ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Central Washington Wildcats Football rolls into week three of the 2019 season with another non-conference bout. The Wildcats head to Silver City, N.M. this weekend for a match-up against in-region opponent Western New Mexico University.

GAME INFORMATION
at Western New Mexico
Saturday, Sept. 21
11:00 a.m. PT
Ben Altamirano Field
Silver City, N.M.

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 10:30 a.m. PT on the Wildcat Sports Radio Network.
• The game will also be webcast online for free through Western New Mexico's Stretch Internet portal at http://lonestarconferencenetwork.com/wnmu/.

KICKOFF
• The Wildcats hit the road this weekend for another non-conference bout. Central Washington will head to Silver City, N.M. to take on Lone Star Conference foe Western New Mexico.
• In the 2019 home opener, the Wildcats battled with No. 2-ranked Ferris State for three quarters but a 28-point fourth quarter secured a 62-28 win for the visiting Bulldogs.
• Central Washington is coming off an 8-3 campaign from a season ago that saw the team win a share of the GNAC regular season title after finishing 7-1 in conference play.
• Western New Mexico is 0-2 to start the season after falling to NAIA opponent Ottawa (Ariz.) and NCAA Division I Northern Arizona.
• Dating back to the start of the 2018 season, the Mustangs have lost 12 straight games since they finished 4-7 in 2017.
• 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 Wildcats are 0-1 to start the 2019 campaign in true road games. Since the end of the 2018 season, CWU is currently on a three-game losing streak.
 
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Chris Fisk
On the Match-Up Against Western New Mexico: We're going into this game trying to fix ourselves first and foremost. Defensively, we've got to try and stop the run to force them to be one-dimensional with throwing the football. Offensively, we just need to get some consistency at the quarterback position and continue to expand our run game so that we do a good job on the ground ourselves.

On CWU Making the Long Trip to New Mexico: I think the guys are looking forward to getting on the road and making this long trip. The first time you do it there's some excitement in getting over to the airport and to the city. A lot of these guys, including myself, have never been to New Mexico and it's green chile season down there so we're looking forward to getting some good food on the road. With a lot of us never being in New Mexico before, there is some optimism for this trip. It's a new adventure for us so we are excited to hit the road and the guys are looking forward to getting out for that first overnight trip.

On His Team's Play Through the First Two Games: The word we've used with our team through these two games has been inconsistent. In some instances, we look like we belong in the top-10 in the country and in some instances, we look like we have no business being in the top-10 in the country. Right now, we're just trying to find that consistency that we strive for in all three phases of the game. Sometimes we look like a great team and sometimes we look like we have no idea what we're doing. So, it's about just trying to find that consistency so that we can take a young team and have them grow up. Hopefully we find that sooner rather than later.

GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• The Wildcats picked up a second consecutive GNAC Player of the Week accolade on defense to start the 2019 season.
• Hamilton Hunt was named the Defensive Player of the Week for CWU. He totaled 11 tackles (6 solo, 5 assisted) to go along with a sack, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble. His forced fumble was recovered by CWU and converted into a touchdown on the very next play.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• The Wildcats and Mustangs will battle on the gridiron for just the third time ever. It is the first time since the 2003 season.
• CWU leads Western New Mexico 2-0 all-time with wins coming in 2002 and 2003. CWU, has outscored Western New Mexico 97-13 in the series.
• The Wildcats won in 2002 by a final of 56-10 and came back the following year with a 41-3 win.
 
