ELLENSBURG, Wash. - It is week four of the 2019 season and Central Washington Wildcats Football is back home for just the second time this season. The Wildcats begin conference play this Saturday, Sept. 28 when they host the Western Oregon Wolves inside Tomlinson Stadium.

GAME INFORMATION
vs. Western Oregon Wolves
Saturday, Sept. 28
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 also 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 On Demand following the conclusion of the live event.

KICKOFF
• The Wildcats are back in Ellensburg this weekend as they get set for their Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener against Western Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 28.
• Central Washington is coming off its first win of the season last Saturday in a 36-27 road win against Western New Mexico. The win puts CWU at 1-2 entering week four.
• The Wolves come into Tomlinson Stadium with a 1-2 overall record and a 1-0 mark in GNAC play. The Wolves defeated Azusa Pacific last Saturday 42-36 on the road to secure their first win of 2019.
• 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.
• 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.
• Following the GNAC opener for Wildcats, they will be back on the road for another non-conference bout, this time at West Texas A&M on Oct. 5.
 
COACH TO CURE MD PROJECT: RAISING AWARENESS ON MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
• This Saturday, the CWU Football coaching staff will be wearing patches on the left side of their shirts that support the AFCA project Coach To Cure MD.
• Coach To Cure MD seeks to raise awareness and money to fund research of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most prolific lethal disorder of childhood.
• To learn more about Coach To Cure MD visit www.CoachToCureMD.org
• To get involved and donate to Coach To Cure MD, text the word CURE to 501501 to donate $25.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach Chris Fisk
On the GNAC Opening Game vs. Western Oregon: We're excited to start GNAC play and excited to host Western Oregon. They always come in here [to Tomlinson Stadium] and play us pretty hard. We have a lot respect for Head Coach Arne Ferguson and his program. But overall, we're excited to get going against our conference opponents.
On What He is Looking for in His Team Going into Week Four: Consistency. We're trying to find a balance between the team that played at Idaho, the team we saw do well for a couple quarters against Ferris State, and the team we saw there in the last half against Western New Mexico. We want to have that consistency and just capitalize on the good football play we've had. Hopefully we can get that for a full four quarters.
On Being Back Home This Weekend with CWU Students Back in Town: The atmosphere was great against Ferris State. We had a full house without school being in session so it's exciting to know classes have started because now we'll have the full band and everything will be charged up yet again. It should be a great environment for us come Saturday night.
 
GNAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• The Wildcats picked up a GNAC Player of the Week honor for the third straight week and the first one on Special Teams.
• Gavin Todd was named the Special Teams Player of the Week after going a perfect 5-5 in field goal attempts in the win at Western New Mexico. His five made field goals are now the most for a single game in program and GNAC history.
 
SERIES HISTORY
• The Wildcats and Wolves meeting this Saturday will be the 62nd all-time matchup between the two squads. CWU leads the series 41-20 overall and has won each of the last six contests.
• In Ellensburg, The Wildcats are 21-7 all-time against the Wolves and have won each of the last 14 games inside Tomlinson Stadium.
• Since the turn of the century, CWU is 27-5 against Western Oregon. Since the turn of the decade, CWU is 14-4 against Western Oregon.
• Western Oregon Head Coach Arne Ferguson is just 4-22 all-time against CWU. The last time his Wolves defeated CWU was on Oct. 17, 2015 by a score 31-25 in Monmouth, Ore.
 
LAST MEETING WITH WESTERN OREGON
• CWU completed the 2018 season sweep of Western Oregon with a 48-10 win at home on Oct. 13, 2018.
• The Wildcats put up 477 yards of total offense and held the Wolves to just 133 en route to the win.
• Reilly Hennessey went 17-25 passing for 172 yards and had four total touchdowns to lead CWU.
• Michael Roots and Cedric Cooper each rushed for one touchdown and combined for 171 yards rushing in the win.
• Christian Stafford pulled in five receptions for 75 yards and grabbed one touchdown pass.
• Defensively, Uli Ma'ae led CWU with eight total tackles, with seven being solo and had two tackles for loss.
 
ABOUT THE WOLVES
• Western Oregon enters the weekend with a 1-2 overall record and is 1-0 to start GNAC play. The Wolves are coming off a 42-36 win last weekend against Azusa Pacific in their GNAC opener.
• The Wolves are currently second in the GNAC in scoring offense behind the Wildcats. They average 29.7 points per game.
• Western Oregon has the top mark in scoring defense for the conference. They hold opponents to an average of 38.3 points per game. They give an average of 395.3 yards of total offense which is tops in the GNAC.
• The Wolves have the GNAC's top rushing offense with an average of 200.7 yards per game. They hold opponents to 147.3 rushing yards per game which also leads the GNAC.
• Omari Land leads the rushing attack with 224 total yards in three games. His total yards and average of 74.7 rush yards per games are second most in the GNAC.
• Land has the most rushing touchdowns in the GNAC with six on the season. His six touchdowns are tied for second most in all of Division II.
• Ty Currie leads the passing game averaging 182.0 yards per game. He has four passing touchdowns which is tied for the lead in the GNAC.
• Currie is the GNAC leader in total offense averaging 246.3 yards per game. He has 739 total yards in three games.
• Thomas Wright is the leading receiver with seven receptions and a total of 140 yards to go along with one touchdown reception.
• Tyler Wharf is the team's leading tackler with 22 on the season. He has 13 solo tackles which is tied for fifth in the GNAC.
• Nate Proctor is the second leading tackler with 20. He has an even 10 solo tackles and 10 assisted tackles to go along with 3.5 tackles for loss.
• Tyrell Cummings leads the Wolves and the conference in tackles for loss with 4.0. He has 10 total tackles to go along with a GNAC leading 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble.
• Derek Parnell leads the Western Oregon secondary with one interception and a conference leading six pass breakups.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Wildcats took down the Western New Mexico Mustangs 36-27 last Saturday to snap a two-game skid and improve to 1-2 on the year.
• Todd was a clean 5-of-5 in field goal attempts and did not miss a single extra point try as well. His 8-of-8 performance was a major key as CWU Head Coach Chris Fisk picked up his first career win. His five made field goals are also the most in a single game in program and Great Northwest Athletic Conference history.
• A six play drive, 65 yard drive to start the game put Western New Mexico up 7-0 early in the first quarter.
• CWU second drive paid off as they tied the game at 7-all after the Mustangs we forced to punt. Moore floated a pass to left side of the field to an open Samuel Sanchez who got into the end zone for a 19 yard touchdown pass.
• The Wildcats held the Mustangs to a 28 yard field goal to keep the deficit at just three, 10-7, on the ensuing possession.
• The Mustangs then extended the lead 10 when quarterback CJ Fowler hit his receiver on a bubble screen that turned into a 42 yard score. CWU trailed 17-7 at the end of the first quarter.
• A CWU field goal on the following drive kept the score within one touchdown. Todd capped off the 15 play drive that took exactly 5:00 with a 38 yard boot that brought the score to 17-10 with 11:34 left in the second.
• Western New Mexico extended the lead back 10 once more when Mustang kicker Evan Rios nailed a 42 yard attempt. The field goal put the Mustangs up 20-10 with 9:09 left to play in the first half.
• A forced fumble and recovery by the Wildcats gave them the ball back on their own 39 and Canon Racanelli hit JoJo Hillel on a 24 yard deep slant for his second touchdown of the year to cut the score to 20-17 going into halftime.
• Coming out of the locker room, the Wildcats went 60 yards in 13 plays, and it was Todd who tied the game for the team. He hit a field goal from 38 yards out to tie the game at 20-all which remained at that mark going into the fourth.
• The fourth quarter completely belonged to the Wildcats and mostly Todd, as they outscored the Mustangs 16-7. Nine of those points came from Todd on three field goal makes.
• CWU grabbed its first lead of the game with a drive that started late in the third and ended eight seconds into the fourth. Todd nailed his third field goal, this time from 27 yards out, to give CWU a 23-20 advantage.
• Isaiah Carbajal got by the offensive line on the next drive and sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble that the Wildcats recovered. CWU extended its lead to six points as Todd nailed his fourth field goal from 35 yards out as CWU held a 26-20 edge over Western New Mexico.
• Todd was the answer yet again midway through the fourth. He hit a 33 yard attempt with 7:20 on the clock to give CWU a 29-20 lead.
• The Mustangs finally managed to score when they punched in a three yard touchdown run to cut the score to 29-27.
• Racanelli led the offense on an eight play, 60 yard scoring drive on the next possession. He ended the drive going into the end zone untouched for a six yard touchdown run.
• Racanelli finished 19-of-34 passing with 237 yards and a touchdown. He also added 12 carries for 59 yards and one touchdown to finish the day with 296 yards of total offense. Michael Roots once again eclipsed 100 yards rushing with 181 for the game on 29 carries.
• Three Wildcats finished the game with four receptions in Tyson Rainwater, Robert Mason III, and Tony Archie. Drake Owen had the most yards with 59 on a pair of catches, while Hillel and Sanchez each had a touchdown grab.
• Jeremiah Vasquez was the leading tackler for the Wildcats. He totaled eight on the day with five coming on a solo effort. He also had 0.5 tackles for loss and broke up one pass.
• Chaz McKenzie pulled in his first interception of the year, while Carbajal and Billy Greer each had a sack for combined loss of 11 yards. Carbajal also forced one fumble that was recovered by Marcus Schimmelfennig.
 
