GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.- The Central Washington University Football Team earned their first victory of the season Saturday afternoon, taming the Colorado Mesa University Mavericks by a 28-12 score on the road.
 
QUOTABLE
 
"I'm really proud of the effort our guys put out there today," CWU Head Football Coach Chris Fisk said. "Especially in the second quarter and beyond. We found a way to come out better and faster. I'm excited about the areas of improvement we made today and the areas we still need to improve on for the rest of the seasons. I'm very happy to get our first win here at Colorado Mesa."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• The game started with the Mavericks earning a 27-yard rush that was stopped by Daniel Mendoza, but a 15-yard face mask penalty on the 'Cats set CMU up at the CWU 37-yard line. The 'Cats buckled down and Kuma Scanlan earned the tackle for loss to turn the ball over on downs and give the 'Cats their first offensive opportunity.
• The Wildcats first offensive possession was cut short as Colin Stuhr intercepted the pass and set CMU up at the Wildcats 31-yard line.
• The Mavericks used the most of it using six plays to drill in the first score of the game in a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Aiden Taylor, with the two-point conversion unsuccessful made it 6-0 CMU with 9:25 left in the first quarter.
• Colorado Mesa wrapped up the first quarter driving deep in Wildcat territory as Brycen Indell and Mikaio Edward combined for a two-yard tackle for loss to end the first with CMU up 6-0.
• Mesa made it to the 'Cats one-yard line, but the 'Cats defensive efforts by Chase Coalson, Jeremy Banks, Tanner Volk, and Mendoza held the CMU offense to a 20-yard field goal to give the Mavs the 9-0 lead with 13:46 left in the second quarter.
• On the ensuing possession, the 'Cats drove down the field ending in a Kennedy McGill three-yard rush to put CWU on the board, followed by a successful Quinton Pacheco point after touchdown kick made it 9-7 CMU with 7:51 left in the second quarter.
• The Wildcats defense held strong on the Mavs possession to get the crimson and black offense the ball back at the CWU 16-yard line with 4:31 left in the second quarter.
• A 29-yard rush by Tyler Flanagan and a 15-yard penalty on the Mavs helped set up the 'Cats for the trick play as Darius Morrison completed the pass to Darrien Gaines for the 35-yard touchdown to give the 'Cats the lead. Pacheco's kick landed through the uprights to put CWU up 14-9 heading into halftime.
• Coming out of halftime, both teams would earn possession of the ball twice, but couldn't come away with any points, capped by Indell forcing a fumble in Wildcat territory that was recovered by Isaac Clark to set CWU up at their own 37-yard line.
• A 28-yard reception from McGill to Morrison highlighted the drive down the field for CWU which ended with a three-yard touchdown rush by McGill followed by a successful Pacheco PAT put the crimson and black up 21-9.
• The Wildcat defense once again stood pat on the Mavs possession putting the ball back in the 'Cats claws to enter the fourth quarter.
• The 'Cats opened the final quarter with a 10-yard Flanagan rush that was followed by a 46-yard reception from McGill to Marcus Cook to put CWU at the Mesa eight-yard line. A two-yard rush by Flanagan sealed the deal for CWU a few plays later followed by another successful Pacheco PAT made it 28-9 CWU with 12 minutes remaining.
• In an attempt to stay in the game, the Mavs drove down the field, but a sack from Chase Loidhamer for nine-yards and a Banks tackle forced CMU to only a 35-yard field goal making it 28-12 CWU with 8:54 left.
• The Wildcats would drive down the field all the way to the Colorado Mesa seven-yard line to run out the clock and take home the victory.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME
 

• McGill finished the game going 7/13 for 116 yards throwing one interception but added 53 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
• Cam Daniels and Flanagan led the rushing attack for CWU with each running for 78 yards on 19 and 15 attempts, respectively. Flanagan finished with a rushing touchdown.
• Cook led the receiving corps with 59 yards on two receptions, but Morrison had the most receptions with three for 47 yards and added the 35-yard touchdown pass to Gaines for his only reception of the night.
• The crimson and black defense was led by Coalson who finished in double-digits in tackles with 10.
• Indell and Volk added six tackles and each had a half tackle for loss with Indell adding the forced fumble.
• Loidhamer finished with four tackles and had two tackles for loss and one sack.
• Jaylen Clay added three tackles, two pass breakups, and one quarterback hurry while LaMarq Patterson and Wahi Emmsley each added a pass breakup.
• Scanlan finished with two tackles for loss while Dominic Wieburg and Tyler King each added one tackle for loss and Banks and Edward each had a half tackle for loss.
• Dan Stewart had three punts for 129 yards with his longest punt coming at 56-yards.
• Flanagan had the only return for CWU, one kickoff return for 11 yards.
• Pacheco finished the day with five kickoffs for 286 yards with two falling for touchbacks but finished a perfect 4/4 on PATs.

 
UP NEXT
 
The 'Cats will dive into Lone Star Conference play with a tough challenge as they travel to Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Texas to face the West Texas A&M Buffaloes (1-2) on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 6:00 p.m. PST.