Central Washington University Athletics

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 12th-ranked Central Washington University Football Team (7-2, 7-0 LSC) made the trek to Eastern New Mexico(0-9, 0-7 LSC) where they powered past an explosive Greyhounds team by a 49-20 score from Al Whitehead Field at Steve Loy Family Foundation Stadium in Portales, N.M. Saturday afternoon. 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• Eastern New Mexico started with the ball and quarterback Clifton Cooper powered the 'Hounds almost single handedly to the endzone to put the first score on the board, but the PAT was blocked by Isaiah Paul to make it a 6-0 ENMU game with 10:23 left in the first. 
• The 'Cats responded on their first possession as Ryder Bumgarner and Antoine Lee powered their way down the field with an assist from a connection from Justin Brennan to Samaje Featherstone for 18 yards until Bumgarner found the endzone on a two-yard touchdown and after the successful David Weber PAT, the 'Cats took the 7-6 lead with 4:35 left in the first. 
• Cooper got right back to it with a 10-yard first down gain on the ground, but the Wildcat defense held strong from there as Cooper MacPherson earned a key third down sack to force a punt of ENMU and to give the ball back to the 'Cats. 
• Lee and Ki'Marree Washington each earned a handful of yards on the ground, but the big play before the end of the first quarter was a 28-yard reception by Isaac Torres from Brennan as the 'Cats took the 7-6 lead heading into the second quarter. 
• The Wildcats continued their momentum with a short connection from Brennan to Lee for five yards which was followed by a deep 25-yard connection from Brennan to AJ Perez two plays later for a touchdown and with the Weber PAT, the 'Cats led 14-6 with 13:09 left in the game. 
• Cooper took to the air, finding Darwin Parker, Kyler Fossett, and Mekhi Norris, but the Wildcat defense once again stood tall as Keenan Landry earned a one-yard loss on fourth down to give CWU the ball once again at their own 23-yard line. 
• The Wildcats immediately went at it as Bumgarner quickly earned back-to-back eight-yard rushes before Brennan connected for 55 yards to Perez to set up Bumgarner for the five-yard touchdown and with the successful PAT by Weber, the 'Cats lead grew to 21-6 with 7:04 left in the second. 
• Once again, the Greyhound offense found success, maneuvering their way down into Wildcat territory, but once again the Wildcat defense stood tall, as Omar Lazcano intercepted Cooper and would've logged his second-straight game with a pick six, but a penalty on the 'Cats during the return negated the pick six but gave the 'Cats the ball once again. 
• Brennan immediately connected with Perez for a huge 56-yard gain to put the 'Cats at the ENMU 31-yard line, but the Greyhounds stiffened up and forced the 'Cats to settle for a 43-yard field goal that landed no good to give the Greyhounds the ball back at their own 33-yard line. 
• Brian Kuhn immediately sacked Cooper for six yards and a third down pass breakup by Hudson Hardy force ENMU to punt and give CWU the ball back with 1:23 left before the half. 
• The Wildcats took to the ground as Bumgarner quickly earned a first down for the 'Cats and later grabbed another with a 13-yard rush, but the 'Cats couldn't find the endzone before time expired as the first half finished with Brennan connecting with Bumgarner for 20-yards as the 'Cats took the 21-6 lead at the half. 
• CWU started the second half with a bang as Bumgarner and Lee rumbled their way down the field to set up Brennan to find Mason Juergens for an 18-yard touchdown and with the successful Weber PAT, the 'Cats led 28-6 with 11:24 left in the third. 
• ENMU answered on their first possession of the second half as Cooper handled a majority of the offense once again and paired with a pass interference penalty on the 'Cats, would eventually set up Emeka Megwa for the 15-yard touchdown and with Kaden Dow's successful PAT, the Greyhounds made it a 28-13 game with 9:03 left in the third. 
• The 'Cats wouldn't settle for that as Lee, Washington, and Bumgarner took to the ground with Brennan connecting with Juergens for a big 26-yard gain to eventually find Juergens once again for a 20-yard touchdown. With the successful PAT by Weber, the 'Cats made it a 35-13 game with 4:48 left in the third. 
• The Wildcats forced a huge three-and-out to stop the Greyhound momentum and get the ball back thanks to a tackle for loss by Cale Allen, but a huge 49-yard punt return from Juergens set the 'Cats up at the ENMU 15-yard line. 
• Justice Taylor took it from there, using five plays to punch it in, and with Weber's PAT, the 'Cats lead grew to 42-13 with 49 seconds left in the third. 
• Cooper and Megwa quickly earned a first down before Cooper ended the third quarter with a 14-yard connection to Parker with the 'Cats leading 42-13. 
• The Greyhounds began the fourth with Cooper making all the right connections, to lead ENMU into the red zone, but a Brycen Indell sack on third down forced a fourth and 14 at the 'Cats 14-yard line only to see Lazcano pick off Cooper for his second interception of the night. 
• Lee only needed three plays to put his stamp on the game, as a huge 58-yard rush tacked on another score for the 'Cats and after the successful Weber PAT, the 'Cats led 49-13 with 9:09 left in the game.
• ENMU answered as Coooper, Megwa, and Joey Fussell Jr. maneuvered their way into CWU territory to set up Cooper to find Trei Kibbles for the 37-yard touchdown and after Dow's successful kick, the 'Hounds made it a 49-20 game with 6:14 left in the game. 
• Washington and Taylor pounded the ball to waste time and a fourth and four pass from Caleb Christensen to Andrew Molloy for nine yards sealed the deal as the 'Cats won 49-20. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Brennan finished the game completing 12 of his 13 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. 
• Bumgarner and Lee each finished with over 100 yards once again with Bumgarner leading the charge with 132 yards and two touchdowns while Lee tacked on 117 yards and another touchdown. Taylor finished with 23 rushing yards and a touchdown. 
• Perez led the receiving corps with four catches for 148 yards and a touchdown while Juergens tacked on 64 yards and two touchdowns on three catches. 
• Allen led the defense with 11 tackles including a tackle for loss. 
• Connor Goff added eight tackles while Indell tacked on seven tackles and a sack for five yards. 
• Paul added five tackles and the 'Cats first blocked kick of the season while Isaiah Strong also added five tackles. 
• Lazcano finished with four tackles and both interceptions of the game that were returned 36 total yards. 
• MacPherson and Kuhn each tallied three tackles and a sack while Kam Watkins-Hunter each finished with two tackles with Watkins-Hunter logging two pass breakups and Hardy adding one. 
• Landry had a tackle for loss for a yard. 
• Weber was a perfect seven for seven on his PAT attempts and added seven kickoffs for 454 yards but was unsuccessful on his only field goal attempt of the season. 
• Juergens returned two punts for 67 yards while Featherstone and Stephen Woodward each returned a kick for 16 and eight yards. 

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will wrap up their home slate of the regular season with a showdown against the Western New Mexico Mustangs (3-6, 2-5 LSC) on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1:00 p.m. for Senior Day to celebrate the Wildcat seniors. The game will be held at Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium.