ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University men's rugby team took down No. 7 Brigham Young University, 51-7, in the program's first win over the Cougars on a windy afternoon in Ellensburg.
 
"I'm proud of the effort the guys had," CWU Head Coach Todd Thornley said.  "They were outstanding.  I've been here for six years and it's the first time we beat BYU.  The seniors in this group that started today, hadn't tasted success like that.  I'm proud they stuck with it and stuck with us over the last two years.  Defensively, I thought we were great.  To hold a team like that to seven points is outstanding.  The amount of work we did in the first half to get a 17-7 lead is simply incredible.  I'm extremely proud of the group.  It takes all 36 guys, not just the ones who played today, to prepare so well for a fixture like this afternoon.
 
The Wildcats (6-0) started the scoring early.  Cole Zarcone scampered up the right wing and grounded the ball for a try in the fifth minute, giving the Wildcats a 5-0 lead.
 
Jack Wendling was next in for Central.  A sustained possession from the Wildcats opened up an offload to Wendling who made his way under the uprights for the try.  Lewis Hollidge tacked on the conversion for a 12-0 Wildcat advantage.
 
BYU was issued a yellow card for a dangerous tackle in the 20^th minute, granting the Wildcats a man advantage.  Central nearly capitalized in the first minute of the man advantage when Zarcone broke loose.  He was eventually dragged down by the Cougars, snuffing out his would be try. 
 
With a penalty against the Wildcats near mid-pitch in the 25^th minute the Cougars elected to kick for points.  The penalty attempt had the distance, but was dragged wide left by the wind.
 
Five minutes later, Noah Wright plunged over the line for a try.  The Wildcats worked the width of the pitch before Jake Szumski took an offload and bolted up the left wing.  He met resistance from the Cougars and was wrapped up.  Before he went down, Szumski slipped an offload to Wright for the try. 
 
Brigham Young University found themselves in possession and in the attacking third during the 34^th minute.  The Cougars sent charge after charge into the Wildcats' defensive line, but the Crimson and Black held the line and denied a try.  After working back towards the right wing, the Cougars tried to plunge over the line once more.  Central's defense met the Cougars at the line again, holding up the try to keep the score at 17-0.
 
Dawson McRea scored the Cougars' only try in the 38^th minute.  A prolonged engagement at the try line finally broke in favor of the Cougars and McRea grounded the ball for a try.   Central took a 17-7 lead into halftime. 
 
McRea's try at the end of the first half briefly swung momentum towards BYU, but Zarcone swung the pendulum back towards the Wildcats with his second try of the game in the 42^nd minute.
 
Hollidge added a penalty goal in the 46^th minute, bringing Central's lead to 27-7.  Three minutes later, Calvin Liulamaga made his way over the line for a try following an offload from Zarcone.  Hollidge added the conversion, then added his second penalty goal of the contest. 
 
In the 69^th minute of play, BYU was threatening again.  The Cougars drove deep into Wildcat territory and found themselves inches from the try line.  Their run was stamped out however, when they were penalized for not releasing the ball in the ruck. 
 
Central Washington tacked on a pair of tries in the 77^th and 80^th minutes.  Mitchell Hirose gave the Wildcats a 44-7 lead when he bolted over the line after receiving an offload on the left wing.  Wendling added his second try in the game's final phase to secure the 51-7 victory.
 
The Crimson and Black host the Seattle Saracens on Saturday (March 7) in their next fixture.  Kick-off is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.