ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 2025 Lone Star Conference Champion 5th-ranked Central Washington University Football Team (10-1, 9-0 LSC) will host their first NCAA Division II Playoff game since the 2017 season when they welcome the 15th-ranked Western Colorado Mountaineers (9-2, 7-2 RMAC) as the two programs go head-to-head for the third-straight playoff in the first round and the first in The 'Burg. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. from Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium.
GAME INFORMATION:
Saturday, November 22
#5 Central Washington vs. #15 Western Colorado
1:00 p.m.
Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium
Ellensburg, Wash.
WATCH (ESPN+):
HERE
LIVE STATS:
HERE
TICKETS:
HERE
BRACKET:
HERE
QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CHRIS FISK:
"We have a tremendous amount of respect for these guys. I think Coach Bains is not only a good man but runs a good program. I think one of the things you find when you play these guys is their discipline. They're well-coached, I think it's the most well-coached team in the RMAC. Their defense creates so many issues, they're a lot like Montana in that 3-3 stack, blitz from everywhere, nobody's ever aligned in the same spot, and the o-line and tight ends and running backs and quarterbacks have to figure out all of these things and decipher a different puzzle and a different presentation on every single play. I know even in our staff room the o-line coach, the OC, and myself have been in there arguing back and forth now for about three days on how to do things and figure things out. So, you can see that effect that defense has on you. They also have great personnel. The defensive end, I don't know if he's going to win RMAC Defensive Player of the Year again but he's still there, and they found another d-end who's just as good as him who actually has more sacks than he has. They have great backers, some really good personnel in the backend who does a great job defensively. Offensively, they have so much experience over there, I think they've improved along the offensive line and are now bigger and stronger. The quarterback is back and he has dynamic receivers. They're throwing the ball better this year than they probably did a year ago and running a little bit less, but that quarterback is a run threat at all times. They're excellent in special teams. I wouldn't say that they're super extravagant in the special teams area, but they don't hurt themselves, they don't put themselves in a hole, they align well with everything. It's hard to find cheap fakes and opportunities on those guys. They're a well-coached team that we have a lot of respect for. The first thing I texted Coach Bains when I found out we were playing was "rubber match." Here we go, here's round three and somebody's going to come out at 2-1 and hopefully it's us."
LAST GAME:
Following a scoreless first quarter thanks to outstanding defensive work by both team s the Wildcats found themselves trailing the Western Oregon Wolves 14-0 heading into the half, due to the Wolves scoring on a four-yard run by Jermaine Land followed by a one-yard plunge by Tyler Konold. Central Washington got on the board in the third quarter with a 34-yard field goal by
David Weber, only to see Western Oregon respond with a 36-yard field goal of their own to go into the fourth up 17-3.
As the fourth quarter began, the Wildcats mounted a comeback.
Kennedy McGill broke through with a 29-yard touchdown run, closing the gap to 17-10. Then Weber's 33-yard field goal made it 17-13 and set up a dramatic finish. The decisive moment arrived on the game's final play after the 'Cats started from their own 20-yard line with just under two minutes on the clock, the Wildcats executed a 13-play, 80-yard drive that featured two huge fourth down conversions which culminated in McGill connecting with
Logan Brady on a 13-yard touchdown pass as time expired to give CWU the 19-17 win and the programs first Lone Star Conference Championship.
McGill finished the game completing 16 of 37 passes for 157 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, while also leading the rushing attack with 93 yards and another score. Through the air,
Ryder Bumgarner, Brady, and
Samaje Featherstone each recorded four receptions, totaling 52, 43, and 36 yards respectively, with Brady hauling in the game-winning touchdown.
Chase Coalson paced the CWU defense with 10 tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, along with a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
Tyler King contributed seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three quarterback hurries, while
Kuma Scanlan added five tackles, one sack, and a hurry.
Chase Loidhamer provided six tackles and a hurry, and
Mikaio Edward added three tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a hurry of his own.
Brogan De'Asis tallied two tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, and
Jalen Owens registered one tackle and a pass breakup.
King Williams added one tackle and recorded the Wildcats' only interception of the day, while
Matulino Masunu chipped in one tackle, one pass breakup, and a quarterback hurry.
