ODESSA, TEXAS – The 13th-ranked Central Washington University Football Team (5-1, 4-0 LSC) won a battle of top-15 ranked teams, defeating the 6th-ranked UTPB Falcons (5-1, 3-1 LSC) by a 27-14 score Saturday evening in historic Ratliff Stadium. 
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CHRIS FISK:
 
"We are extremely proud of our young men. They continue to handle adversity extremely well. This is one of the best road wins we've had in the Lone Star Conference. We're excited to get back and get to work on Texas A&M-Kingsville."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Falcons struck early, marching down the field on the first possession of the game as Kanon Gibson found TJ McKenzie for a short eight-yard touchdown. Angel Diaz kicked the PAT and sent UTPB up 7-0 with 10:54 left in the first. 
• Defenses stiffened up after that, forcing quick punts three possessions until the Falcons had the ball once more, marching their way into the Wildcats end of the field but a quarterback hurry by Chase Loidhamer to force an incomplete pass on third down coupled with a pass breakup on fourth down by King Williams gave the ball back to the 'Cats. 
• The UTPB defense however wouldn't allow the 'Cats to do much with the turnover on downs forcing a three and out to end the first quarter with UTPB on top 7-0. 
• The Wildcat defense responded with a three and out of their own to begin the second quarter and give the ball to the CWU offense who found their first success of the evening as Kennedy McGill found some open receivers and McGill, Beau Phillips, and Justice Taylor found momentum on the ground, but the drive would halt at the UTPB 19-yard line after a fake field goal run was unsuccessful giving the ball back to the Falcons. 
• The Wildcat defense held strong once more to give the ball back to the offense. 
• McGill immediately found a gap and gained 42 quick yards on the ground to put the offense deep in UTPB territory. A 12-yard pass to Mason Juergens and a four-yard gain on the ground by Taylor helped set up a successful 40-yard field goal attempt by David Weber to cut the deficit to 7-3 in favor of UTPB with 27 seconds left in the first half.
• The Falcons ran out the clock and sent the teams to the half break with UTPB leading 7-3. 
• A fumble by the 'Cats on the kickoff to begin the second half that was recovered by UTPB set the Falcons up at the 'Cats own 33-yard line, however stiff defense paired with a Falcon penalty helped the CWU defense earn a turnover on downs and give the ball back to the offense at the 'Cats own 29-yard line. 
• Both teams exchanged possessions before the 'Cats got the ball back as the 'Cats earned small gains left and right during the drive with McGill and Taylor finding exceptional small successes on the ground to help Taylor breakthrough for a 24-yard touchdown and with the Weber PAT gave the 'Cats their first lead of the night 10-7 with 1:22 left in the third. 
• UTPB only needed two plays to respond however as Gibson found an open Ben Patterson for a 73-yard touchdown and with Diaz's successful PAT gave the lead back to the Falcons 14-10 with 31 seconds left in the third. 
• Phillips gained five yards to conclude the third quarter with UTPB on top 14-10. 
• The 'Cats would come up empty to begin the fourth, however the CWU defense also forced the Falcon offense to come up empty on their first possession of the fourth quarter. 
• Taylor, McGill, and Phillips pounded their way down field with McGill connecting with Jalen Grable for 12 yards in the process, to grind the 'Cats into the Falcon redzone where McGill punched it in with a six-yard rush. Weber's PAT was successful and made it 17-14 CWU with 3:15 left.
• The CWU defense prevailed once again, as a key sack followed by a pass breakup by Loidhamer helped put the Falcons in fourth and nine, only to see Matulino Masunu sack Gibson for an eight-yard loss and give the ball back to the crimson and black with 1:45 left at the UTPB 33-yard line. 
• The Falcon defense did not let the Wildcats get a first down, forcing a 44-yard field goal attempt by Weber which sailed through the uprights to make it 20-14 CWU with 38 seconds to go. 
• Williams had a key breakup on a long ball by Gibson and on the next play Javonte Walker read the throw and intercepted Gibson and returned the ball 35 yards for a pick six. Weber kicked the PAT and set the 'Cats up 27-14 with 18 seconds left. 
• Gibson made three successful passes making it to the 'Cats 38-yard line, but time ran out and the 'Cats ran away with the ranked showdown over 6th-ranked UTPB by a 27-14 score. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• McGill finished the game completing 7 of 18 passes for 70 yards, adding on 81 rushing yards and a touchdown. 
• Taylor rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown with Phillips adding 56 yards. 
• Juergens and Logan Brady tied with 29 yards on three receptions each. 
• Loidhamer and Chase Coalson tied for the team-high in tackles with seven with Loidhamer adding one sack for a loss of five yards and two pass breakups. 
• Brett McCalla added six tackles with Williams and Jalen Webber each adding five with Williams tacking on four pass breakups and Webber adding two. 
• Walker had the only interception of the game to go with three tackles and one pass breakup. 
• Mikaio Edward also had three tackles and a sack for a loss of six yards while Masunu had a sack for a loss of eight yards. 
• Jalen Owens added one pass breakup while Tyler King added one quarterback hurry and Timothy Timoteo added one tackle for loss for one yard. 
• Wyatt Redding had five punts for 221 yards and added six kickoffs for 379 yards. 
• Weber was a successful 3/3 on PAT attempts and 2/2 on field goal attempts with his longest coming at 44-yards. 
• Mika Roberson had three punt returns for 32 yards while Ryder Bumgarner returned two kickoffs for a total of 7 yards. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will head back to Ellensburg to prepare for a homecoming showdown against the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas (3-3, 2-2 LSC). The 'Cats and Javelinas kick off at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 18 from Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium.