SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Central Washington University Football Team (3-1, 2-0 LSC) had a huge night for their first LSC road test, taking down the Western New Mexico Mustangs (1-4, 0-3 LSC) 91-31 Saturday evening. 
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CHRIS FISK:
 
"I'm proud of the way that we traveled, being the first long-distance road trip this season, and proud of how the guys came out and started fast. The guys dominated in all three phases of the game and took another great step this week. We are excited to get home and get to work in preparation of ENMU next week." 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Wildcats defense started out strong forcing a three and out of the Mustang offense setting them up at the 50-yard line and only four plays later Justice Taylor ran for a 30-yard touchdown to put the first points on the board. David Weber kicked the PAT and made it 7-0 CWU with 12:08 left in the first. 
• It took only four plays before a Connor Ackerley pass was intercepted by Chase Coalson around midfield and one play was all it took for the offense as McGill found Beau Phillips for a huge 53-yard touchdown and with Weber's PAT made it 14-0 with 10:30 left in the first. 
• The CWU defense once again stood tall forcing the Mustang offense into another three and out as Mika Roberson returned the punt for 19 yards to set the offense up on the WNMU side of the field. One play was all it took once again for the 'Cats to strike as Taylor earned his second touchdown on a 40-yard run and with a Weber PAT made it 21-0 with 8:44 left in the first. 
• Another three and out forced by the 'Cats defense and after an eight-yard run by Ryder Bumgarner, McGill made a giant rush of 56 yards to allow Bumgarner to knock it in two plays later with a two-yard rush, and with a successful PAT by Weber, made it 28-0 CWU with 5:31 left in the first. 
• The Mustangs moved the ball near midfield before a fourth down pass breakup by King Williams gave the ball back to the offense. Phillips and Taylor combined for a quick first down on the ground before McGill found Jalen Grable for 16 yards, then connected with Mason Juergens for a 15-yard touchdown. Weber drilled the PAT and made it 35-0 CWU with 58 seconds left in the first. 
• Matulino Masunu and Jalen Webber earned a pair of tackles for loss to end the first with the 'Cats leading 35-0. 
• The first play of the second quarter was an interception by Roberson who returned it back to the WNMU five-yard line and two plays later McGill rushed it in for a touchdown and with the successful PAT by Weber, the 'Cats led 42-0 with 14:02 left in the second. 
• The Mustangs found some momentum to make it to the Wildcats redzone but a quarterback hurry by Chase Loidhamer to force an incomplete pass and a pass breakup by Javonte Walker in the endzone forced WNMU to accept a 23-yard field goal to make it 42-3 CWU. 
• The 'Cats didn't take long to get back on the board as Phillips returned the kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and make it 49-3 in favor of the 'Cats with 10:51 left in the second. 
• The astound passing offense by WNMU found a groove as Ackerley connected with Deuce Zimmerman for a nine-yard touchdown and with Talan Tinsley connecting the PAT made it 49-10 CWU with 9:29 left in the second. 
• Phillips made it back-to-back kick returns for a touchdown, this time taking it the full 100 yards for the score and with the successful Weber PAT made it 56-10 CWU. 
• WNMU continued their attack through the air finding success as Ackerley connected with Zimmerman once again, this time for a 10-yard touchdown and with Tinsley's PAT made it 56-17 in favor of CWU with 3:33 left in the first half. 
• Taylor single handedly maneuvered the 'Cats down the field rushing eight times from the Wildcats own 39-yard line to score a touchdown on a three-yard rush and with Weber's PAT, made it 63-17 CWU with 40 seconds left in the second quarter. 
• A sack by Mikaio Edward on Ackerley ended the first half with the 'Cats on top 63-17. 
• The Wildcats started the second half with the ball and saw Taylor gain a quick first down followed by a second first down, this time from Phillips, before Caleb Christensen connected with Juergens for a huge 50-yard touchdown and with the Weber PAT saw the Wildcats take the 70-17 lead with 12:02 left in the third quarter. 
• The first play following the kickoff saw Ackerley throw the ball into the hands of Trishion Sullivan who returned it 25 yards for a pick six and with Weber making the PAT saw the 'Cats lead increase to 77-17 with 11:47 left in the third. 
• The Mustangs continued their air attack and found success as Ackerley connected with Zimmerman once again for a one-yard touchdown and with Tinsley converting the PAT saw the score go to a 77-24 CWU lead. 
• A WNMU sack on third down saw the 'Cats punt for the first time on the evening and give the ball back to the Mustangs offense who marched down the field as Ackerley connected with Davey Morales for a 24-yard touchdown and with the successful Tinsley PAT made it a 77-31 game with 2:28 left in the third. 
• A pair of rushes by Taylor and Phillips set up Christensen to find Gavin Nash for a 25-yard gain to set the 'Cats up in the WNMU redzone and a four-yard gain by Phillips ended the third with the 'Cats at the WNMU one-yard line up 77-31. 
• One play was all that was needed as Phillips punched in the one-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter and with Weber's PAT made it an 84-31 CWU lead. 
• The Wildcats defense once again held strong forcing two punts with the Mustangs defense stiffening up to force a punt of their own. 
• The 'Cats offense took over at the 9:52 mark and used their potent rushing attack with the combination of Bo Gionet and Bumgarner as well as a short six-yard connection from Gionet to AJ Perez saw Gionet nab his first collegiate touchdown on a one-yard rush. Weber's PAT made it a 91-31 CWU lead with 3:10 left. 
• The Mustangs ran down the clock making it all the way to the CWU 10-yard line as Sullivan ended the game with a sack of WNMU quarterback Eli Wehbey to give the 'Cats the 91-31 victory. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• McGill and Christensen paced the air attack completing 3/5 and 3/4 passes for 84 and 75 passing yards, respectfully. McGill tossed in two passing touchdowns, 71 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown, while Christensen tossed one touchdown. 
• Taylor paved the groundwork with a monster game of 169 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 17 rushes. Bumgarner, Phillips, and Gionet all also scored a rushing touchdown, finishing with 47, 34, and 26 yards, respectfully. 
• Juergens was once again the leading receiver, making two grabs for 65 yards and two touchdowns while Phillips added 53 yards and one touchdown on one reception. 
• Logan Lisherness and Roberson led the tackling on the night for CWU with eight and seven tackles with Lisherness adding one tackle for loss and Roberson having an interception he returned for 37 yards. 
• Coalson added four tackles and one interception while Sullivan finished with two tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss including one sack, and one interception that was returned 25 yards for a PAT. 
• Connor Goff and Loidhamer had three tackles and a 0.5 tackle for loss apiece with Williams and Webber adding two tackles and one tackle for loss apiece. 
• Masunu and Edward added one tackle for loss with Edward's coming as a sack while Ty Evans adding a 0.5 tackle for loss. 
• Wyatt Redding had two punts for 88 yards and 14 kickoffs for 890 yards. 
• Weber was a perfect 13/13 on PAT attempts. 
• Roberson returned three punts for 34 yards on the night. 
• Phillips had three kickoff returns for 237 yards while Lisherness returned one kickoff for 14 yards. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will stay in the PNW for their third home game of the season as they welcome the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds (1-3, 1-1 LSC) on Saturday, October 4 at 6:00 p.m. from Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium.