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Central Washington University Athletics

Team
Nevaeh Capetillo 2024
27
Winner Western Colorado WCU 10-2 , 7-2
20
Central Washington CWU 10-2 , 9-0
Winner
Western Colorado WCU
10-2 , 7-2
27
Final
20
Central Washington CWU
10-2 , 9-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WCU Western Colorado 0 14 7 6 27
CWU Central Washington 3 7 10 0 20

Game Recap: Football |

Wildcats Fall in Tightly Contested First Round Matchup to Western Colorado

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 5th-ranked Central Washington University Football Team (10-2) fell in their NCAA Division II Playoff opening game against the 15th-ranked Western Colorado Mountaineers (10-2) in a tightly contested 27-20 game.
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CHRIS FISK:
 
"First, we just have to tip our hat to Western Colorado. They're a great program and we've had some classic battles and they've come out on top the last two. Our guys fought really hard but I think that the better team won today, they played cleaner, they converted on third down at a better clip than we did, they didn't turn the ball over like we did in crucial moments in the game and you have to tip your hat to them, they played cleaner football than we did today."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
  • The Wildcat defense stopped the Mountaineer offense on the opening drive to force the ball to the CWU offense who used a huge 54-yard connection from Kennedy McGill to Samaje Featherstone to set up David Weber for a 46-yard field goal which sailed through the uprights to give CWU the 3-0 lead with 6:25 left in the first.
  • Defense was the game the rest of the first quarter with three-straight three-and-outs before the Wildcats momentum was halted after a fumble that was recovered by Western Colorado.
  • WCU ended the first quarter with a six-yard gain by Drew Nash as the 'Cats clung to a 3-0 lead.
  • Another pair of punts began the second quarter giving the ball back to WCU who only needed one play as Quinn Bailey rumbled in a 53-yard rush and with Adam Tasei's PAT made it 7-3 WCU with 13:01 left in the second.
  • Aside from a huge 20-yard gain from Justice Taylor, the Wildcat offense stalled out giving the ball back to WCU who took it and maneuvered down the field as Drew Nash ran in a 32-yard touchdown and with Tasei kicking the PAT, made it 14-3 Mountaineers with 5:20 left in the second.
  • Despite making their way down the field, the 'Cats couldn't convert a 45-yard field goal as WCU got a hand on it to tip it.
  • The defense made up for it as Kuma Scanlan picked off Nash thanks to a hurry from Tyler King and took it to the house 45-yards and with Weber's PAT made it 14-10 Western Colorado at the half break.
  • CWU struck early as McGill connected with Taylor for a 60-yard gain and Taylor took it the final 13-yards for the touchdown two plays later and with Weber's PAT, made it 17-14 CWU with 13:17 left in the third.
  • The CWU defense used the momentum and stuffed Western Colorado into a punt and once again the 'Cats made their way down field with a big boost from Beau Phillips 31-yard rush as Weber tacked on a 41-yard field goal to make it 20-14 CWU with 5:13 left in the third.
  • The Mountaineers used the remainder of the quarter to make their way downfield and eventually Ramon Ruiz broke through for a three-yard touchdown and with Tasei's PAT once again gave Western Colorado the lead, 21-20.
  • Another fumble by the 'Cats to begin the fourth quarter gave the ball back to the Mountaineers.
  • Back-to-back punts saw Western Colorado take possession again but the WCU offense made quick work with a 41-yard connection from Nash to Joshua Dixon but King blocked the PAT to make it 27-20 WCU with 6:58 left.
  • Defenses prevailed the rest of the way despite a last minute dash to midfield by the 'Cats who couldn't keep the magic alive, turning the ball over on downs to give the ball back to Western Colorado with 14 seconds left to seal the Mountaineers 27-20 victory.
 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 
  • McGill finished the game completing 16 of 33 passes for 258 yards and led the ground attack with 59 yards.
  • Taylor added 34 rushing yards and 74 receiving yards adding a rushing touchdown to his resume.
  • Featherstone led the receivers with 81 yards with Phillips adding 62 receiving yards.
  • Brett McCalla led the CWU defense with 10 tackles, adding a tackle for loss.
  • King added six tackles, two tackles for loss including  a sack, a blocked kick, and two quarterback hurries.
  • Jalen Owens contributed five tackles and three pass breakups while Chase Loidhamer, Logan Lisherness, and Chase Coalson also added five tackles with Loidhamer adding half tackles for loss, Lisherness tacking on 1.5 tackles for loss, and Coalson adding a pass breakup.
  • Jalen Webber finished with four tackles and a pass breakup while Scanlan added three tackles, a tackle for loss and a pick six.
  • Matulino Masunu had two tackles including a sack.
  • Wyatt Redding had five punts for a total of 189 yards and added five kickoffs for 319 yards.
  • Weber finished the game completing 2/3 field goal attempts with his longest coming from 46 yards and adding both PAT attempts.
  • Mika Roberson returned four punts for 11 yards.
  • Featherstone added four kick returns for 87 yards.
 
UP NEXT:
 
  • The Wildcats have concluded their 2025 season, earning the squads first-ever Lone Star Conference Championship and will look to carry the momentum into the 2026 season.
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