ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University football team earned a postseason berth after finishing the 2021 regular season with an 8-2 record. The Wildcats were crowned the Great Northwest Athletic Conference champions for the fourth-consecutive season.
Since Central Washington moved to Division II, the football program has played eight games in the postseason. The Wildcats are 3-5 in NCAA postseason play. Let's take a look at back at each game.
November 25, 2017 | Central Washington vs Texas A&M Commerce
Reilly Hennessey led the undefeated No. 7 Wildcats against No. 8 Texas A&M Commerce in the 'Cats first playoff appearance since 2009. Central took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on a 10-yard Hennessey rushing touchdown and a five-yard pass from Hennessey to Christian Stafford.
After a 52-yard touchdown pass from Commerce, Hennessey found Kyle Self in the second quarter, capping off a seven-play drive to give CWU a 21-7 lead. Austin Pernell made it 28-7 by plunging over the goal line on a one-yard carry.
In the second half, however, Commerce scored 21 unanswered points, tying the game at 28-28. Their final drive went 14 plays for 64 yards, culminating in a four-yard pass from Luis Perez to Buck Wilson with three seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
Commerce kicked a 38-yard field goal in the opening overtime possession. Central responded with a field goal of their own, a 22-yarder from Gavin Todd, forcing a second set of possessions. Three consecutive incomplete passes, after a one-yard rush from Pernell, forced a turnover on downs and gave possession back to TAMUC. Once again, Commerce looked to their kicker for a game-winning 38-yard field goal and 34-31 final.
November 28, 2009 | Central Washington vs Northwest Missouri State
After taking down Tarleton, CWU squared off with Northwest Missouri State.
On their opening possession, Central took the game's first lead. A 12-play, 75-yard drive culminated in a one-yard touchdown rush from Eldridge. After holding the Bearcats' offense scoreless on offense, Morgan was intercepted for a pick-six to tie the game at 7-7.
Trailing 14-7, Central took over again on offense and moved down the field with a 36-yard reception by Reggie Westmoreland and a 19-yard grab by Spevak. The Wildcats turned to Eldridge to finish the drive with a 12-yard rush for a 14-7 lead with 13:07 left in the first half.
Early in the third quarter, NW Missouri State pieced together a 12-play, 78-yard drive to take the lead. A 15-yard touchdown pass capped the drive and tied the game. Another interception in the Wildcats' first offensive series of the half led a 19-yard TD pass for the Bearcats, and a 21-14 lead.
The Wildcats' defense held for the remainder of the game, including forcing the Bearcats to punt with 1:19 remaining. Starting at their own 30, Morgan marched the Wildcats into Northwest territory by completing two of his next three passes – a 21-yard pass to Mike Waller and a 19-yard first down throw to Justin Helwege.
After three consecutive attempts to find Spevak in the end zone were unsuccessful, a pass interference penalty gave the Crimson and Black a first down. On third down, Morgan found Waller for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Trailing 21-20, CWU lined up for the extra point. After an offside penalty, which the Wildcats declined, on the first attempt, Central lined up again for the point after. The game-tying extra point was blocked, ending the Wildcats' season in the quarterfinals.
November 21, 2009 | Central Washington vs Tarleton State
Top-ranked Central Washington held Tarleton State to minus-14 rushing yards, while senior quarterback Cole Morgan threw for a career-high 287 yards. The Wildcats' offense racked up 409 yards of offense, including 101 rushing yards from Randall Eldridge.
A 39-yard field goal gave Tarleton an early 3-0 lead, but the Wildcats responded on their next drive. Jerome Williams took the ensuing kick-off back for 43 yards, giving CWU possession near midfield. Morgan and the 'Cats needed only three plays to find the end zone, as Morgan found Johnny Spevak on a 48-yard touchdown pass for a 7-3 lead.
In the second quarter, a fumble recovery by the CWU defense deep in Tarleton territory, coupled with a personal foul penalty, allowed Eldridge to take a two-yard carry into the end zone. Tarleton went 48 yards on 10 plays in their next drive, but were stymied but Central's defense. They settled for a 31-yard field goal. The Wildcats added a field goal of their own before the end of the second quarter; Garrett Rolsma knocked through a 27-yard field goal to push the score to 17-6 at half.
Another field goal from Rolsma in the third quarter, this time a 30-yarder, and a three-yard touchdown carry from Eldridge in the fourth, capped the Wildcats' 27-6 victory.
The win gave Central a 12-0 record, the most wins in a single season in program history.
November 15, 2008 | Central Washington at West Texas A&M
Mike Reilly threw for a career-high 420 yards in a 49-42 loss at West Texas A&M. Spevak hauled in four touchdowns for the Wildcats as CWU suffered its only loss to a Division II opponent in the 2008 season.
Reilly's 420 yards through the air saw Reilly pass CWU Athletics Hall of Fame member Jon Kitna in career passing yards with 12,448. Reilly finished 30-for-61 with five touchdowns.
After ending the first quarter 8-7, in favor of West Texas, the Wildcats scored 14 points in the second stanza. The Buffs, however, tallied 27 points to take a 35-21 lead into the locker room. Central trailed by as much as 21 in the second quarter.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Reilly found Spevak for the fourth time to cut the deficit to 49-42.
A missed field goal from the Buffs left Central down by seven with 1:50 remaining. The Wildcats took over on their 20-yard line. Reilly and company went 58 yards in 10 plays, but a fourth down incompletion snuffed out the 'Cats comeback bid.
November 24, 2007
Central Washington completed a comeback effort against Nebraska-Omaha a week after taking down Ashland. The Wildcats scored a pair of touchdowns in the final 2:49 to capture a 20-17 win.
A 10-yard touchdown run from put the Mavericks ahead 7-0 in the first quarter. On their next possession, the Crimson and Black fumbled at their own 32-yard line. The Wildcats' defense held the Mavericks to a field goal attempt, a 47-yard try which went wide.
Heading into halftime, the Wildcats carried a 7-7 tie. The Mavericks staked out a 17-7 lead late in the fourth quarter on a field goal. Brandon Stout took the ensuing kick-off 100 yards for a TD and closed the gap to 17-14.
The next Maverick possession was abruptly halted when Williams picked off a pass, setting up the go-ahead touchdown – an 18-yard pass from Reilly to Spevak. Leading 20-17, Williams intercepted another pass with 40 seconds remaining to seal the victory.
December 1, 2007 | Central Washington at Grand Valley State
Central's season came to a close in the Northwest Region final against Grand Valley State. 41-21.
It took the Lakers eight plays, 66 yards, and 3:16 to score on their opening drive. A three-yard quarterback keeper put Grand Valley State ahead 7-0. The Lakers defense forced three consecutive turnovers on the Wildcats' three drives. The Lakers capitalized only once, however, on a 16-yard touchdown pass. Grand Valley State added a pair of rushing touchdowns in the first half, taking a 27-0 lead into halftime.
Reilly and company found their footing in the opening drive of the second half. A nine-play, 67-yard scoring drive culminated when Reilly found a familiar target in Spevak on a 17-yard TD pass. The Lakers countered on their next drive – a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-7.
Brandon Stout caught a touchdown pass from Reilly in the fourth quarter, but again the Lakers responded in kind. With 1:30 left in regulation, Reilly hit Charles Smith on a 22-yard touchdown pass – the first, and only, receiving touchdown of Smith's career.
November 17, 2007 | Central Washington vs Ashland
The Wildcats earned their first-ever NCAA Division II playoff victory over Ashland, 40-24. Steady rain turned Tomlinson Stadium into a mud pit.
Ashland racked up 195 rushing yards in the first half. It took only five minutes for Ashland to take the lead. Trailing 7-3, Central's defense forced a punt. Buddy Wood got to the punter first, blocking the kick, allowing Tyrell Nielsen to recover the loose ball and take it 22 yards to give CWU the lead 10-7.
The see-saw battle continued, though Central never relinquished the lead. Running back Johnny Lopez tallied a pair of rushing touchdowns sending the 'Cats into the locker room at half time with a 24-21 lead.
In the second half, Central held the Eagles to just a field goal. Reilly put the Wildcats up 30-21 on a one-yard quarterback keeper. They then added a field goal with 11 minutes to play, before Reilly found Durrell Moss on a one-yard touchdown pass with under two minutes left in regulation.
Central's defense held Ashland to 172 yards in the second half. Lopez led the Wildcats with 153 yards, while Reilly finished 14-for-24 for 218 yards.
November 11, 2002 | Central Washington vs UC Davis
In their first NCAA postseason contest, No. 5 Central Washington met No. 13 UC Davis. The Aggies came away with a 24-6 victory at Tomlinson Stadium.
UC Davis scored 14 first quarter points, opening the game with an eight-play, 64-yard drive. After forcing the Wildcats to turn the ball over on downs, the Aggies took over on their own 34-yard line and setup a five-yard touchdown rush with a 61-yard completion.
Trailing 14-0, the Wildcats struck back on their second possession of the contest. The Crimson and Black went 68 yards in 11 plays, capped by Willie Johnson's 18
th rushing touchdown of the season. A blocked extra point, made it 14-6.
The Aggies added a bit of insurance with 21 seconds left in the first half. Another five-yard touchdown carry put UC Davis ahead 21-6 at half.
With just 3:22 left in the third quarter, the Aggies added the final points of the game on a 37-yard field goal.
Brian Potucek finished with a game-high nine receptions for 90 yards. Zak Hill finished 27-for-48 for 272 yards. Safety Jeremy Jacobs recorded 16 tackles, while Blake Walker added 10. TJ Horgan picked up a pair of quarterback sacks in his final collegiate game.
