ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington Wildcats (4-2, 4-0 LSC) defeated the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds (3-3, 2-3 LSC) 38-35 in front of a packed house in Tomlinson Stadium Saturday night. 
 
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"I'm proud of the boys tonight," CWU Head Football Coach Chris Fisk said. "This was a total team win. The defense stepped up when needed, the offense kept possession of the ball and kept it out of the hands of the ENMU offense. The special teams, outside of one play, continued their hot streak. I'm happy that we maintained some good aspects of what we've done well the previous few weeks and I'm excited to build on the improvements that we saw tonight going forward."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Wildcats got things rocking right off the bat when Tyler Flanagan returned the kickoff 87-yards for the touchdown. Josh Jones kicked in the point after touchdown to put the Wildcats up 7-0 only 13 seconds into the game. The Greyhounds decided to get their fans in on the cheering by returning the CWU kickoff 62-yards for a touchdown converting the point after touchdown to tie the game at seven apiece only 27 seconds into the game. 
 
The Wildcats used a long methodical drive that saw JJ Lemming convert a pass to Tyler Flanagan for 24-yards as well 26 rushing yards from Flanagan including an eight-yard touchdown run with the point after touchdown conversion by Jones put CWU up 14-7 with 4:45 left in the first quarter. The Wildcats got their first look of what the triple-option ENMU offense looked like with their fast runners all over the line of scrimmage. ENMU used their speed to rush from their own 25-yard line to the CWU 42-yard line to end the first quarter with CWU up 14-7.
 
The Greyhounds continued their dominance on the ground to rush to a touchdown, converting the point after touchdown to tie the game at 14 apiece with 13:43 left in quarter two. The Wildcats kept up their scoring that was led by 17 rushing yards from Tre'Jon Henderson and a duo of penalties on the Greyhounds with Flanagan punching it in from the one-yard line. Quinton Pacheco kicked the point after touchdown to put the 'Cats back up 21-14 with 8:03 left in the second quarter. 
 
ENMU picked up right where they left off attacking the ground on almost every play. They rushed all over the field as their quarterback punched it in on a fourth and one at the CWU one-yard line and converting the point after touchdown to tie the game once again, this time at 21 apiece with 1:35 left in the second quarter. Lemming showed off his arm throwing for 63-yards to set Pacheco up for the 24-yard field goal to end the first half with CWU up 24-21. 
 
The Greyhounds opened the second half with the first punt of the game, after only making it to their own 47-yard line. CWU copied the Greyhounds putting Dan Stewart to work for his first punt of the game setting ENMU up at the 50-yard line. The Greyhounds used the short field to their advantage punching in a 19-yard passing touchdown, and converted the point after touchdown to take their first lead of the night 28-24 with 5:55 left in the third quarter. 

The Wildcats wouldn't let that lead last for long as Flanagan immediately rushed for 18-yards on the first play of the Wildcats drive. Kennedy McGill and Henderson would also get in on the rushing action this drive with McGill posting a big 13-yard gain and Henderson punching in the seven-yard touchdown run with Pacheco converting the point after touchdown to put CWU up 31-28 with 3:22 left in the third quarter. The Greyhounds would make their way from their own 24-yard line to the CWU 45-yard line to end the third quarter. 
 
ENMU opened the fourth quarter going for it on a fourth and one, but the quarterback fumbled the ball and the ball was recovered by Johnny Navarro for the crimson and black at the CWU 42-yard line with 14:56 left in the game. The Wildcats used the turnover to their advantage as Flanagan got the ball moving for a quick 14-yard rush on the ensuing play. Lemming found Cook on the following play for a 44-yard touchdown with Pacheco converting the point after touchdown for the 10-point CWU lead, 38-28 with 14:02 left in the game. 
 
The Greyhounds used another long rush-heavy drive that punched in one more touchdown and a good point after touchdown saw the CWU lead cut to three, 38-35 with 6:21 left in the game. The Wildcats were successfully able to wind down the clock, helped by Flanagan's 11-yard rush on third down to set up a fourth and one with seven seconds left. Lemming would run the ball and successfully get two yards for a first down and to end the game with CWU winning the nailbiter 38-35. 
 
Lemming guided the air for CWU completing 14 of his 22 passes for 207 yards and one touchdown with his longest pass coming in at 44-yards. Flanagan had himself another night running 22 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Henderson and McGill each had 40 and 21 yards on the night with Henderson having one touchdown as well. Cook once again led the Wildcat receivers with three receptions for 59-yards. DeMonte Horton led the receivers in receptions with four for 41-yards. Darrien Gaines also had two receptions for 43-yards while Flanagan had two receptions as well for 31-yards. 
 
Defensive captains Brett McCalla and Tanner Volk led the Wildcat defense. McCalla recorded 15 total tackles, seven solo and eight assisted while Volk recorded 12 tackles, two solo and 10 assisted, as well as a 0.5 tackle for loss. Dominic Wieburg contributed nine tackles, four solo and five assisted while also recording the other half of the tackle for loss with Volk. Chase Loidhamer tacked on eight tackles with Brett Accimus adding on six. Navarro and Patrick Rogers each had five tackles with Navarro recovering the fumble.
 
Stewart had a quiet night punting only once for 53-yards and a touchback. Jones converted the only field goal for either side for 24-yards and converting both of his point after touchdown attempts. Pacheco converted all three of his point after touchdown attempts. Jackson McCann did his work on the returns, returning three kickoffs for 89-yards while Flanagan returned one kickoff for 87-yards and a touchdown. 
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats head back on the road, this time for their first trip to the Lone Star State this season when they take on the Midwestern State Mustangs (2-3, 1-2 LSC) in Wichita Falls, Texas at 6:00 p.m. pacific time next Saturday, October 14^th.