LAST MEETING WITH WESTERN NEW MEXICO
• CWU put up 41 total points in a thrashing of the Western New Mexico inside Tomlinson Stadium.
• Quarterback Zak Hill went 20-31 passing and put up 4 passing touchdowns to leads the Wildcats to the win.
•  In all, CWU put up 441 yards of total offense with 296 coming through the air. The run game totaled 145 yards for the Wildcats.
• Wide Receiver Jake Roberts had seven catches for 118 yards to go along with a touchdown to lead all players.
• Josh Lopez had four receptions for 56 and had a game-high two receiving touchdowns in the win as well.
• Landon Hall led the ground game in yards with 69 on seven carries, while Emilio Iniguez had 67 rush yards in 15 carries. Both players also ha d a rushing touchdown, respectively.
• Defensively, the Wildcats held the Mustangs to just 12 first downs. The Mustangs had just 280 yards of total offense on 95 rushing yards and 185 passing yards.
• Four different Wildcats finished with eight total tackles in the win. The defense also totaled eight sacks for a loss of 53 yards.
• Dustin Hawkins led the charge on defense with eight tackles (5a, 3ua) to go along with 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
• Mitch Richards also had eight tackles (5a, 3ua) and had the most tackles for loss with four. He also tallied two sacks.
• Blake Walker and Kellen Becker finished with eight tackles as well, respectively. The two combined for 4.5 tackles for loss and each player had a sack in the win.
 
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
• Western New Mexico is 0-2 to start the 2019 season and currently are on a 12-game losing streak dating back to the 2018 season.
• The Mustangs dropped their season opener on the road against NAIA opponent Ottawa (Ariz.) by a final score of 38-31. Week two saw Western New Mexico drop a 55-21 contest at NCAA Division I-FCS Northern Arizona.
• The Mustangs game against the Wildcats will be their 2019 season opener. Like the Wildcats, they are still in search of their first win of the season.
• Going into the weekend, Western New Mexico ranks near or at the very bottom of the Lone Star Conference in every major statistical category.
• The Mustangs offense is averaging 26.0 points per game on an average of 372.5 yards of total offense per game.
• Western New Mexico runs a spread offense but has a balance of using the run game as well. They average 152.5 yards per game on the ground and 220.0 yards through the air.
• Defensively, the Mustangs give up an average of 46.5 points per game on 546.0 yards of total offense.
• Opponents are averaging 147.5 rush yards and 298.5 pass yards per game against Western New Mexico.
• Offensively, the Mustangs have yet to score a single point in the fourth quarter this season.
• DeAndre Williams is the go o running back entering week three. He has totaled 163 yards in two games played on 27 rush attempts. He also has one touchdown on the year.
• Vincent Brown is right behind Williams in the ground game. He has the most touchdowns with four on 21 carries for 99 yards.
• CJ Fowler leads the Western New Mexico passing game with 440 yards in two starts. He is 41-of-70 overall with two touchdowns, but has also thrown three interceptions.
• Reggie Colson III is the team's leading receiver with 157 yards on the year. He has made 11 catches and has two touchdowns on the year.
• Josh Powell is the second leading receiver for the Mustangs. He also has 11 receptions this year and is two yards back of Colson III for the lead with 155.
• Three players are tied for the lead on defense in interceptions with one apiece. Tied for the lead are Isaiah Perez, Isaiah Edwards, and Trevor Webb Jr.
• Roosevelt Calhoun Jr. is the team's leading tackler going into the weekend with 19 total. He as nine solo tackles and 10 assisted.
• James Lee is second in total tackles with 16. Of his 16 tackles seven have come on a solo effort. He leads the way in tackles for loss with 3.5 and sacks with 2.0.
• Five other Mustangs have tallied double figure tackles in two games played. Dante James-Fainga and Matthew Macon are tied for third with 13, respectively.
• Rounding out the double-digit tackles for Western New Mexico are Joe Tito with 11, Errick Dorsey with 11, and Isaiah Edwards with 10.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Wildcats kicked off the home portion of their schedule inside Tomlinson Stadium against No. 2 Ferris State. The Wildcats dropped a 62-28 contest to the Bulldogs.
• The Bulldogs (2-0) used two quarters of scoring 20 or more points to take down the Wildcats in their home opener. They totaled 627 yards of offense with 356 coming on the ground. They added six rushing touchdowns as well.
• The Wildcats passing game put up 318 yards passing between Canon Racanelli and Christian Moore. Of CWU's four touchdowns, three came through the ground game. Michael Roots accounted for all three rushing touchdowns.
• The opening quarter started off with both defenses batting as it was just a 7-7 tie going into the second. The game's first score came at the 4:23 mark when Evan Cummins scored on a 21 yard touchdown run.
• The Wildcats answered right when the clock hit :00 in the first quarter. Racanelli hit Drake Owen down the right sideline for a 48 yard score.
• The second quarter saw Ferris State put up 20 points while CWU had just seven to make it a 27-14 game entering halftime. 2018 Harlon Hill Trophy winner Jayru Campbell threw a 14 yard touchdown pass to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead early in the second.
• The Wildcats answered with 9:43 to go in the second quarter when Roots scored on a two yard run.
• The Bulldogs capitalized on a fumble by the Wildcats on a punt return. A five yard touchdown run put the score 20-14 game with 6:52 left in the first half. On the first play of ensuing CWU possession Racanelli was picked off and Bulldogs offense was back on the field.
• Ferris State then burned nearly 3:30 off the clock and scored its third touchdown of the second quarter to go up 27-14. A 42 yard rush to put the visitors up by three scores.
• The third quarter was similar to the first as both teams put up just one touchdown, respectively. The Bulldogs got on the board with 9:24 on the clock with one yard run to make it a 34-14 game.
• The Wildcats did not score until the final minute of the third quarter when Roots scored his second touchdown of the night. He powered his way into the end zone on a two yard rush to cut the Ferris State lead to 34-21 going into the fourth.
• Roots scored early on in the fourth when he got to the end zone for a third time. The junior got out to the left on a handoff and went for a 43 yard score. The touchdown brought CWU within six, 34-28.
• Despite the best efforts of the Wildcats, they were unable to score again. The Bulldogs however added 28 points in the final 15 minutes of regulation. A pair of touchdown passes by Campbell paired with two long touchdown runs helped the Bulldogs to remain undefeated.
• Roots led the offensive charge as he rushed for 102 yards on 21 carries to go along with three touchdowns. Racanelli finished 8-of-29 passing for 215 yards and one touchdown, while Moore was 6-of-14 passing for 103 yards.
• Owen led the receivers in yards with 83 on two catches. Tony Archie had the most receptions with four totaling 57 yards.
• Two Wildcats finished with double-digit tackles in Donte Hamilton and Hamilton Hunt. Hamilton led the way with 13 and had seven come on a solo effort. Hunt totaled 11 for the game and made six of them on his own merit.
• Both players had a tackle for a loss, while Hunt also had a sack. Tyren Sams pulled down one interception to go along with nine tackles.

THE WILDCATS IN GNAC PLAY
• The Wildcats finished 7-1 in conference play in 2018 and won a share of the GNAC title for the second consecutive season.
• After the conclusion of the 2018 season, CWU is now 84-23 all-time in GNAC play.
 
THE WILDCATS AT HOME
• The Wildcats finished 2018 3-2 in designated home games. Inside Tomlinson Stadium, the team was 2-2 last season. They are 0-1 in 2019 at home
• The Wildcats are 189-80-5 overall in 61 seasons of playing home games at Tomlinson Stadium. They are 0-1 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 finished the 2018 season with a 5-1 mark on the road and are 0-1 under Chris Fisk.
• The Wildcats opened the 2019 season with 41-31 loss at Division I-FCS Idaho.
• 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 against their opponents. The only loss came at the hands of Azusa Pacific in the season finale.
• Central Washington in 0-2 under Chris Fisk when tied or trailing at halftime.
• The Wildcats finished 0-2 during the 2018 season in games when they were tied or trailed at halftime.
 
21 AND UP
• 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.
• CWU is 0-1 under Chris Fisk when scoring 21 or more points and is 0-1 when scoring 30 or more points.
 
HIGH POWERED CAT ATTACK
• The Wildcats have scored at least one touchdown in 166 consecutive games to keep a streak of not being shutout intact.
• The streak dates back to week four of the 2004 season.
 
