Central Washington University Athletics

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The 9th-ranked Central Washington University Football Team (8-2, 8-0 LSC) sent their senior class off celebrating, defeating the visiting Western New Mexico Mustangs (3-7, 2-6 LSC) by a 52-10 score in the Wildcats final regular season home contest on Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium Saturday afternoon. With the victory today the 'Cats have officially clinched at least a share of the Lone Star Conference Championship, marking back-to-back championships for CWU who looks to clinch the title outright next week in the regular season finale.
 
QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH SCOTT POWER:
 
"I think we feel good, I'm happy for our seniors. I'm happy for everybody, but I'm appreciative of the work they've put in since we all showed up in January. To call themselves a champion has taken a lot of work whether that was in the spring or the summer or fall camp, it's a culmination of where we are now and knowing that we're going to play more football is exciting for everybody. I'm glad we were able to get this done at home today."
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 

• The Wildcats started out with a bang as Cale Allen picked off quarterback Kainan Manna to return the ball 24 yards for a pick six on the first play of the game and after David Weber's successful PAT, the 'Cats led 7-0 just six seconds into the game.
• The defense continued their momentum with a three-and-out of the Mustang offense to give the 'Cats the ball for the first time.
• The 'Cats didn't take long to pounce once again, as Ryder Bumgarner earned a first down before Justin Brennan connected with Isaac Torres for a 62-yard touchdown and with the Weber PAT, the 'Cats led 14-0 with 11:21 left in the first.
• WNMU struck on their next drive as Devon Nofoa-Masoe combined with Manna to make their way down the field. Manna found Gavin Placencio for 29 and 14-yard gains to help set up Nathan Flores for the successful 32-yard field goal to make it a 14-3 CWU lead with 4:55 left in the first.
• The 'Cats responded on their next drive as another big connection from Brennan to Torres, this time for 41-yards, helped set up Weber to drill a 30-yard field goal to make it a 17-3 CWU lead with 1:23 left in the first.
• Nofoa-Masoe quickly grabbed nine yards followed by Jaylen Rushing adding five more, only to be negated by a Mustang false start ended the first quarter with the 'Cats leading 17-3.
• A big 23-yard run by Nofoa-Masoe ended in Kam Watkins-Hunter intercepting Manna to give the 'Cats the ball back at their own 12-yard line.
• Bumgarner and Justice Taylor pummeled their way down the field with Bumgarner getting a huge 37-yard run followed by a 33-yard touchdown run that got brought back due to a Wildcat penalty which forced the 'Cats to punt for the first time of the day.
• The Wildcat defense responded with a forced punt of their own, allowing the Mustangs only to their own 35-yard line before Mason Juergens returned the punt to the 'Cats own 43-yard line where Brennan saw pressure, but ultimately threw the ball to Mustang defender Clayton Zentner for the interception to see the 'Stangs take back over at the 'Cats 48-yard line.
• The wildcat defense made quick work on the field as key tackles from Brycen Indell, Chris Hauss, Brady Phillips, and Keenan Landry forced a three-and-out to give the crimson and black offense the ball back.
• Brennan found Samaje Featherstone for a quick 13-yard reception followed by another big completion to Torres, this time for 12-yards after which Bumgarner tacked on a 29-yard rush to eventually set up Brennan to find Torres for the 24-yard touchdown reception and with Weber's PAT, the 'Cats lead grew to 24-3 with 23 seconds before the half.
• Manna immediately found Riley Carson for a 20-yard reception but Watkins-Hunter was there to stop him as time ran out for the Mustangs to send the teams to the half with CWU leading 24-3.
• Brennan earned a first down with a 12-yard rush followed by a 51-yard rush by Bumgarner to set the 'Cats up in the Mustang red zone to eventually set up Brennan finding Torres for the nine-yard touchdown and with the successful PAT by Weber, the 'Cats led 31-3 with 11:39 left in the third.
• The Wildcats attempted the onside kick which saw Watkins-Hunter recover it to keep the ball with the crimson and black.
• One play was all it took as Brennan once again connected with Torres, this time for a 51-yard touchdown reception and with Weber's PAT, the 'Cats led 38-3 with 11:24 left in the third.
• Another three-and-out by the Wildcat defense thanks to tackles for loss by Trishion Sullivan, Omar Lazcano, and Hudson Hardy forced WNMU to punt and give the ball back to the 'Cats as Juergens returned the ball 21-yards to set CWU up at the Mustang 30-yard line.
• The Mustang defense stiffened up, allowing seven yards to Taylor before Terrell Dolberry broke up a third down pass for force the 'Cats to settle for the 40-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide left and put the ball back in the hooves of the Mustangs.
• WNMU took to the ground as Nofoa-Masoe was able to convert a fourth and two, but a tackle for loss by Isaiah Strong and Indell helped the CWU defense force another punt by the Mustangs and after Juergens returned the ball 12-yards, it set the 'Cats up at their own 35-yard line.
• The 'Cats once again made quick work with the ball as Brennan found Torres for 11-yards followed by a 39-yard run from Antoine Lee before Brennan went back to Torres for a 10-yard gain which set up Brennan to find Stephen Woodward for a four-yard touchdown and with the Weber PAT, the 'Cats took the 45-3 lead with 56 seconds left in the third.
• Nofoa-Masoe didn't let the third end before making a big impact, earning 26 yards on the ground to end the third quarter and set WNMU up in Wildcat territory with CWU leading 45-3.
• Nofoa-Masoe powered his way toward the endzone to eventually set up Manna to find Rene Huerta Jr. for the 12-yard touchdown and with Flores PAT attempt sailing through the uprights, the 'Cats lead was now 45-10 with 9:29 left in the game.
• The Mustangs held strong to force a turnover on downs at midfield before the 'Cats forced another three-and-out with the 'Cats defense seeing Riah Tua sack Manna to force a punt and give the 'Cats the ball back.
• Ki'Marree Washington took the ball all the way to the WNMU one-yard line on the first play of the game, going 74-yards to set up Taylor for the one-yard touchdown and with the Weber PAT, the 'Cats led 52-10.
• Joshua Gaines earned a first down, but a broken pass thanks to Connor Goff forced a punt by the Mustangs to give the 'Cats the ball back with 2:21 left in the game.
• The 'Cats saw Washington run the ball and the clock down to secure the 52-10 victory on Senior Day.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
 

