ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Football Team (2-1, 1-0 LSC) opened Lone Star Conference play with a tremendous showing in front of a rowdy crowd for the Hometown Heroes Game, presented by KVH Saturday evening, taking down the West Texas A&M Buffaloes (1-3, 1-1 LSC) 52-6.
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CHRIS FISK:
 
"I'm incredibly proud of the effort and intensity that our guys put into this week of preparation. They really came out fast and never let up! Now it's time to get after it in preparation of a trip to Western New Mexico next week. Go Cats!!"
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Buffs game-opening drive was halted very quickly after RJ Martinez pass was intercepted by King Williams on only the third play of the game thanks to a broken-up pass by Chase Loidhamer that landed the ball in the lap of Williams who returned it all the way to the West Texas A&M seven-yard line.
• It only took one play for the 'Cats to get on the board as Kennedy McGill shot up the middle to score the touchdown. David Weber converted the PAT and put CWU up 7-0 just 45 seconds into the game.
• A huge third down Logan Lisherness sack forced the Buffs into a three and out and gave the ball back to CWU.
• On the first play of the next drive, McGill connected with Mason Juergens for a monster 55-yard gain to set CWU up at the WT three-yard line and two plays later Justice Taylor punched it in. Weber made the PAT and the 'Cats found themselves up 14-0 with 10:50 left in the first.
• The Buffaloes marched down the field on their next possession but a tackle for loss by Tyler King and Matulino Masunu paired with a couple incomplete endzone shots by Martinez saw the Buffs at fourth down at the CWU 20. A deep pass up the middle was broken up by Jalen Owens to secure the turnover on downs and give the 'Cats the ball back.
• It once again didn't take long for CWU to score after McGill gained a quick two yards on the ground, he connected with Juergens for a huge 78-yard touchdown connection. Weber kicked the PAT and set CWU up 21-0.
• The Buffs struggled to find a groove aside from a penalty on the 'Cats to give them a first down, but a tackle for loss by Jalen Webber followed by a seven-yard sack by Kuma Scanlan forced WT to punt and give the ball back to CWU.
• The 'Cats found some success on the ground and paired with a Buffalo penalty saw them on the WT side of the field. However, the Buffaloes defense stiffened up as Beau Phillips couldn't find his way to the first down marker forcing a turnover on downs.
• Martinez wrapped up the first quarter finding Zach Phipps for a 24-yard pass to set WT up at the CWU 41-yard line.
• That big pass by Martinez was short lived after Mika Roberson picked off Martinez on the first play of the second quarter to set the 'Cats offense up at midfield.
•  The 'Cats found success on the ground, but a holding penalty on CWU negated a 19-yard first down rush by McGill and with an incomplete pass set CWU up with fourth down. Wyatt Redding and the 'Cats had other plans faking the punt and rushing the ball 20 yards for a first down where Taylor took it from there two plays later with a 31-yard rushing touchdown. Weber drilled the PAT and made it 28-0 CWU.
• The Buffaloes found some momentum through the air on their next drive as Martinez connected with Trevin Edwards for an 11-yard gain and paired with a roughing the passer flag on the 'Cats put WT at the CWU seven-yard line. Martinez quickly found C'ing Blanton for a touchdown and after a pair of false start calls saw the Drew Cox PAT attempt blocked by Chase Loidhamer to make it 28-6 in favor of CWU.
• Both teams exchanged possessions before the 'Cats got the ball back. McGill found momentum through the air, connecting with Logan Brady for four straight plays for a total of 59 yards before finding Samaje Featherstone in the endzone for another Wildcat touchdown. Weber nailed the PAT and made it a 35-6 CWU ball game.
• The Buffs once again found a groove through the air with Martinez connecting with Drew Zamar and Cristian Dixon to set WT up in the 'Cats redzone, however an incomplete pass and a sack by Tyler King or 16 yards ended the first half with CWU leading 35-6.
• McGill opened the second half with a big 37-yard connection to Beau Philips to put the 'Cats deep in the Buffs territory. A combination of McGill and Phillips on the ground eventually set up McGill to find Logan Brady in the endzone for a nine-yard touchdown and with Weber kicking the PAT, made it a 42-6 crimson and black lead.
• Aside from a pass interference call on the 'Cats, the CWU defense once again stifled the West Texas A&M offense forcing them to punt with 10:21 left in the third.
• Phillips pounded the ground and earned a first down which was followed by McGill finding AJ Perez for 12 yards for another first down to put the 'Cats into the Buffaloes territory. Then the combination of McGill, Phillips, and Ryder Bumgarner maneuvered their way deep into the WT redzone where McGill found a wide-open Andrew Molloy for a three-yard touchdown. Weber successfully kicked the PAT and made it a 49-6 CWU lead.
• Both teams exchanged possessions and the first play after a Redding punt saw Jayden Hibbler fumble the ball at midfield and recovered by Scanlan to set CWU up at midfield to begin the fourth quarter.
• That momentum swung back into WT's favor with a fumble recovery of their own deep in their territory, however the CWU defense held strong and forced a punt to get the offense the ball back.
• The combination of Blake Borup, Caleb Christensen, and Bo Gionet rushed their way to the West Texas A&M 16-yard line where Weber drilled a 35-yard field goal to make it 52-6 Wildcats with a minute left in the game.
• A miscue by the Buffs saw them punt from their own endzone to give the ball back to the 'Cats who took a pair of knees and ended the game for the 52-6 victory.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• McGill connected on 10 of his 16 passes for a total of 217 yards and four touchdowns and led the 'Cats on the ground with 62 rushing yards and one more touchdown.
• Juergens added 55 rushing yards while Taylor tacked on 48 with two touchdowns.
• Juergens led the receiving corps with 78 yards and one touchdown on one reception while Brady added 68 receiving yards on five receptions. Featherstone and Molloy both had touchdown catches with 19 and three receiving yards, respectfully.
• Lisherness led the tackling for the crimson and black, finishing with six tackles and pairing that with 1.5 tackles for loss including one sack.
• King had himself a night with five tackles, three tackles for loss for a loss of 35 yards including 2.5 sacks for a loss of 34 yards as well as a quarterback hurry.
• Owens and Javonte Walker had four and three tackles, respectfully along with each logging a pass breakup.
• Brogan De'Asis had three tackles, a 0.5 tackle for loss, and a forced fumble while Scanlan tacked on three tackles of his own, two sacks, and a fumble recovery.
• Chase Coalson finished with three tackles and one pass breakup while Webber had two tackles and a tackle for loss. Mikaio Edward had two tackles and a 0.5 sack while Williams and Roberson both added an interception and a pass breakup each.
• Loidhamer added a pass breakup and a blocked kick for the CWU defense.
• Redding had two punts for 61 yards and eight kickoffs for a total of 490 yards while Weber added one field goal for 35 yards and went a perfect 7/7 on PAT kicks.

 
UP NEXT
 

• The 'Cats have another long journey ahead as they travel to Silver City, N.M. where they will face the Western New Mexico Mustangs (1-3, 0-2 LSC). The 'Cats and 'Stangs clash next Saturday, September 27 at 5:00 p.m. PST from Ben Altamirano Field.