BURNABY, B.C., Canada – The Central Washington University football team claimed their third consecutive GNAC title with their 51-14 victory over Simon Fraser University.
 
"It's a testament to the greats we have and the great coaches we have," CWU Head Coach Chris Fisk said afterward.  "Everyone has worked incredibly hard to get to where we are and I'm incredibly proud of them."
 
After exchanging punts on two separate drives each, Simon Fraser took over again with an even 12:00 on the clock.  After a pair of rushes for seven yards, and an incomplete pass, Kees Metselaar stepped back for his third punt of the afternoon, Brett Accimus had other ideas.  He blocked Metselaar's punt and it was recovered at Simon Fraser's two yard-line by Tevin Gray, who scampered in for the contest's first points.  Patrick Hegarty tacked on the point after for a 7-0 CWU lead.
 
"Anytime you can go to block a punt and score off it, it puts you in the driver's seat," Fisk added.  "Those special team plays are great for momentum and a great way to start the game.  It's great to see a guy like Tevin, who has meant so much to our program, scoop up the ball there and score."
 
The Wildcats' defense forced another punt on the ensuing drive from the Clan and Christian Moore and the Wildcat offense took over on their own 22-yard line.  Michael Roots broke free for a 29-yard rush on the drive's opening play.  After another Roots' rush and, 10-yard completion from Moore to Tyson Rainwater, Eric Wilkes broke loose on a 15-yard run.  Three plays later, Moore found Drake Owen for a 16-yard touchdown pass.  Hegarty's PAT made it 14-0 Wildcats.
 
At the start of the second quarter, the Wildcats picked up a first and goal with a 13-yard run from JoJo Hillel.  The very next play, Moore found Hillel open for a 9-yard touchdown pass.
 
Simon Fraser found the end zone on the ensuing drive.  After chipping away at the Wildcats' defense on the drive, SFU finally found the end zone on a 10-yard pass.   The ensuing point after made brought the Clan within two possessions, 21-7.
 
Central Washington responded quickly.  Just six plays into the drive, Hillel found Mykel Campbell on a 22-yard touchdown reception and a 28-7 lead with 7:10 to play in the second quarter.  Simon Fraser pushed down the field from their own 44-yard line before finishing the drive on a 1-yard touchdown run, cutting their deficit back to 14.  It was all the scoring Simon Fraser would do on the day, however.
 
The Wildcats scored on their final possession of the first half, capping a seven-play drive with a 5-yard run from Moore for a 35-14 lead. 
 
Moore once again found Rainwater for a touchdown pass on the second drive of the third quarter.  The Wildcats went for it on fourth down, when Moore found Rainwater for 14 yards and a first down.  He found the connection again on the next play, extending the Crimson and Black's lead to 41-14.
 
Ivan Cordova's defense forced another three and out from the Clan and brought the Wildcats' offense back on to the field at their own 38-yard line.  After a pair of runs from Wilkes, Moore completed a 42-yard pass to Kaiden Hammond, setting the Wildcats up on SFU's 11-yard line.  The Clan were able to hold the Wildcats on three consecutive plays, however, forcing the field goal unit onto the field.  Hegarty knocked through the 28-yard field goal to extend the Wildcats' lead to 44-14 with 2:34 to play in the third quarter.
 
On the opening play of the ensuing drive for Simon Fraser, Jeremiah Vasquez forced a fumble and it was recovered by Hamilton Hunt to bring the CWU offense back on the field from the Clan's 25-yard line.
 
It took just three plays for the Wildcats to make their way into the end zone.  Moore found Hillel open for a 20-yard touchdown pass and a 51-14 advantage.
 
Moore finished 16-for-34 on the evening.  He threw for 234 yards, four touchdowns, and neither threw a pick or was sacked.  He added 24 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.  Roots finished with 84 yards on 16 carries.  Rainwater led the receiving group with seven catches, 110 yards, and one touchdown. Hillel reeled in four passes and two touchdowns.
 
"Christian did a great job today with tough conditions, weather wasn't great and the ball was a little wet, but he worked around it and was able to make plays," Fisk said of his quarterback.  "He has become the heart and soul of our team right now."
 
Defensively, Chaz McKenzie and Grady Graff led the Wildcats in tackles with seven each.  Graff had one tackle for loss.  Hunt and Gordon each recorded one sack.  Hunt had five tackles.
 
"Pretty consistent all day on defense," Fisk noted.  "Started a little slow and gave up a couple drives, but as the game settled in I think they did a good job limiting their big play receiver in John and keeping their quarterback in check."
 
The regular season is now complete with the Wildcats accumulating a 7-4 record.