MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Central Washington Wildcat football (2-2) defeated the Western Oregon Wolves (1-3) 17-7 to determine that the Wildcats are the "Kings of the Pacific Northwest in NCAA Division II Football".

QUOTABLE

"I'm really proud of the guys and the way they prepared this week," CWU Head Football Coach Chris Fisk said. "I'm very proud of the way they handled themselves today, and the way the defense stepped up. It feels good to get a win on their turf after defeating us on ours last year. We look forward to getting back at it and taking on Western New Mexico next week." 

HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Wildcats and Wolves slugged it out in the first quarter but neither team found the endzone. The quarter was highlighted when Tanner Volk recorded his first interception of the game when he picked off the WOU quarterback and returned it 22-yards to the WOU 35-yard line.
 
Kennedy McGill helped set the Wildcats up after a nine-yard rush and 18-yards passing to put CWU at the WOU 26-yard line. Tyler Flanagan took it from there, rushing to put the Wildcats up 6-0 with 6:15 left in the first half. Josh Jones converted the point after touchdown for the 7-0 Wildcat lead. The Wildcats and Wolves traded possessions before Tanner Volk intercepted the Wolves again putting CWU at the Wolves 42-yard line with 40 seconds to go in the half. JJ Lemming found Zach Matlock for a 19-yard completion putting CWU at the WOU 23-yard line setting up Jones for the 40-yard field goal kick to put the Wildcats up 10-0 entering the half. 
 
The Wolves struck their only points of the game halfway through the third quarter thanks to a couple big catches from the Wolves receiver, including a 48-yard reception to put the Wolves on the Wildcats side of the field. A 32-yard pass by the Wolves secured the touchdown for WOU making the game 10-7 Wildcats after a successful point after touchdown conversion. 
 
The Wildcats took over at the 50-yard line, and would make it to the WOU 32-yard line thanks to some stellar passing from McGill to end the third quarter. Flanagan and Tre'jon Henderson would power the Wildcats to the WOU 21-yard line before McGill connected with Flanagan for the 21-yard touchdown pass making it a 16-7 game in favor of CWU. Jones would convert the point after touchdown putting CWU up double-digits 17-7. 
 
The teams would trade possessions with the Wolves marching their way down the field with less than three minutes to go, making big receptions. The Wolves found themselves on the Wildcat 28-yard line before Josiah Cochran sealed the victory for CWU by intercepting the WOU quarterback and returning it 31-yards to the WOU 42-yard line. 
 
McGill led the Wildcats in passing going 11 for 15 in the game for 88-yards and one touchdown. Lemming would throw 84-yards going 6 for 15. Flanagan led the rushing attack, rushing 16 times for 49 yards and one touchdown, while McGill and Henderson each tacked on 28 and 23 rushing yards. Zach Matlock led the 'Cats receiving corps with four catches for 53-yards. Flanagan recorded two catches for 21-yards  and one touchdown.
 
The Wildcat defense kept busy during the game with Patrick Rogers and Brett McCalla each recording five tackles with Rogers having two pass breakups and McCalla also recording a 0.5 tackle for loss. Brett Accimus and Tanner Volk each recorded four tackles with Accimus having the lone sack for the Wildcats for a four-yard loss while Volk had two interceptions that were returned for 33-yards. Josiah Cochran and Josh Flowers each had three tackles while Cochran had one interception that was returned for 31-yards. Mekhi Johnson, Chase Loidhame, and Bridger Feldmann all recorded 0.5 tackles for loss. 
 
Dan Stewart recorded seven punts for 252-yards and 36-yard average with one punt landing in the WOU 20-yard line. Jones converted the only field goal of the game for 40-yards. 
 
UP NEXT
 
The Wildcats will remain road 'Cats traveling down south to Silver City, N.M. next week on Saturday, September 30^th to try and wrangle the Mustangs of Western New Mexico (1-3) at 5:00 p.m.