• Brennan finished the game completing 11 of his 16 passes for 240 yards, five touchdowns, and an interception while adding 10 rushing yards.
• Bumgarner led the rushing attack with 12 rushes for 143 yards while Washington added six rushes for 117 yards with Taylor logging the only rushing touchdown of the game for the 'Cats.
• Torres had himself a game, logging eight catches for 220 yards and four touchdowns while Woodward added another four-yard touchdown as his only catch of the day.
• Indell logged another double-digit tackle performance, finishing with 12 tackles while adding a half tackle for loss.
• Strong and Goff both added eight tackles and a pass breakup while Strong also contributed a half tackle for loss.
• Brian Kuhn and Phillips finished with six tackles with Kuhn adding a five-yard sack.
• Cooper MacPherson finished with five tackles and a tackle for loss.
• Allen had four tackles and a pick six for 24-yards.
• Tua and Hardy both added four tackles and a tackle for loss with Tua's coming as a sack.
• Watkins-Hunter finished with two tackles and an interception while Lazcano and Sullivan both added two tackles and a half tackle for loss.
• Weber had one punt for 27 yards while converting one of his two field goal attempts with it coming from 30-yards out. He also added seven kickoffs for 453 yards and was a perfect seven of seven on PAT attempts.
• Austin Ferencz had one kickoff for 65 yards.
• Juergens returned three punts for 43 yards while Featherstone and Andrew Molloy each had a kick return for 33 and two yards, respectfully.

 
UP NEXT:
 

• The Wildcats will look to win the LSC title outright next week in their regular season finale when they travel to Canyon, Texas to face the West Texas A&M Buffaloes (4-6, 4-4 LSC) on Saturday, Nov. 12 at noon PST from Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium.