ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Football Team will look to ride the momentum of a huge LSC-opening victory at West Texas A&M last week into the 'Cats first home stand in almost a full year against Western New Mexico on Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 28 at 6:00 p.m.
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 $10.
Below is a list of prohibited items for home CWU events:
- Outside food and beverages
- Weapons of any kind
- Pets (Service animals are okay)
- Alcohol
- Smoking, E-cigaretts, or vaporizers
- Bikes, skateboards, or scooters
- Any other item or action deemed dangerous or inappropriate
People can bring the following items into CWU events:
- Portable chairbacks or soft sided seat cushions
- Strollers
- Blankets
- Small umbrellas
GAME INFORMATION
WATCH ($):
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LIVE STATS:
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TICKETS:
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LAST WEEK
Coming out of an almost two-hour rain delay, the Wildcats had an offensive showing right off the bat as
Tyler Flanagan punched in a 12-yard touchdown with 6:35 left in the first quarter, and with a
Wyatt Redding point after touchdown, put CWU up 7-0. Flanagan struck again with 2:53 left in the first quarter, this time a one-yard touchdown, with Redding making the PAT saw CWU up 14-0 at the end of one.
Tanner Volk earned his first interception of the season returning it 76-yards to the house with Redding adding on the PAT made it 21-0 CWU with 1:42 left in the first half. Redding would tack on a 45-yard field goal with five seconds left in the first quarter to put CWU up 24-0 at the half.
Camden Loidhamer put the 'Cats on the board to open the second half catching an eight-yard reception from
Kennedy McGill, with Redding converting the PAT made it 31-0 CWU with 9:41 left in the third quarter. Flanagan added his third score of the day with 1:04 left in the third quarter, pounding in a seven-yard touchdown run with Redding making the PAT put CWU up 38-0 heading into the final 15 minutes. The Buffaloes would notch their only points of the game with 7:51 left as Preston Gregg drilled the 34-yard field goal to make it 38-3 in favor of CWU.
Justice Taylor would give the 'Cats the last laugh with an eight-yard rushing touchdown with 4:51 left as Redding converted the PAT help CWU earn the 45-3 victory over West Texas A&M, and their first victory in Canyon, Texas in program history.
McGill finished the game completing 10/21 passes for 178 yards and one touchdown while rushing 11 times for 102 yards.
Tyler Flanagan led the 'Cats in rushing for 104 yards and three touchdowns on 21 attempts while Taylor finished the game with 33 yards and one touchdown on six attempts.
Jalen Grable led the 'Cats with 65 receiving yards on two receptions while
Ty Snider wasn't far behind with 62 yards also on two catches.
Brycen Indell led the crimson and black in tackles with eight while
Wahi Emmsley added five tackles, a half tackle for loss, and forced a fumble that
Isaac Clark recovered.
Chase Coalson,
Tyler King,
Jaylen Clay,
Trishion Sullivan, and
Dajshon Deams all recorded a half tackle for loss each. Volk finished with four tackles, one pass breakup, and one interception.
Jalen Owens and
Jeremy Banks each had a pass breakup while King and Clay each logged a quarterback hurry.
Dan Stewart finished the game with one punt for 33 yards. Redding finished the game 1/3 on field goal attempts making an attempt from 45 yards while adding seven kickoffs for 389 yards and going a perfect 6/6 on PAT attempts.
Marcus Cook had two punt returns for nine yards.
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
Western New Mexico is 2-2 on the season finding success in their nonconference matchups currently having an 0-2 LSC record. The Mustangs opened the 2024 season with a 41-3 setback at then 21st-ranked UTPB before bouncing back for a 46-36 victory at Adams State and backing it up with a 36-33 victory over New Mexico Highlands in the La Batalla Bowl. The 'Stangs fell to 2-2 and 0-2 in LSC play last weekend after getting shutout at home 21-0 to Angelo State.
WNMU is currently being outscored by their opponents 32.75 points per game compared to the 'Stangs 21.25 points per game. The Mustangs have been getting out-passed by their opponents 311.5 yards per game to WNMU's 180.5. Western New Mexico has kept it close in the ground game rushing for an average 135 yards per game to their opponents 161.25 yards per game.
Josh Magana has been the main quarterback for WNMU completing 57/98 passes for 665 yards, throwing three touchdowns and only one interception. Magna's favorite target has been Davey Morales who has 16 catches on the season for 196 yards and two touchdowns. Edwin LaCrosse (119 yards, 1 touchdown), Lance Lawson (116 yards), and Deuce Zimmerman (107 yards) all have surpassed 100 receiving yards on the season. The ground game has been dominated by Jamon Chambers who has 314 yards on the season and five touchdowns on 65 attempts.
Cole Lalama has been the leader of the Mustang defense logging 45 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one quarterback hurry. Ryan ten Hulscher leads the Mustangs with three tackles for loss and is tied with Diego Diaz who each have logged one sack apiece. Justin Evans has the 'Stangs only interception on the season and has added one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. Clayton Zentner leads WNMU with five pass breakups while Ruben Gamboa has one fumble recovery.
"They have a very impressive defensive front," CWU Head Football Coach
Chris Fisk said. "They have a bunch of transfers in that defensive line that can make things hard for you if you don't have your stuff together."
Braden Biller has been the main punter for WNMU this season having 17 punts for 703 yards for an average of 41.35 yards per punt with five of his punts landing within the opponents 20-yard line. Zach Gordon is a perfect 3/3 on field goal attempts with his longest attempt coming in at 47 yards and has 18 kickoffs for 1,130 yards for an average of 62.8 yards per kickoff. The Mustangs have had a slew of kick returners this season with four different players logging multiple kick returns. Jevin Dorsey leads the bunch with five kick returns for 87 yards. Zay Savoie and Chambers have the only punt returns for yardage with Savoie having an 11-yard return and Chambers having a 6-yard return.
"I think they're a hungry team, I think they're a team with a lot of belief," Fisk said. "We're going to have to play hard and play physical to take that belief from them on Saturday. I think they're excited, they've already matched their win total from a year ago, and we'll see how it goes on Saturday."
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will next take on WNMU's counterpart in the Land of Enchantment as they head to Portales, N.M. for a road clash with the Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m. PST from Al Whitehead Field at Greyhound Stadium.
