MIDLAND, Texas – The Central Washington Wildcat Football Team (7-3, 7-1 LSC) fell to the Texas Permian Basin Falcons (10-1, 8-0 LSC) by a 42-14 score in the Lone Star Conference Championship Game Saturday afternoon.
QUOTABLE
"I'm very proud of the season our guys put together," CWU Head Football Coach
Chris Fisk said. "I'm disappointed in the finish, but there was a lot to learn from the game. We'll look at this game to help us to improve in future"
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Wildcats received the ball to open the game, but unfortunately were met with a stout UTPB defense that forced a three and out.
Dan Stewart punted the ball 43 yards to the UTPB 34-yard line where the Falcons would take over. The Falcons would immediately march down the field, guided by four plays of double-digit gains both in the air and on the ground to strike first, making it a 6-0 game. The point after touchdown would go through to put UTPB up 7-0 with 9:17 left in the first quarter.
The Wildcats were guided by
Kennedy McGill on the second drive of the game for CWU as he picked up back-to-back six-yard gains before exploding for a 27-yard gain to put the 'Cats on the UTPB side of the field for the first time of the afternoon.
Tyler Flanagan would pick up three more yards before a fumble gave the ball back to UTPB at their own 42-yard line.
The Wildcats were able to force a three and out of the Falcons, forcing them to punt the ball for the first time on the afternoon. The 'Cats would take over at their own 11-yard line. McGill had a five-yard gain before making a completion to
DeMonte Horton for 17-yards that would be forced out of his hands and recovered by the Falcons for their second fumble recovery of the day.
Tanner Volk would change the tides for CWU on the next play, picking up his 10
th interception of the season and giving the ball back to the crimson and black. Unfortunately, the Wildcats couldn't find an offensive rhythm and went three and out, punting the ball back to the Falcons where they'd start their drive at their own 31-yard line.
The Falcons would pick up a first down two plays into their drive, but a 58-yard rush saw UTPB threaten once again, landing at the CWU one-yard line. One play later the UTPB quarterback punched it in to give the Falcons the 13-0 lead. The PAT would fall good making it a 14-0 UTPB lead with 12 seconds left in the first quarter. Flanagan would make a six-yard gain to end the first quarter with the Falcons leading 14-0.
The Wildcats continued their march to start the second quarter as Flanagan immediately picked up seven yards. McGill would connect with
Darius Morrison for a much needed 40-yard reception to make it to UTPB territory at their 37-yard line. A bad snap saw the Wildcats fumble the ball, but the fumble would be called back thanks to a penalty on the Falcons. However, as they say, history repeats itself, as the Wildcats would fumble on the next play and see the Falcons recover to take back over at their own 29.
The Falcons would get eight yards on their drive, but the Wildcat defense stiffened up and forced a punt. The Wildcats would take over at their own 30 after the punt. McGill immediately connected with Morrison for a 15-yard reception to get the Wildcats started. McGill would then use the next two plays to rush for 12-yards and first down for the crimson and black. Flanagan would power his way towards the goal for a 30-yard gain to put CWU in the redzone at the Falcon 13-yard line. Flanagan would get dropped for a two-yard loss, but a pass interference call on the Falcons set CWU up at the UTPB two-yard line where Flanagan was able to drop it in the endzone to put CWU on the board. The
Josh Jones PAT would be good making it a 14-7 UTPB lead with 7:02 left in the second quarter.
UTPB would immediately get their drive booming with a 15-yard reception. They gained three yards to make it third and seven for the Falcons. A 16-yard rush would give them a first down and on the CWU side of the field. Volk wouldn't let them go any further, recording his 11
th interception of the season, helped by
Daniel Matagi hurrying the quarterback with 4:23 left in the second quarter.
McGill instantly found
Zach Matlock on the trick play for a big 31-yard gain all the way to the UTPB 34-yard line. McGill's pass would get intercepted at the UTPB 25-yard line, but an offside on the Falcons negated the interception and made it first and five for the Wildcats at the UTPB 29. A false start would push the 'Cats back to the UTPB 34, but Flanagan would take over for 14 rushing yards and the first down. McGill added on nine-yards before Flanagan put up five more yards to set CWU up at the UTPB six-yard line with 23 seconds left forcing Coach Fisk to call a timeout. McGill would find Morrison in the endzone for the touchdown with 16 seconds left in the first half. The Jones PAT would tie the game to head to halftime.
The Falcons came out of halftime with a vengeance as the second play of the half would result in a 66-yard touchdown reception to give the Falcons the 21-14 lead after converting the PAT. The Wildcats would get the ball back at their own 19 and McGill would immediately find Horton for a 12-yard gain and the first down, but the Falcon defense allowed no more forcing Stewart to punt again for the Wildcats.
UTPB would take advantage of getting the ball back with a quick 25-yard rush to get back into Wildcat territory.
Brett McCalla would combat the gain with a two-yard loss, dropping the rusher in the backfield. They used a 12-yard rush by the quarterback followed by a 28-yard reception to get the touchdown and increase their lead to 28-14 after the PAT.
McGill found
Kaiden Hammond for a much needed 17-yard reception and the first down on the first play of the Wildcat drive. The Wildcats would chip away at the yardage, but it unfortunately wasn't enough as CWU found themselves at a fourth down and three bringing Stewart on to punt.
The Falcons saw a big 30-yard reception on the second play of their drive bring them around midfield. They chipped away at the yardage picking up two first downs in the process before a big 34-yard rush for a touchdown increased the Falcon lead to 35-14 after converting the PAT. The Wildcats took over with 3:05 left in the third quarter but went three and out giving the ball back to UTPB.
The Falcons got back-to-back first downs to open their drive setting them up at the CWU 44-yard line.
Patrick Rogers broke up a deep pass, but the Falcons countered with a 13-yard first down rush to end the third quarter.
The Falcons continued their pursuit of the Wildcat endzone and used a nine-yard rush by the quarterback to punch it in. UTPB converted the PAT and increased their lead to 42-14 with 11:17 left in the game.
Both teams exchanged the ball two more times, but the Wildcats couldn't penetrate the Falcon defense as UTPB would go on to win the game and the LSC Championship 42-14.
McGill finished the game completing nine of his 16 passes for 148-yards and one touchdown.
Zach Matlock led the receiving corps with 62-yards while Morrison wasn't far behind with 61-yards and a touchdown. Horton added on 37-yards while Hammond tacked on 17. McGill led the rushing attack with 64-yards while Flanagan added on 60-yards and a touchdown.
McCalla and Volk each had 10 tackles to lead the defense. McCalla had 1.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry while Volk had one tackle for loss and two interceptions.
Isaac Clark had six tackles and a 0.5 tackle for loss.
Josh Flowers and
Brett Accimus each had five tackles while Accimus had a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
Patrick Rogers,
Bridger Feldmann, and
Johnny Navarro each contributed four tackles with Rogers having a pass breakup.
Stewart recorded six punts in the game for 245 yards for an average of 40.8 yards per punt. He had one of his punts land in the UTPB 20-yard line.
Darrien Gaines had one punt return for 14 yards while
Jackson McCann had four kickoff returns for 68 yards and Flanagan returned one kickoff for 16 yards. Jones had three kickoffs for 182 yards and an average of 60.7 yards per kick, while also converting both PATs.
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will await to see if they can get their name called during the NCAA Selection Show at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time tomorrow on NCAA.com. If they make the field, they will await and see who their opponent would be for a matchup next weekend. The Wildcats were listed third in this weeks regional ranking.
