Central Washington University Athletics

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 13th-ranked Central Washington University Football Team earned a Homecoming victory over the high-flying Midwestern State Mustangs by a 44-29 victory Saturday evening.
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH SCOTT POWER:
 
"That is a good team. I think that was a top-25 matchup tonight. On offense those guys are as dynamic as you'll see. The pace that they play at is a challenge to defend. I thought that that was a complete team win. We needed all three phases to be able to contribute to that one and I think we were able to do that. I'm just really happy for our program, really happy for our players that we were able to get another one. Wins are hard to come by and we were able to go 1-0 this week which was our goal."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Mustang offense came out swinging living up to their top-ranked offensive rank in NCAA Division II, quickly making their way into CWU territory, but an interception by King Williams quickly stopped the drive and he returned it 16 yards to give the 'Cats the ball back at the CWU 49-yard line.
• The Wildcats made the most of the turnover as Justin Brennan found Isaac Torres for a quick eight-yard gain followed by back-to-back rushes by Ryder Bumgarner for four yards before Brennan found Samaje Featherstone for a huge 34-yard gain to set up Torres on the next play for a five-yard touchdown and after the successful PAT by David Weber, the 'Cats led 7-0 with 11:06 left in the first quarter.
• MSU responded on their next drive as penalties doomed the 'Cats, adding five penalties throughout the drive and paired with big plays from MSU quarterback Kaden Brown and rushing plays by Jospeh Dodds and a trick play from punter Daniel Scarabino to set up Brown to find Dominic Cox for a six-yard touchdown and after the successful Ryan Ostboe PAT, it was all knotted up at seven apiece with 5:30 left in the first.
• The 'Cats responded as Antoine Lee found a gap for 31-yards to set the 'Cats up deep in Mustang territory followed not long after by Brennan finding Wiley Donnerberg for 12 yards and two plays later Bumgarner ran it in the final two yards. Weber's PAT was good to make it 14-7 CWU with 1:33 left in the first.
• The Mustangs quickly found themselves back deep in CWU territory thanks to a pair of longer catches by Aanjay Feliciano and Dexter Stigall IV and a penalty on the 'Cats to put MSU at the CWU 29-yard line at the end of the first quarter with the crimson and black leading 14-7.
• MSU found the endzone four plays into the second quarter when Brown connected with Stigall IV for a one-yard touchdown and after Ostboe's PAT was successful, the game was once again tied, this time at 14 each with 13:07 left in the second.
• The 'Cats took to the ground as Bumgarner, Brennan, and Lee pounded the ball down field with Bumgarner rattling off a 13-yard gain followed not long by Lee adding 20 on the ground to set Bumgarner up for his second touchdown of the night, this time from five yards out and after Weber's PAT, the 'Cats led 21-14 with 6:54 left in the second.
• The Mustangs did what they do best, move fast. Dodds immediately rattled off a 61-yard rush to begin their next drive and after a penalty on the 'Cats set MSU up at the CWU six-yard line the 'Stangs used back-to-back three-yard gains by Dodds who punched it in for a touchdown and after Ostboe hit the PAT, the game was tied at 21 apiece with 6:14 left in the second.
• Brennan found Torres for a quick seven yards before Justice Taylor set the 'Cats up at midfield and after a nine-yard rush from Ki'Marree Washington Brennan connected with Torres for a 41-yard touchdown and after the successful Weber PAT, the 'Cats had the lead once again 28-21 with two minutes left before the half.
• A 31-yard return from Louis Hickmanand a penalty on the 'Cats set the Mustangs up at the MSU 46-yard line, but the Wildcat defense stood tall with Chriss Hauss and Brady Phillips combining for a fourth down stop to give the 'Cats the ball with 52 seconds before the half.
• The 'Cats saw Bumgarner add a handful of yards on the ground with Brennan finding Torres and Donnerberg for back-to-back eight-yard snags to set up Weber who drilled a 47-yard field goal to send the teams to the half with the 'Cats up 31-21.
• The crimson and black started the second half with the ball and saw Lee rush for a quick five yards before Brennan tossed back-to-back balls at Torres who caught them for 18 and 56 yards, respectfully to up Bumgarner who knocked in his third touchdown of the night and the 'Cats led 37-21 with 11:17 left in the third.
• The Mustangs saw a quick six yard completion from Brown to Cox followed by a first down 14-yard addition from Brown to Fabian Baez, but a disastrous series of events followed for MSU, first when Trishion Sullivan broke up a pass and then capped it with an 11-yard sack of Brown who then proceeded throw an interception to Joseph Jefferson II to give the 'Cats the ball once again.
• The Wildcats were making their way downfield with Brennan finding Mason Juergens for 19 and eight-yard connections while Taylor, Washington, and Bumgarner added on a handful of yards on the ground before MSU repaid the 'Cats for their previous drive with Ethan Dishman intercepting Brennan to give the 'Stangs the ball back once again.
• The Wildcat defense came out to play with Hauss making a key nine-yard sack on third down to force a three-and-out punt, but the Mustang defense responded with a three-and-out punt of their own from CWU.
• Brycen Indell and Brian Kuhn combined for a no-gain tackle to begin the next Mustang drive followed by Braxton Lawrence and Isaiah Paul combining for a tackle to force MSU into a third down situation that saw Dalton Bailey fumble his pass which was recovered by Cooper MacPherson to give CWU the ball back with 1:32 left in the third.
• The 'Cats saw Bumgarner run for 14 yards before Brenna connected with Torres for a 39-yard gain to end the third with the 'Cats on top 37-21.
•  Brennan began the fourth with an eight-yard gain before finding Juergens for 18 yards then punching it in himself the final three yards for a touchdown and after Weber drilled the PAT, the 'Cats were on top 44-21 with 12:51 left in the game.
• The Wildcat defense continued to make huge plays with King Williams forcing a turnover on downs on a fourth down pass breakup to give CWU the ball back with 8:47 left in the game.
• The 'Cats were unable to continue the momentum with Weber eventually being forced to punt, giving the ball back to the Mustangs who hurried their way down the field, capped by an 11-yard touchdown rush from Ace Traylor and with the two-point conversion successful, the 'Cats lead was cut to 44-29 with 3:11 left.
• Despite a review, Torres recovered the onside kick at the MSU 20-yard line and the Mustang defense held up, not letting the score get out of hand, forcing a turnover on downs at their own 14-yard line in which the 'Cats responded with a turnover on downs of their own thanks to a fourth down pass breakup from Isaiah Paul to give the 'Cats the ball back where they ran down the clock for the 44-29 victory.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Brennan finished the game completing 20/29 passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception while adding 28 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
• Bumgarner led the ground attack with 89 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
• Torres was the leader of the receiving corps with eight catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns.
• Indell and Paul led the 'Cats defense with seven tackles each while Indell tacked on a 0.5 tackle for loss and Paul added a pass breakup.
• Kam Watkins-Hunter added six tackles and a pass breakup while Williams added five tackles, an interception, and two pass breakups.
• Omar Lazcano had five tackles and a half tackle for loss while MacPherson added five tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
• Jefferson II also tacked on five tackles while adding an interception and two pass breakups.
• Phillips finished with four tackles and a sack of 13 yards while Hauss added three tackles, a sack of nine yards, and a quarterback hurry.
• Sullivan had three tackles, two sacks, and a pass breakup.
• Weber finished the game with two punts for a total of 68 yards with one landing in the MSU 20-yard line, was successful on his only field goal attempt of the game from 47 yards out, had seven kickoffs for 455 yards, and was 5/6 on PAT attempts.
• Juergens had the only punt return of the game for a total of 14 yards while Featherstone added three kick returns for a total of 54 yards.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will head back to the Lone Star State, this time to south Texas where they will take on another undefeated team in conference play, this time in the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas (4-2, 4-0 LSC). The 'Cats and Javelinas will tangle on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 5:00 p.m. PST from Pepsi Field at Javelina Stadium.