ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington football team (6-4, 6-3) capped off their season with a senior day victory over the visiting Texas-Permian Basin Falcons Saturday afternoon 49-14.
 
QUOTE FROM HEAD COACH CHRIS FISK
"Super proud of this team and the seniors," Coach Fisk said. "What a way for our seniors to leave Tomlinson Stadium. They played hard and we did what we needed to."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats made it look easy their opening drive of the game. Cameron Daniels opened with a 22-yard run to the Wildcat 42-yard line. Starting quarterback JJ Lemming followed it with a 11-yard pass to Marcus Cook for back-to-back first downs to the UTPB 47. Daniels added on a 38-yard rush to set Lemming up for a four-yard rushing touchdown for the 'Cats to take the lead 7-0.

UTPB responded with a touchdown to tie the game up. A foul to the Falcons brought the Wildcats up near the 50-yard line. A couple plays later and another penalty to UTPB set the Wildcats up to nab another touchdown, this time from a 13-yard reception by Demonte Horton to put the 'Cats up 14-7. A forced fumble courtesy of the 'Cats Sonny Fuaval and recovered by Kai Gamble ended the first quarter and set CWU up at the UTPB 15-yard line to start the second quarter.

On the second play in the second quarter, Daniels rushed for 12 yards to tack on another touchdown for CWU to put the crimson and black up 21-7. A turnover on downs by the Falcons gave CWU the ball back with 12:28 left in the second. A 45-yard reception by Cook brought the Wildcats down to the Falcon 20-yard line where a couple plays later saw Horton reel in a five-yard pass from Lemming to increase the 'Cats lead 28-7.

Brett Accimus intercepted the Falcon quarterback at the UTPB 39-yard line to help set the 'Cats up again. Another big play by Daniels for 24 yards increased the 'Cats lead 35-7. On the next CWU possession Tre'jon Henderson rallied the Wildcats with a 41-yard rush to the UTPB 24, allowing him to punch the ball in a couple plays later, making the score 42-7 with 2:26 left in the first half. On the next play Patrick Rogers forced a fumble out of the hands of Nathan Tilford for the Falcons, recovered by Tanner Volk to allow the Wildcats to try and squeeze one more score. Unfortunately, a 46-yard field goal attempt didn't go through for Ashton Wolff, keeping the score 42-7 at the break.

Coming out of halftime both teams failed to score on their opening possessions, however, a 36-yard rush by Falcon quarter back MJ Link propelled the Falcons to nab the first score of the second half bringing the score to 42-14 in favor of CWU. The Falcons came close to scoring but fell just short including Jaheel Breland forcing a fumble from Keewa Grismore at the Wildcat's own one-yard line.

In their first possession of the fourth-quarter Lemming threw an interception in the endzone, however the Wildcats responded with a huge defensive stop. The Wildcats then took over on downs at the UTPB 10-yard line where a pair of 5-yard rushes from Daniels and Lemming tacked on the final score of the day to make it 49-14 CWU.

Lemming finished with 179 yards, two touchdowns, while going 14 for 23 attempts passing. Daniels was a machine on the ground gaining 222 yards and two touchdowns, while Henderson was also extremely effective netting 99 yards and one touchdown. Marcus Cook was the leading receiver with 108 yards on six receptions, while Horton had 40-yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Breland led the way for CWU with eight tackles and a forced fumble. Accimus had the lone interception for the 'Cats, but added on six tackles and one pass breakup. Sean Gordon had the lone sack for the 'Cats, while CWU combined for seven tackles for loss, led by Daeon Hudson and Christian Penny each with two.

LOOKING AHEAD
The 'Cats will turn their attention towards next football season where they will have a plethora of talent returning to Tomlinson Stadium and a hunger to make some noise both in the Lone Star Conference and in the national rankings.