Jr. is 50-93 on the season with 679 yards in three games of action. He also has three touchdowns on the year but has thrown two picks as well.
• Williams Jr.'s average of 226.3 passing yards per game currently ranks second highest in the GNAC. He is also second in pass efficiency at 121.4 and third in total offense with 228.0 yards per game.
• Catalano is also the team's leading rusher with 174 yards on the season. He has carried the ball 17 times and has one touchdown on the ground.
• Dante Davis leads the way in rushing touchdowns with three. He has 79 total yards in two games played and has rushed the ball 16 times.
• Jasiah Richard-Lewis is APU's top receiver in four games played. He has pulled in 20 receptions for 349 yards and has one touchdown.
• Richard-Lewis is the GNAC leader in receptions per game at 5.0 and in receiving yards per game at 87.2.
• Brandon Jackson and Shane Hursh each have two receiving touchdowns to lead the Cougars. Jackson has 190 receiving yards, while Hursh has 136.
• Ben Sukut is the Cougars leading tackles with 23 on the season. Nine have come on his own merit and he has 1.0 sack and 1.0 tackle for loss.
• Sukut also leads the team in interceptions with two. His mark is also tied for second most in the GNAC.
• Micah Roth is second total tackles for APU with 22. He has also made 2.0 tackles for loss and pulled down one interception.
• Ulysses Pickett, Quentin Frazier and Lucas Olgiati all have reach 20 tackles this season as well. Pickett is third with 21, while Frazier and Olgiati each have 20.
• Pickett and Frazier are tied for the team lead in solo tackles with 11 each.
• As a team, APU leads the GNAC in time of possession and least amount of penalties. They hold the ball for an average of 31:57 and have committed just 27 penalties for 242 yards this season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Central Washington University football team dropped its second game in as many weeks as the team fell on the road Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats dropped a 48-41 non-conference bout at West Texas A&M.
• WT got on the board in the first 46 seconds of the opening frame. Jordan Johnson punched in an 18-yard run to go up 6-0 after the failed extra point. The Buffs scored quickly after Canon Racanelli was intercepted on the second play of the Wildcats opening drive.
• The Wildcats cut their deficit to three early on with a 36-yard field goal make from Gavin Todd. The Wildcats trailed 6-3 with 10:09 to play in the first quarter.
• CWU managed to pick off WT quarterback Nick Gerber thanks to the efforts of Tyren Sams. The Wildcats tried to capitalize on the ensuing drive, but Todd missed the field goal attempt from 32 yards out.
• The Buffs ensuing drive resulted in a touchdown with the help a Jarrod Compton 44-yard touchdown run. The Buffs led 13-3 and added one more score right as the first quarter ended.
• On the Wildcats final drive of the opening quarter they were forced to punt from their own 30, but the Patrick Hegarty attempt was blocked and the Buffs recovered it in the end zone to make it a 20-3 game.
• WT forced CWU to punt on it first drive of the second and once again answered on the ensuing drive. Duke Carter IV answered for the Buffs with a one-yard scamper to make it a 27-3 lead early.
• The Wildcats countered on their next drive as they scored their first touchdown of the game. Racanelli hit Tony Archie in stride for a 13-yard score to cut the game to 27-10.
• WT answered on the next possession to keep a comfortable distance from CWU. Gerber threw a nine-yard strike to Semaj Mitchell for the touchdown. The score jumped to 34-10 and remained that going into halftime.
• The score grew to 41-10 for the Buffs when Gerber found Juwan McCall in stride for a 50-yard touchdown pass. Following the PAT, the Buffs held a commanding 41-10 lead.
• Christian Moore, who came in midway through the second quarter, was able to lead the Wildcats down the field on the following drive to cut the score to 41-17. He hit Archie for his second touchdown of the game with a 26-yard pass.
• The score remained 41-17 in favor of Buffs going into the fourth. The Wildcats offense surged in the fourth outscoring the Buffs 24-7 to bring the final to 48-41.
• CWU got its scoring surge started early on in the fourth with the help of a drive that started late in the third. Moore threw his second touchdown of the day when he hit Michael Roots for a 41-yard score. Roots then converted on the two-point try to cut the score to 41-25.
• WT's lone touchdown of the game came on the very next possession as Compton ran in from 14 yards out to push the lead to 48-25.
• The Wildcats punted on their next drive but forced the Buffs' offense to take a field goal attempt from 47 yards out on their ensuing drive. The kick fell short and kept the game at 48-25. Moore and the offense hoped to capitalize but he was picked off on the first play of the possession.
• Following another punt by WT, CWU drove 59 yards in just three plays to cut their deficit to 16 points with 3:44 on the clock. Moore found Mykel Campbell for his first touchdown of the year when he caught a pass for the 26-yard strike.
• CWU's defense found a rhythm and forced WT to punt once more. The offense rewarded them once more as Moore threw touchdown No. 3 of the day thanks to a 55-yard deep play to Tyson Rainwater. Roots tried to convert the two-point try but failed and the Wildcats trailed 48-38.
• Hegarty then went for an onside kick with 1:42 on the clock and the Wildcats were able to recover the ball thanks to Tevin Gray securing the kick. Moore then drove the offense from their own 47 to the WT 16 before a penalty forced them to kick a field goal.
• Todd nailed the attempt from 40 yards out and cut the score to its final of 48-41. The Wildcats tried to recover another onside kick but were unsuccessful.
• Moore finished with 339 yards through the air to go along with four touchdowns on 18-31 passing.
• Roots totaled 207 yards rushing on 21 attempts. Rainwater had a career day pulling in six receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown. Archie had two touchdown receptions to go along with 76 receiving yards and six total grabs.
• Daeon Hudson led the defensive unit for CWU with 12 total tackles and six were on his own merit. He also has two tackles for loss. Cody O'Connell and Jeremiah Vasquez each had eight total tackles in the game, respectively.
 
THE WILDCATS IN GNAC PLAY
• CWU is 0-1 to start GNAC play following the loss to Western Oregon on Sept. 28.
• The Wildcats are 0-1 in GNAC play under Chris Fisk.
• Overall, CWU is now 84-24 all-time in GNAC play since 2001.
 
THE WILDCATS AT HOME
• The Wildcats are 0-2 in 2019 in games played at Tomlinson Stadium.
• The Wildcats are 189-81-5 overall in 61 seasons of playing home games at Tomlinson Stadium. They are 0-2 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 finished 2018 with a record of 7-1 when leading at halftime.
• Central Washington in 1-4 under Chris Fisk when tied or trailing at halftime.
• The Wildcats have not led at halftime any game this season so far.
 
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 0-1 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 169 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 five games.
 
2019 GNAC STAT LEADERS
• CWU still leads the GNAC in total offense. The team averages 467.0 yards per game, which is now the 18th highest mark in Division II.
• The Wildcats are second in scoring offense averaging 32.4 points per game.
• CWU's passing averaging of 282.8 yards per game leads the GNAC. Their rushing attack is second averaging 184.2 yards per contest.
• Michael Roots is the GNAC leader in rushing yards per game (140.4) and total yards (702).
• Roots' total rushing yards is currently seventh best in Division II, while his average ranks eighth overall.
• Tony Archie is tied for the GNAC lead in receiving touchdowns with four and is third in the GNAC in receiving yards per game (67.2).
• Archie's total receptions (24) leads the GNAC and his receptions per game (4.8) is second best in the conference.
• Canon Racanelli is fourth in the GNAC in total offensive yards per game with an average of 189.0.
• Roots is fifth the GNAC in total offense averaging 140.4 yards per game for CWU.
• Eric Wilkes is the GNAC leader in average kickoff return yards at 23.3. His 303 total return yards also leads the GNAC, while his 13 total returns are second.
• Defensively, the Wildcats have one individual ranked in the top-five in the GNAC in total tackles. Hamilton Hunt leads the team with 46 and is second in the GNAC overall.
• In terms of solo tackles, Hunt is one of three conference leaders with 23. Cody O'Connell is also tied for the lead with 23.
• Billy Greer is the conference leader in sacks with three this season. His 15 sacks yards is tied for second most. He tied for third in tackles for loss with 3.5.
• Tevin Gray is tied for the GNAC's top spot in tackles for loss. He has 5.0 on the year for total loss of 19 yards.
• Tyren Sams owns the top spot in interceptions for the GNAC with three on the year.
• Sams' 53 return yards from those three picks also leads the conference. McKenzie is tied for second in total interceptions with two.
• Isaiah Carbajal, Hunt, O'Connell, Greer and Hamilton are tied for second in forced fumbles with one, while McKenzie is tied for second in fumble recoveries, also with one.
• Patrick Hegarty is third in total punt yards with 926.
• Gavin Todd is tied for the GNAC lead in PAT's attempted and made. He is 16-18 on the year and his 88.9 kicking percentage is also second best in the GNAC.
• 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 11th 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 currently ninth all-time in total rushing yards with 1,769. He just two yards from moving up to eighth all-time.
• He needs just one more 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 be back in action this weekend for a full slate of games this Saturday.
• CWU hosts Azusa Pacific in the only conference game of the week with kickoff set for 6 p.m. PT.
• Western Oregon is at Texas A&M-Kingsville for a non-conference bout. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. PT.
• Simon Fraser will head to Utah to take on Dixie State. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. PT.
 
A WIN OVER WEST AZUSA PACIFIC WOULD...
• Give CWU its first GNAC win of the season and move them to 1-1 in the GNAC.
• Give CWU its second win of the season and move them to 2-4 on the year.
• Give the Wildcats their first home win of the season.
• Give Chris Fisk his first career win inside Tomlinson Stadium.
 
A LOSS TO WEST AZUSA PACIFIC WOULD...
• Be the second straight loss to APU and the second straight at home.
• Hand CWU its fifth loss of the season.
• Hand Chris Fisk his first career loss to Azusa Pacific.
• Move the Wildcats record to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the GNAC.
 
WILDCATS FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In 104 seasons of CWU Football the Wildcats have compiled a 521-338-24 (.604) record in 883 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 139-66 (.678) all time in 205 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.
• 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 continue GNAC play next weekend on the road as they get set for the rematch against Western Oregon in Monmouth. Kickoff will be at 1:05 p.m. PT at McArthur Field.