On special teams,
Wyatt Redding punted three times for a total of 142 yards and handled four kickoffs for 249 yards. Weber was perfect on the day, converting both field-goal attempts—including a long of 34 yards—and making his lone PAT. In the return game,
Mika Roberson and
Wahi Emmsley each logged one punt return for eight and two yards, respectively. Bumgarner added a 25-yard kick return, while Featherstone contributed two returns totaling 67 yards.
ABOUT THE #15 MOUNTAINEERS:
WCU began their 2025 campaign taking down two fellow LSC opponents, first West Texas A&M 45-28 at home, then went on the road and defeated Midwestern State 38-13. The Mountaineers began RMAC play rolling, defeating Adams State 45-6 on the road, New Mexico Highlands 30-3 at home, at Fort Lewis 49-10, Black Hills State at home 56-17, at South Dakota Mines 34-17, and finally Colorado School of Mines 40-17 at home. They suffered their first setback at home against then #7 Colorado State Pueblo 24-21 before falling on the road in the next week at Chadron State 27-24 in overtime. They concluded their regular season with a 42-28 home victory over Colorado Mesa.
The Mountaineers currently average 38.55 points per game while giving up 16.91 points per game to their opponents. WCU averages 154.9 rushing yards per game and are very stingy with their rush defense only allowing 94.2 rushing yards per game. The Western Colorado offense is outgaining opponents in the air 272.36 yards per game to 214.64 yards they're giving up to their opponents. The Mountaineers are successful on 41.72 percent of their third down attempts and 58.33 percent of their fourth down attempts while opponents are successful on 34.76 percent of their third down attempts and 24 percent of their fourth down attempts. WCU spends just slightly more time with the ball, averaging 30:41 minutes per game with the ball compared to the 29:12 minutes per game their opponents spend with the ball. Western Colorado has accumulated 59 penalties this season for a total of 523 yards and an average of 47.55 penalty yards per game.
Drew Nash continued to add to his Mountaineer legacy this season completing 193 of 317 passes for 2,641 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions. He is tied for the most rushing yards on the season with 105 rushes for 463 yards and 10 touchdowns. Tied with Nash for the most rushing yards is Quinn Bailey also at 463 yards and has added 7 touchdowns. Caden Measner has been the favorite target this season, making 49 catches for a total of 652 yards and 8 touchdowns. DJ Allen Jr. is also having a great season for WCU, making 25 catches for 511 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Ian Loomis has the most tackles for the Mountaineers defense by a wide margin at 95 tackles this season, adding 12 tackles for loss including 5 sacks, 1 interception, 2 pass breakups, and 2 quarterback hurries. Drew Johnson has recorded the most tackles for loss and most sacks this season at with 14 tackles for loss for a loss of 56 yards and 6 sacks for a loss of 37 yards. Not far behind with 5 sacks apiece are Loomis, Cameron Cooper, and Kade Musser. 8 different athletes have an interception to their name for the Mountaineers this season. Jevon Young and Ramon Pacheco have 7 and 6 pass breakups this season to lead WCU. The reigning RMAC and Super Region 4 Defensive Player of the Year Ricky Freymond leads Western Colorado with 7 quarterback hurries. Drea Thompson has forced 2 fumbles while both Cooper and Ryan Downard have 2 fumble recoveries for WCU. Young and Logan White are tied for the most blocked kicks this season with two apiece while 5 others have recorded a blocked kick.
Zac Grable has 37 punts to his name this season for a total of 1,523 yards with 13 of them landing in the opponents 20-yard line. He also holds main kickoff duties, having 71 kicks for a total of 4,478 yards. Adam Tasei is 5/11 on field goal attempts this season with his longest coming from 53 yards out. Easton Peterson has 15 punt returns for 150 yards on the season but both Young and White have 1 punt return for a touchdown from 36 and 18 yards out, respectfully. Ramon Ruiz has the most kick returns this season with 4 for 63 yards but Donnell Colbert has the most kick return yards at 79 on 3 returns.
UP NEXT:
If the Wildcats win this Saturday, they will host the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs on Saturday, November 29. They will face the winner of the RMAC Champion third-seeded Colorado State Pueblo (10-1, 9-0 RMAC) and fellow LSC member UT Permian Basin (9-2, 7-2 LSC) who square off on Saturday at noon PST from Pueblo, Colorado.
