ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington football team (0-1) will prowl for their first win this season when they hunt the Orediggers of Montana Tech (0-1) this Saturday at Tomlinson Field at 6:00 p.m.

LINKS

Watch: HERE
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You can also listen live on the radio courtesy of 88.1 The 'Burg
 
LAST WEEK
 
The Wildcats headed to Utah to take on the FCS nationally 10^th-ranked Weber State Wildcats where they battled but fell short 10-35. CWU kept the game at 10-14 going into halftime, but a 21-point third quarter helped the purple and white Wildcats to the victory.
 
"I think we held our own for a half," CWU Head Football Coach Chris Fisk said. "I'm really proud of our effort in the first half, I think there's an opportunity to really be up 14-0 at halftime if we don't give away a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and obviously we drop a punt in the short field there at the beginning. We really had an opportunity to be in a better position than we were in going into the half."
 
Redshirt freshman Kennedy McGill flashed his athleticism in his first official collegiate game by leading the team in rushing with 55 yards while also making two passes for 34 yards. JJ Lemming led CWU in passing with 90 yards while Tyler Flanagan rushed for 46 yards and CWU's only touchdown of the day. Zach Matlock connected with Darius Morrison for a 51-yard pass accounting for Morrison's team-leading 59 reception yards.
 
The crimson and black also had a solid day on the defensive side of the ball as Jaylen Clay led CWU with seven total tackles while Brett Accimus had six and one pass breakup. Sophomore defensive captain Brett McCalla had four tackles and earned CWU's first sack of the season for a loss of seven yards. Glenville State transfer Josh Jones connected on a 40-yard field goal to end the first half.
 
" I think our guys went into halftime relieved we were in that position," Fisk said. "Instead of thinking we deserved to be in that position and ready to come out in the third quarter and understand that Weber State wasn't going to come out and be the same team that they were in the first half. They were going to give great effort and we didn't match that, we had some mistakes in the third quarter and let it get away from us. Overall, I'm very proud of the effort of the team, I think there's a lot of positives to take away."
 
ABOUT THE OREDIGGERS
 
The NAIA 15^th-ranked Montana Tech is coming off a heartbreaking 19-21 loss to arch-rival, the Carroll Saints in their annual Copper Game. This will be the first ever meeting between CWU and MT.
 
The 'Diggers outgained the Saints in total yards with 370 compared to 317. Most of their damage came in the air with 255 yards coming from their passing game while 115 game on the ground in their rushing attack.
 
Montana Tech has been led by the dynamic Blake duo. Blake Thelen went 15-25 for 255 yards and one touchdown against the Saints, while Blake Counts rushed 15 times for 95 yards and one touchdown. Thelen's favorite target, Wyatt Alexander had six catches for 136 yards and one touchdown.
 
Cole Wyant and Jaden Macneil each posted 13 and 10 total tackles, respectively against the Saints. Angel Sanchez III and Jack Marcille each had a sack for MT for nine- and eight-yard losses, while Gabe Zanetti and Tel Arthur combined for a sack. The defense had nine pass breakups during the night.  Ryan Lowry is the primary kicker for MT going 1-1 on point after touchdown attempts and made 2-3 field goals with his longest on the night being 29 yards.
 
"I coached a long time in the Frontier Conference," Fisk said. "I've faced this squad many times under different coaching staffs, but I know the type of pride that they play with in Butte America. I know the type of culture that they have that Kyle Samson brings to the table, and I know that this team will be the best team on our schedule, because it's this weeks team, we'll get to the next weeks teams as we get to each Sunday mark."