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 0-1 in 2019 in games played at Tomlinson Stadium.
• 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 is 1-1 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 1-2 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 is 0-1 under Chris Fisk when scoring 21 or more points and is 1-1 when scoring 30 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 167 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 now rushed for 100-plus yards in all three games.
 
2019 GNAC STAT LEADERS
• CWU continues to rank pretty high in multiple statistical categories in the GNAC stats rankings.
• The Wildcats still lead in scoring with an average of 31.5 points per game. They are third in points allowed per game at 43.5
• CWU's ground game is second in the GNAC in average rush yards per game with 179.3. They are second in passing averaging 275.3 yards per game.
• In total offense, the Wildcats are still first in the GNAC averaging 454.7 yards per game.
• Michael Roots is currently the conference leader in rushing yards per game (132.0) and total yards (396).
• Roots' total rushing yards and average are seventh highest in all of Division II, respectively.
• Tony Archie is tied for the lead in receiving touchdowns with two and is second in the GNAC in receiving yards per game (78.0).
• Archie's total receptions (16) and his receptions per game (5.3) are both tied for the conference lead.
• Canon Racanelli is third in total offense averaging 222.0 yards per game, while his average of 199.3 yards passing is ranked second
• Roots is fourth in total offense averaging 132.0 yards per game for CWU.
• Eric Wilkes is the GNAC leader in kickoff return yards. His 25.5 yards per return is ranked first, while is 153 total return yards are second-most.
• Defensively, the Wildcats have three individuals ranked in the top-five in the GNAC in total tackles. Donte Hamilton is the team leader with 33. His mark is third in the GNAC and 18th in Division II.
•  Cody O'Connell and Hamilton Hunt are tied for fourth in the GNAC in total tackles with 24, respectively.
• In terms of solo tackles, O'Connell is the conference leader with 18. Hamilton is third with 16.
• Tevin Gray, Isaiah Carbajal, Hamilton, Sams, and Hunt are all tied for third in the GNAC in sacks with 1.0, respectively.
• Hamilton is tied for second in the GNAC in tackles for loss with 3.5. His 17 yards in those tackles is also second in the GNAC. Gray is fifth with 3.0 tackles for loss.
• Sams is still the GNAC leader in interceptions with two and leads the way in interception return yards with 23.
• Mackenzie is tied for second in the GNAC in interceptions with one. His return yards of 21 is also second behind Sams.
• Hunt, O'Connell, Carbajal, 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 611.
• Gavin Todd is the leader for the conference in PAT's attempted, made, and percentage. He is a clean 11-11 on the year.
• Todd is also the GNAC leader in field goals attempted and made. He is 6-6 on the year and is one of 20 players in Division II with a clean 1.000 field goal percentage.
 
AROUND THE GNAC
• CWU and Simon Fraser begin GNAC play this weekend, while Western Oregon and Azusa Pacific will play their second conference games of the season.
• CWU hosts Western Oregon in its GNAC opener, while Simon Fraser will host Azusa Pacific to start conference play.
 
A WIN OVER WESTERN OREGON WOULD...
• Be seventh straight and 42nd overall win over the Wolves.
• Be the first career GNAC win for Chris Fisk.
• Bring the Wildcats record to .500 at 2-2.
• Be the Wildcats home road win of the season.
• Give CWU its first GNAC win of the 2019 season.
 
A LOSS TO WESTERN OREGON WOULD...
• Be the first loss to the Wolves since 2015.
• Snap the Wildcats six-game winning streak against the Wolves.
• Snap CWU's 14-game home win streak against Western Oregon.
• Hand Chris Fisk his first career GNAC loss as a head coach.
• Hand CWU its first GNAC loss of the season and its first GNAC opening loss since 2011.
 
WILDCATS FOOTBALL HISTORY
• In 104 seasons of CWU Football the Wildcats have compiled a 521-336-24 (.610) record in 881 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 139-64 (.685) all time in 203 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 1-2 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 will play its fourth non-conference game of the season next Saturday, Oct. 5 when they travel to the Lone Star State to take on West Texas A&M. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. PT.