ELLENSBURG, Wash.--Fresh from clinching their fourth consecutive GNAC title and 11^th overall, the Central Washington returns to the gridiron on Saturday when the Wildcats host first-year program Lincoln University. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Tomlinson Stadium.
 
The Oaklanders are based in Oakland, Calif. They are an Independent NCAA Division II program.
 
Previewing Lincoln
Other than their results, not much is known about the Oaklanders. Lincoln is not only a first-year football program, this is the first year the University has sponsored intercollegiate athletics.
 
Entering Saturday's game with Central, the Oaklanders are 1-5 overall, with their only win a 34-9 victory at Willamette University on Sept. 18. Since then, the Oaklanders have faced FCS Stephen F. Austin (L, 61-13), Eastern New Mexico (L, 52-6), Texas-Permian Basin (L, 75-0) and Texas A&M Kingsville (L, 51-21). Lincoln was off last week.
 
The Oaklanders are coached by Desmond Gumbs.
 
Last Time Out
Another dominating performance against Western Oregon, another Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship for the trophy case.
 
Buoyed by a 42-point second half and the play of reserve quarterback JJ Lemming, Central Washington rolled to a 53-21 Homecoming win against Western Oregon, securing the Wildcats' fourth consecutive GNAC crown, Saturday at Tomlinson Stadium.
 
Lemming came off the bench midway through the third quarter and threw for 155 yards and two touchdowns and Darius Morrison caught four passes for 102 yards and two scores as CWU piled up 476 yards of total offense.
 
The four straight championships are a GNAC record for football and is the longest active streak of conference championships in all of Division II.
 
Playing Western Oregon for the second straight week – with a bye week mixed in between for each team – the start of CWU's latest win against WOU looked awfully familiar. Much like they did two weeks ago, the Wolves (2-5, 1-2) marched the length of the field on their opening drive, taking a 7-0 lead on a 15-yard scoring pass form Ryan Worthley to Jaren Ford.
 
The Wildcats mustered just a 39-yard field from Patrick Hegarty in the first quarter and weren't much better in the second until starting quarterback Quincy Glasper found Morrison in the back of the end zone from five yards out with 38 seconds left in the half. Isaac Crichton scored on a 2-point conversion and the 'Cats took an 11-7 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
Momentum changed swiftly in the second half.
 
Glasper rain it from two yards out on CWU's first possession for an 18-7 lead. Tyler Flanagan added a 1-yard scoring run just over two minutes later for a 25-7 Wildcat advantage.
 
Tony Archie opened the fourth quarter for the Wildcats with a 39-yard reception on a pass thrown by wideout Tai-John Mizutani as CWU's lead swelled to 32-7.
 
Lemming, who entered the game on the drive following Glasper's touchdown run, unleased a 40-yard bomb to Morrison on CWU's ensuing drive as the advantage swelled to 39-7.
 
Western Oregon stopped the bleeding momentarily when London Smalley hauled in a 20-yard scoring pass from Worthley to get the Wolves within 39-14.
 
Lemming connected with JoJo Hillel on a 5-yard touchdown pass and Rashaad Boddie finished off the scoring – and the game – on a bruising 15-yard touchdown run with 1:07 to play.
 
STORYLINES
•Saturday's game will be the first meeting between the Wildcats and the Oaklanders
•While they still aren't receiving votes for the Top 25, the Wildcats are ranked No. 3 in the first Super Regional Rankings poll, released on Monday.
•The top seven teams in each region qualify for the playoffs, with the top seed receiving a bye to the second round. Seeds 2-4 will each host a first round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 20.
•A new regional poll will be released every Monday through the end of the regular season. The playoff field will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 14.
 
QUOTING HEAD COACH CHRIS FISK
"I was really proud of the guys (after the Western Oregon win). We had all of the pressure and all of the adjustments to make. We came back after the first quarter and wondered if the kids were playing hard. The answer is yes, they were. We just had to settle down. We came out offensively and did not execute in our first and third series, so we have to find a way to focus better if we aren't on the field right away offensively.  I'm proud of the kids and they way they handled playing an opponent back to back and coming off a bye week. We need to be better at adjusting in the first half offensively. Proud of the coaches and kids. There's never such a thing as a bad win."
 
COVID-19 MASK REMINDER
All fans attending athletic events at Central Washington University are required to wear a mask upon entering the venue, regardless of total attendance or venue.