MONMOUTH, Ore. – The 6th-ranked Central Washington University Football Team (10-1, 9-0 LSC) can finally lay claim to an outright Lone Star Conference championship after coming back from a 17-3 deficit to begin the fourth quarter to defeat the 24th-ranked Western Oregon Wolves (8-3, 7-2 LSC) thanks to a pass by Kennedy McGill to Logan Brady in the endzone as time expired to win 19-17.
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CHRIS FISK:
 
"We have to tip our hat to WOU, they played extremely well. That was a conference title match for the ages. I'm extremely proud of our players, coaches, and fans for all making the trip and showing up and showing out. We had as many fans as they did and helped fill the place up. This was a really memorable win for both the program and the university."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The first quarter was the battle of the defenses, as neither team was able to find the endzone despite multiple turnovers.
• The Wolves struck first as Jordan McCarty found momentum through the air with a pair of big gains to land deep in CWU territory but Jermaine Land broke through for a four-yard touchdown and with Zane Colson's PAT made it 7-0 WOU with 11 minutes left in the second.
• A couple of possessions later WOU added on after a grinding drive on the ground this time by the duo of McCarty and Tyler Konold until Konold punched it in for a one-yard touchdown and with Colson's PAT made it 14-0 Wolves with four minutes left before the half.
• Both defenses stood pat the final four minutes as the teams entered the locker rooms with the Wolves on top 14-0.
• The Wildcats opened the second half maneuvering down the field thanks to big rushes by Logan Brady, Justice Taylor, and Kennedy McGill added with a seven-yard connection from McGill to Samaje Featherstone who drew a facemask penalty on the Wolves to move CWU deep into WOU territory.
• The Wolves defense however stood pat and forced a field goal which David Weber drilled from 34-yards out to cut it to a 14-3 Wolf lead with 10:37 left in the third.
• A couple of possessions later the Wolves followed suit, making their way into CWU territory thanks to a handful of big rushes, but the Wildcat defense held tall and forced WOU to settle for a 36-yard field goal to make it 17-3 WOU with 36 seconds left in the third.
• WOU ended the third with a big sack to drop CWU back 13 yards and maintain their 17-3 lead heading into the fourth.
• The 'Cats opened the third with a boom as McGill ran in a 29-yard touchdown and Weber drilled the PAT to cut it to a 17-10 WOU lead with 14:23 left in the game.
• The Wildcat defense forced a three-and-out thanks to a big Kuma Scanlan third down sack to give the ball back to the crimson and black.
• Another big penalty on WOU after an eight-yard completion from McGill to Ryder Bumgarner put the 'Cats on the Wolves side of the field and McGill found some yardage on the ground and back-to-back connections to Ty Snider for eight and 11-yards respectfully to set up another Weber field goal, this time from 33-yards out which he drilled to make it a 17-13 WOU lead with 6:26 left.
• Both defenses continued to play stellar as the 'Cats received the ball back with 1:47 left in the game.
• A huge fourth and 10 connection from McGill to Brady followed by another connection to Brady and a second to Featherstone for 10 and 11-yards put the 'Cats on the WOU side of the field forcing the Wolves to call a timeout with 46 seconds left.
• A seven-yard connection from McGill to Andrew Molloy was all the 'Cats found as CWU faced their second fourth down scenario on the drive, but McGill powered his way to the first down and followed it up with a big 21-yard rush to force WOU to call a timeout with four seconds left.
• Following the timeout McGill found a wide open Brady in the endzone for a 13-yard touchdown as time expired to win the Wildcats first-ever Lone Star Conference Championship 19-13.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• McGill finished the game completing 16/37 passes for 157 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He led the rushing attack with 93 yards and one touchdown.
• Bumgarner, Brady, and Featherstone all notched four receptions for 52, 43, and 36 yards, respectfully with Brady nabbing the game-winning touchdown.
• Chase Coalson led the way for CWU with 10 tackles, adding a 0.5 tackle for loss, a pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry.
• Tyler King added seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three quarterback hurries while Scanlan tacked on five tackles, one sack, and one quarterback hurry.
• Chase Loidhamer finished with six tackles and a quarterback hurry while Mikaio Edward added three tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a quarterback hurry of his own.
• Brogan De'Asis had two tackles and a 0.5 tackle for loss while Jalen Owens had one tackle and one pass breakup.
• King Williams finished with one tackle and the 'Cats only interception on the day while Matulino Masunu added one tackle, one pass breakup, and one quarterback hurry.
• Wyatt Redding had three punts for a total of 142 yards and added four kickoffs for a total of 249 yards.
• Weber finished the game successfully hitting both his field goal attempts with his longest coming from 34 yards out and drilled his only PAT attempt.
• Mika Roberson and Wahi Emmsley both had one punt return for eight and two yards.
• Bumgarner had one kick return for 25 yards while Featherstone added two kick returns for a total of 67 yards.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The 'Cats will know their fate tomorrow during the NCAA Selection Show at 3:00 p.m. PST on NCAA.com. CWU was ranked second in Super Region 4 heading into this week and the top eight teams make the playoffs with the top four serving as hosts the first round.
• Watch the NCAA Selection Show and learn more HERE