ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 2025 Central Washington University football season is upon us as the 'Cats look to make it three-consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs. CWU will start their trek with the return of the Rodeo Bowl, presented by The Ranch by Royal Family Farming as Colorado Mesa comes to Ellensburg on Thursday, August 28 for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff on Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium.
A reminder that ticketing for CWU home events is cashless. Concessions will still accept cash and encourages the use of Grubhub for ordering concessions at home football events. Parking will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will cost $10.
Below is a list of prohibited items for CWU home events:
- Outside food and beverages
- Weapons of any kind
- Pets (Service animals are okay)
- Alcohol
- Smoking, E-cigarettes, or vaporizers
- Bikes, skateboards, or scooters
- Wagons (including collapsible ones)
- Any other item or action deemed dangerous or inappropriate
People are allowed to bring the following items into CWU events:
- Portable chairbacks or soft sided seat cushions
- Small strollers
- Blankets
- Small umbrellas
GAME INFORMATION:
WATCH ($):
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LIVE STATS:
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TICKETS:
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RODEO INFORMATION:
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LAST SEASON:
The Wildcats completed a second-straight appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs with a rematch at the Western Colorado Mountaineers. A late surge by the 'Cats proved not enough as WCU ended CWU's season by a 28-21 score. The crimson and black put up a second-place finish in the Lone Star Conference with a 7-2 conference record that saw both losses come by one point each. The 'Cats did post three shutouts during the season, first a 36-0 home victory over Western New Mexico, a 31-0 road victory at Texas A&M-Kingsville, and a 66-0 victory over LSC newcomers Sul Ross State on Military Appreciation Day.
CWU was well represented in the All-Lone Star Conference awards with 20 total Wildcats being recognized, highlighted by
Tyler Flanagan earning his second-straight Offensive Back of the Year,
Slade Edwards being named the Offensive Lineman of the Year,
Tanner Volk taking his second-straight J.V. Sikes Defensive Player of the Year, and
Mikaio Edward being tabbed the Defensive Freshman of the Year. Edwards, Flanagan and Volk all were named All-Super Region 4 with all three also earning Don Hansen All-American. Volk also added All-American honors from the AFCA, the D2CCA, and the AP as well as being nominated for the Cliff Harris Award. Volk and Edwards were also named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 list and Flanagan and Edwards were named CSC Academic All-Americans with Flanagan earning the distinction for the second-straight year.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS:
Colorado Mesa concluded their best season last year since the 2021 season, finishing with a 7-4 record and a 6-3 RMAC record. The Mavericks took home a 16-13 road victory against fellow LSC member Texas A&M-Kingsville before Central Washington handed the Mavericks a 28-12 home loss. CMU then went on to fall in their RMAC opener to the eventual conference champions, Colorado State Pueblo by a 38-14 score before rattling off six-straight victories highlighted by a 14-13 Nyikos Cup victory over then fourth-ranked Colorado School of Mines. A 17-14 setback at South Dakota Mines and a 37-7 loss to then 10th-ranked Western Colorado concluded the season for the Mavericks.
CMU returns starting quarterback Liu Aumavae who threw for 1,431 yards, 12 touchdowns, and eight interceptions last season. The Mavericks will be looking to find a leading receiver after their top four receivers from the 2024 season departed with Trek Keyworth as the leader after a 165 yard and 10 catch campaign in '24. The Mavs ground game should prove tricky once again for opponents with the return of their thunder and lightning one-two punch of Second Team All-RMAC Brandon Belgrave and Honorable Mention All-RMAC Aiden Taylor. Taylor led the Mavs on the ground with 692 rushing yards and six touchdowns with Belgrave not far behind with 690 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Anchoring the offensive line unit this season for the Mavericks will be 2024 Second Team All-RMAC Cooper Mumford and Honorable Mention All-RMAC Calem Grimble.
The Maverick defense will look different in 2025 with the departure of their six top tacklers from the 2024 season including All-American Colin Stuhr and fellow double-digit tackle for loss teammate Levi Krebs. Back to lead the defensive unit will be First Team All-RMAC, All-Super Region 4, and Academic All-American defensive back Kash Bradley who concluded last season with 37 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and eight pass breakups. Back leading the charge for the defensive line is Honorable Mention All-RMAC Hunter Hamilton who concluded 2024 with 30 tackles, eight tackles for loss including six sacks, eight quarterback hurries, and one forced fumble.
The Maverick special teams should look familiar with the return of main punter and kicker Sullivan Moon. Moon finished last season with 51 punts for 2,102 yards and went 2/6 on field goal attempts with his longest coming from 35 yards. Bradley returns as the return specialist after earning First Team All-RMAC for it a season ago. Bradley returned 20 punts for 231 yards and 10 kickoffs for 263 yards.
UP NEXT:
CWU will turn their attention to a major task ahead in the ninth-ranked FCS team, the Montana Grizzlies. The 'Cats travel to Missoula, Mont. for a Saturday, September 6 showdown at 5:00 p.m. PST to take on the Griz from inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium where they will look to play spoiler for the Grizzlies season opener and look for their first victory over an NCAA Division I opponent since 2009.
