ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Football Team (4-1, 3-0 LSC) used a tremendously strong start to sprint past the visiting Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico (1-4, 1-2 LSC) by a 58-7 score Saturday evening.
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CHRIS FISK:
 
"We are all very proud of the way the guys approach each week and come out with the right mindset to play the game the way it is supposed to be played. We are thrilled with the win and we are excited to start preparing for UTPB next week and to play at one of the most historic stadiums in the country."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Wildcat defense started out strong with a huge three and out and the Wildcat offense completed a beautiful opening to the game for the crimson and black as Kennedy McGill found an open Jalen Grable on the first play of offense for CWU for a 55-yard touchdown and with the successful PAT by David Weber, saw CWU up 7-0 with 13:18 remaining in the first quarter.
• Once again, the CWU defense stood tall, forcing a punt which landed at the 50. The ground combination of McGill and Justice Taylor paired with a 15-yard pass from McGill to Logan Brady helped the 'Cats march down the field and see McGill punch it in from five yards out. Weber's successful PAT made it a 14-0 'Cat lead with 5:33 left in the first.
• A huge fourth down tackle for loss by Chase Coalson gave the offense the ball back at the ENMU 30-yard line. A pair of rushes by Beau Phillips, a four-yard rush by McGill, and a 13-yard connection from McGill to Brady set Phillips up to punch it in from one yard out. Weber's kick was good and the 'Cats led 21-0 with 39 second left in the first.
• A pair of rushes by the 'Hounds ended the first quarter with CWU on top 21-0.
• Another huge tackle by Coalson forced ENMU to punt and saw the 'Cats take over on their own 25-yard line.
• McGill immediately connected with Stephen Woodward for a big 25-yard gain and then took it the rest of the way himself on the following play with a huge 50-yard touchdown. Weber successfully kicked the PAT and put the 'Cat sup 28-0 with 13:22 left in the second.
• Another three and out by the Wildcat defense gave the offense the ball back on the ENMU 42-yard line.
• Phillips immediately gobbled up 39 quick yards to the ENMU three-yard line and two plays later Ryder Bumgarner punched it in. Weber kicked the PAT and made it 35-0 CWU with 10:58 left in the second.
• Another three and out by the Wildcat defense saw the Greyhounds punt, but a personal foul on ENMU on the punt gave the ball to the 'Cats at the 'Hounds 29-yard line.
• The Greyhound defense held up and forced the 'Cats to test the leg of Weber from 46-yards out. Weber kicked it up and through the uprights to make it 38-0 in favor of CWU with eight minutes left in the second.
• The teams exchanged a pair of possessions, seeing the Greyhounds take back over with 2:13 left in the second.
• ENMU got off two small rushes before Jalen Webber intercepted the pass and returned it to the house for a 21-yard pick six. Weber kicked the PAT and made it a 45-0 game with 1:43 left before halftime.
• Eastern New Mexico got off a two-yard rush by Jarius Stewart, but on the next play Kyler Fossett fumbled the ball and Coalson recovered it to set the crimson and black offense up at the ENMU 27-yard line.
• One play was all it took as McGill connected with mason Juergens for a 25-yard touchdown. Weber successfully kicked the PAT and made it 52-0 CWU with 42 second left before halftime.
• The Greyhounds got off two small rushes to send the teams to the half break with CWU up 52-0.
• Ryder Bumgarner opened up the second half with a handful of successful rushes and with Caleb Christensen's 12-yard pass to Juergens, helped set up Weber for a 49-yard field goal attempt which sailed up through the uprights to make it 55-0 CWU with 9:46 left in the third.
• The Wildcat defense once again forced a three and out, but a muffed catch by the 'Cats on the punt saw ENMU recover at the CWU 45-yard line.
• The Greyhounds couldn't get past the CWU defense, settling for a 46-yard field goal that sailed wide left and gave the ball back to CWU with 4:05 left in the third.
• Ki'Marree Washington and Christensen rushed their way to midfield to end the third quarter with CWU on top 55-0.
• The rushing momentum would come to a halt for CWU to begin the fourth quarter as the Greyhounds took back over with 14:44 remaining in the game.
• ENMU was maneuvering down the field, making it into Wildcat territory before Chris Dodson intercepted Chad Ragle and set the 'Cats offense back up at the 50-yard line.
• The combination of Blake Borup and Bo Gionet forced their way into the Greyhound's side of the field where they set up Weber for a successful 23-yard field goal to make it 58-0 CWU with 4:18 left in the game.
• The Greyhounds wouldn't quit, as they rushed their way to their only score of the game as Stewart found the endzone and with Clayton Vincent hitting the PAT made it 58-7 CWU with 31 seconds left in the game.
• The 'Cats took a kneel down and ended the game with a score in favor of CWU by a 58-7 margin.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• McGill finished the game throwing 132 yards and two touchdowns on 6/13 successful passes. He also led the team on the ground with 67 rushing yards and two more touchdowns.
• Phillips added 52 rushing yards and one touchdown while Bumgarner had 30 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own.
• Grable led the receiving corps with one catch for 55 yards and one touchdown while Juergens added 36 yards and one touchdown on three catches.
• Ethan Pletcher, Brett McCalla, and Timothy Timoteo led the way for the 'Cats with all three recording nine tackles. McCalla added a 0.5 tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry while Timoteo tacked on two tackles for loss, including one sack for 22 yards, and one forced fumble.
• Logan Lisherness and Treyson Eddleman added eight tackles.
• Coalson had six tackles, one tackle for loss, and one fumble recovery while Riah Tua also tacked on six tackles as well as a 0.5 tackle for loss.
• Tyler King had four tackles that included a sack while Dodson and Brogan De'Asis each added two tackles with Dodson logging an interception and De'Asis adding a 0.5 tackle for loss.
• Kuma Scanlan also added two tackles and a 0.5 tackle for loss while Connor Goff had one tackle and a pass breakup and Webber added an interception.
• Wyatt Redding had two punts for 97 yards with both landing in ENMU's 20-yard line and added 11 kickoffs for 648 yards.
• Weber was a successful 7/7 on PAT attempts and 3/3 on field goal attempts with his longest coming in at 49-yards.
• Phillips returned the only punt return of the night for 13 yards while Bo Gionet added a 30-yard kick return.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will face an immense challenge next week as they travel to the ninth-ranked and LSC-leading UTPB Falcons (5-0, 3-0 LSC) who took down fifth-ranked Angelo State Saturday evening by a 28-14 score on the road. The 'Cats and Falcons kick-off next Saturday, October 11 at 4:00 p.m. PST from Odessa, Texas and Ratliff Stadium.