Wildcats Try to Claw Past Falcons on Saturday

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Football Team (4-1, 3-0 LSC) will head into a big weekend, hosting the defensing Lone Star Conference champions the UT Permian Basin Falcons (3-3, 2-2 LSC) on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 6:00 p.m. from Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium.

THINGS TO KNOW

Central Washington fans are encouraged to wear black to help blackout Tomlinson Stadium.

New to the 2024 home athletics season, ticket sales are cashless and parking for football games will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will be $10. General ADA parking is in parking lot X-12 (dirt parking lot north of Tomlinson Stadium).

Below is a list of prohibited items for home CWU events:
- Outside food and beverages
- Weapons of any kind
- Pets (Service animals are allowed)
- Alcohol
- Smoking, E-cigarettes, or vaporizers
- Bikes, skateboards, or scooters
- Regular bags, backpacks, and tote bags
- Any other item or action deemed dangerous or inappropriate

People can bring the following items into CWU events:
- Portable chairbacks or soft sided seat cushions
- Small purses
- Strollers
- Blankets
- Small umbrellas

Starting this weekend at all home football games, Central Washington University Athletics will be implementing metal detectors at entrances and recommends the use of clear bags. By the homecoming game against Midwestern State on October 26, 2024, a clear bag policy will be in full effect.

To help with this new transition CWU Athletics will be giving away free Kittitas Valley Healthcare clear bags to the first 100 fans in attendance at the game against UTPB this weekend.

By adopting a clear bag policy, Central Washington University Athletics aims to enhance safety and streamline the gameday experience for all fans. While it restricts certain bag types, it still allows most items fans typically bring, making security screenings faster and more efficient.

Central Washington University Athletics would like to thank you for your cooperation.

GAME INFORMATION

WATCH ($): HERE
LIVE STATS: HERE
TICKETS: HERE

LAST WEEK

The Wildcats traveled to Portales, New Mexico where they earned a hard-fought 44-28 victory over the Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico on Al Whitehead Field at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium.

Eastern New Mexico took the first punch in the game as Mario Sanchez ran in a one-yard touchdown to put ENMU up 7-0 with 10:07 left in the first quarter. CWU got on the board early in the second quarter when Kennedy McGill ran in a six-yard touchdown and with Wyatt Redding making the point after touchdown, tied the game at seven with 13:30 left in the second quarter. Darius Morrison put the 'Cats up with 5:47 left in the first half after catching a 13-yard toss from McGill and with Redding making the PAT made it 14-7 'Cats. The Greyhounds tied things up when Sanchez had a nine-yard touchdown run with 1:35 left in the first half. Tyler Flanagan wouldn't let the game be tied to enter halftime when he ran in a 31-yard touchdown, and with Redding making the PAT, put CWU back up 21-14.

The 'Cats creeped down the field to open the second half taking nine minutes to march down the field to see Morrison catch his second touchdown of the day, this time a three-yard catch from McGill and with Redding making the PAT, saw CWU up 28-14 with six minutes left in the third quarter. Marcus Cook got in on the action with a 19-yard reception from McGill with 1:49 left in the third quarter to make it 34-14 'Cats. The Greyhounds immediately responded when Jeremiah Moore made a 78-yard reception from Sanchez to make it 34-21 crimson and black. Flanagan opened the fourth quarter with a 29-yard rushing touchdown with Redding making the PAT made it 41-21 'Cats with 12:42 left to go. Redding added a 19-yard field goal to increase the 'Cats lead to 44-1 with 5:46 left in the game. ENMU struck once more when Gerry Gomez made a 32-yard reception from Sanchez to make it 44-28 CWU.

McGill finished the game completing 16/23 passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 114 yards and one touchdown. Tyler Flanagan led the rushing attack with 127 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns adding a 12-yard reception with Cam Daniels adding 92 yards. Morrison finished with 64 receiving yards and two touchdowns while Cook added 49 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Brycen Indell led the 'Cats in tackles with eight adding a fumble recovery. Dominic Wieburg, Kuma Scanlan, and Daniel Matagi all added six tackles while Mikaio Edward had five tackles. Jeremy Banks had the only pass breakup for CWU. Dan Stewart punted once for 30 yards while Redding went 1/2 on field goal attempts, making an attempt from 19-yards while also finishing 5/6 on PAT attempts. Redding also added eight kickoffs for 467 yards with three landing for touchbacks. Cook had the only punt return for CWU returning it for 17 yards while Darrien Gaines and Flanagan each had one kick return for 19 and 17 yards, respectively.

ABOUT THE FALCONS

UTPB is 3-3 on the season and 2-2 in Lone Star Conference play this season. The defending LSC champions opened the 2024 season with a 41-3 home victory over Western New Mexico before suffering a 40-23 setback at Colorado State-Pueblo. UTPB bounced back for a 67-14 victory over Adams State before falling to Texas A&M-Kingsville at home by a 20-14 score. The Falcons bounced back for a 27-3 road victory over Midwestern State before dropping their contest to Angelo State at home by a 36-7 score last weekend.

The Falcons are outscoring their opponents 29.83 points per game to the 19.33 points per game the defense is allowing. UTPB is outrushing their opponents 154.2 yards per game to their opponents 108.2 rushing yards per game. The air-game has been a specialty for UTPB, as they're outgaining their opponents 263.83 passing yards to the 160.17 passing yards their opponents are gaining.

"They're an extremely talented team," CWU Head Football Coach Chris Fisk said. "You turn the film on, and they're loaded with talent everywhere. I think if you were to talk about the difference between having a lot of talent and being a great team, there's a big difference. I know they're searching to be that great team, which they're more than capable of being, and they'll be searching for that this weekend, and you just hope that they don't find it in Ellensburg on Saturday."

The Falcons have been led by Dylan Graham who's completed 103/194 passes for 1,370 yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Isaac Mooring is currently 10/20 on passes, throwing for one touchdown and 147 yards. The Falcons ground game has been dominated by Kory Harris who's rushed for 582 yards and four touchdowns on 131 rushes this season. Camden Tyler is next for the Falcons with 181 rushing yards and one touchdown on 33 attempts. Jeremiah Cooley leads UTPB's receiving corps with 344 yards and four touchdowns on 26 catches. Ben Patterson has 241 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 10 catches while La'Quan Wells has 205 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 26 catches.

Tristan Exline leads the Falcons defense with 45 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one pass breakup, and two quarterback hurries. Frank Mulipola has 25 tackles and leads UTPB with five sacks, adding two pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. Jalon Rocquemore is second on UTPB in tackles with 33, adding 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, one pass breakup, two quarterback hurries, and forced one fumble. Jalani Jefferson leads UTPB with five pass breakups while Malik Allen has two blocked kicks on the year and Eric Franco has one blocked kick.

Rafael Vargas has 21 punts for the Falcons this season for a total of 890 yards with five landing within the opponents 20-yard line and three landing for touchbacks. Angel Diaz is 6/11 on field goal attempts with his longest coming at 47-yards and one getting blocked. Vargas is 1/2 on field goal attempts making one from 31-yards out. Vargas has 31 kickoffs for 1,685 yards with seven landing four touchbacks and two landing out of bounds. Gunnar Abseck has eight punt returns for a total of 54 yards while Traylen Suel has eight kick returns for 243 yards and one touchdown.

"The big thing is to focus on what we need to do to win, and don't let the human element get into the game," Fisk said. "We don't have a rematch of last year, the rosters that played for both teams are different from last year to this year, so it's not a rematch otherwise it'd be the same rosters as last year, and nothing that we do this weekend will change the result of last year. What we have to do is go out and focus on what it takes to win and be better at playing the game of football and be a better team than they are. I think if we can keep our focus that way, and not worry about what the emotions this game contains and not worry about revenge, then we can find ourselves in a pretty good spot."

UP NEXT

The 'Cats will be back on the road for a tough test traveling to the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas (4-1, 3-0 LSC) for a 5:00 p.m. PST kickoff from Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas.

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