ELLENSBURG, Wash. - One week after falling to the #1 team in the nation, the Central Washington University football team bounced back, defeating the Western New Mexico Mustangs by a score of 24-13 in the home opener.
 
The Wildcat's top performer was Tre'Jon Henderson, who had his way on the ground tonight. Henderson registered 154 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 26 attempts, an average of 5.9 yards per rush.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Isaiah Carbajal had a big performance. Carbajal found himself beyond the Mustang offensive line throughout the night and led the team in QB hits (4).
 
CWU opened the game with the ball. Henderson got the ground game going, cracking open a 14-yard rush, putting the Wildcats in field-goal position. On fourth down, Jude Mullette put it between the uprights, giving CWU a 3-0 lead.
 
The next two possessions, one for each team, ended in punts. After that, the Mustangs had the ball, looking to get on the scoreboard. That's when Carbajal made his impact, getting to WNMU QB Devin Larsen who forced a pass that Daeon Hudson intercepted at the CWU 44-yard line.
 
CWU failed to convert on the drive following the interception. The drive was negated by penalties, something the Wildcats struggled with throughout the night, logging 11 penalties for 120 yards.
 
After a 20-yard punt, the Mustangs had the ball at midfield towards the end of the first quarter. They capitalized on the good field position, driving into scoring position and converting a 34-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3.
 
The next score didn't come until 8:31 remained in the second quarter. After a Henderson fumble, WNMU had the ball at midfield again. The Mustangs turned the good field position into a touchdown this time, as Larsen found Vincent Rankin for a 12-yard touchdown and the Wildcats fell behind 3-10.
 
A couple of possessions later, the Wildcats looked to even the score. CWU had great field position after Brett Accimus made a fourth down stop. Quincy Glasper found Darius Morrison for 25 yards to get the drive started, and then found Tai-John Mizutani for 15 yards soon after to give the Wildcats 1st and Goal from the WNMU 5-yard line. Henderson punched it in, tying the game at 10-10.
 
As the half dwindled down, the Mustangs scored another field goal and the Wildcats found themselves down at the half by a score of 10-13.
 
The Mustangs opened the second half with the ball, and they were driving. But Tanner Volk didn't let that last for long, intercepting Larsen. The offense couldn't put together a drive and punted it away.
 
The next scoring possession came a couple of drives later. CWU started the drive on their own 40-yard line. On the drive, Glasper hit Mizutani for 22 yards and Henderson for 18 yards, putting the ball at the WNMU 7-yard line. Henderson punched it in and the Wildcats found themselves ahead 17-13 with 7:00 remaining in the third quarter.
 
The two teams exchanged drives ending in punts for the rest of the quarter.
 
The fourth quarter began with a WNMU possession starting at midfield. This drive also didn't last very long. On 3rd and 9, Larsen lobbed a pass deep that found the hands of Jeremy Banks, getting CWU's third interception on the night.
 
The CWU offense failed to turn the turnover into points. Both teams didn't score until later in the quarter, as the score remained 17-13.
 
Looking to take the lead, the Mustangs took the field with 2:36 remaining. On 2nd and 10, Larson took a shot down the right sideline. Patrick Rogers was there, getting the fourth interception for the Wildcats on the night.
 
Unlike previous turnovers, the Wildcats turned this one into points. Henderson sealed the game with a six-yard rushing touchdown, making the score 24-13. That's how the game ended.
 
"We got it done, we finished it out," Henderson said postgame. "On Monday, we got to come back and get better. It's going to be a great year."
 
Accimus led the team in tackles (11). Hudson registered 10 tackles, one interception and two QB hits. Volk logged seven tackles and one interception.
 
Glasper threw for 14 completions on 29 attempts for 196 yards and one interception on the night. Mizutani led Wildcat receivers with six receptions for 75 yards.
 
After tonight's win, the Wildcat's record is now 1-1. Next week, the Wildcats will find themselves in Burnaby, B.C. taking on Simon Fraser. That game is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10.