2019 GNAC STAT LEADERS
• Early on, CWU still sits up pretty high in multiple categories in the GNAC stats rankings.
• The Wildcats lead the way in scoring with an average of 29.5 points per game. They are third in points allowed per game at 51.5.
• CWU's rushing leads the GNAC in rushing yards with an average of 143.0 yards per game, while the passing game is second averaging 281.5 yards per game.
• In total offense, the Wildcats are first in the GNAC averaging 424.5 yards per game.
• Michael Roots is currently the conference leader in rushing yards per game (107.5) and total yards (215).
• Roots' total rushing yards are 31st in all of Division II, while is average ranked 22nd.
• Tony Archie leads the GNAC in receiving yards per game with 101.5 and is tied for the lead in receiving touchdowns with two. His total receptions (12) and his receptions per game (6.0) are second most.
• Canon Racanelli is third in total offense averaging 185.0 yards per game, while his average of 180.5 yards passing is ranked third.
• Roots is fourth in total offense averaging 107.5 yards per game for CWU.
• Roots' 107.5 average is also tops in the GNAC in all-purpose yards. Archie is second in the category with an average of 101.5 yards per game.
• Eric Wilkes is the GNAC leader in kickoff return yards. His 24.6 yards per return is raked first, while is 123 total return yards are second-most.
• Defensively, the Wildcats have five individual ranked in the top-five in the GNAC in total tackles. Donte Hamilton is the leader with 30. His mark is tied for second most in Division II.
•  Cody O'Connell is alone at fourth with 20 total tackles, while three other Wildcats are tied for fifth.
• Max Randle, Hamilton Hunt, and Chaz McKenzie are all tied for fifth with 19 total tackles, respectively.
• In terms of solo tackles, Hamilton, Randle, and O'Connell are tied for the GNAC lead with 14, respectively.
• Hamilton, Gray, Sams, Hunt, and Randle are five of nine players tied for first in the conference in sacks with one each. McKenzie is 10th with 0.5 sacks.
• Hamilton also owns the top spots in the GNAC in tackles for loss with 3.5. His 17 yards in those tackles is tied for the most in the GNAC. Gray is tied for third with 2.5 tackles for loss.
• Sams is the now the GNAC leader in interceptions with two and leads the way in interception return yards with 23.
• Hunt, O'Connell, 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 285.
• Gavin Todd is the leader for the conference in PAT's attempted, made, and percentage. He is a clean 8-8 on the year.
 
AROUND THE GNAC
• All four GNAC schools are still in search of their first win in 2019 going into the weekend. The GNAC is currently 0-8 through two weeks of action.
• GNAC play also begins this weekend meaning at least one conference school will have a win after this weekend.
• Two squads are making home debuts in Azusa Pacific (0-2) and Simon Fraser (0-2).
• Simon Fraser will open up its 2019 home slate against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. PT.
• Azusa Pacific plays host to Western Oregon (0-2) for its 2019 home opener and is the GNAC opening game of 2019. Game time is set for a 6:30 p.m. PT start.
 
A WIN OVER WESTERN NEW MEXICO WOULD...
• Be third overall and third straight for CWU against Western New Mexico.
• Be the first career win for Chris Fisk overall and on the road as a head coach.
• Bring the Wildcats record to 1-2.
• Be the Wildcats first road win of the season.
• Give CWU its first win of the 2019 season.
 
A LOSS TO WESTERN NEW MEXICO WOULD...
• Be their first loss to Western New Mexico in team history.
• Push the Wildcats road loss streak to two.
• Start the year 0-3 for the first time since 2011.
• Hand Chris Fisk his second career road loss as a head coach.
 
WILDCATS FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In 104 seasons of CWU Football the Wildcats have compiled a 520-336-24 (.605) record in 880 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 138-64 (.683) all time in 202 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 0-2 all-time in his young career of leading the Wildcats.
• 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.
• 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 is back home as the team will open up GNAC play. The Wildcats will host the Western Oregon Wolves on Saturday, Sept. 28. Kickoff will be at 6 p.m. inside Tomlinson Stadium.