ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Football Team officially opened the Power Era with new Head Coach Scott Power with the annual crimson and black spring game. A pair of interceptions by team crimson helped seal the comeback victory for team crimson by a 24-21 score. The 2026 CWU Inductees were also honored during the game as Zak Hill, Dr. Richard Roux, Catie Fry, and Jean and Joe Adams were all recognized for their induction into the CWU Athletic Hall of Fame happening later tonight.
 
Aiden Larsen kicked things off for team crimson as Roman Perrin made the catch. Bo Gionet served as the starting quarterback for team black. Antoine Lee was a spark plug in team blacks first possession helping team crimson get to the opposite side of the field, however, a sack by Cale Allen forced a turnover on downs as team black earned their first possession of the game.
 
Ryder Bumgarner and Justice Taylor combined their efforts to push team crimson deep into team black territory. A pair of rushes by team crimson starting quarterback Caleb Christensen assisted in helping set up Bumgarner for the three-yard touchdown and paired with a Larsen PAT made it a 7-0 team crimson lead to end the first quarter.
 
Kolton Matson came in to start out the second quarter at quarterback for team black. Ki'Marree Washington took the ball and maneuvered his way down the field as Matson punched it in from two yards out and with Quinton Pacheco drilling the PAT, tied things up at seven apiece with 11 minutes left in the second.
 
Justin Brennan came in to take over quarterback duties for team crimson. Thijs van Diepen gave him a warm welcome to the game, immediately sacking him for a four-yard loss. Brennan did connect with Ryan Atterberry to make up the lost ground with the sack, but an incomplete pass to Ty Snider left team black to punt. Washington took over, carrying team black all the to the team crimson 32-yard line. Gionet added a huge 13 yard rush and followed that up with a bullet to Jacoby Falor for a 19-yard touchdown and paired with Pacheco's PAT gave team black their first lead of the game at 14-7 with three minutes left in the first half.
 
Taylor was relied upon by team crimson to start their next possession, earning a first down, but a big pass from Christensen to Taylor and a flag on team black helped put team crimson into team black's territory. Team black wouldn't let them get much further, forcing a punt to give their offense one more crack before the half break.
 
Matson made the most of that opportunity and immediately found Colton Paulson for a 50-yard touchdown and with Pacheco's PAT, gave team black the 21-7 halftime lead.
 
Taylor opened the third quarter with a big nine-yard run followed by Christensen hitting Mason Juergens for a first down. Taylor used a pair of rushes for a chunk as Christensen connected with Samaje Featherstone for a big chunk and another first down. Bumgarner took it from there, getting team crimson to the seven-yard line. Christensen made the most of it with a seven-yard pass to Taylor for the touchdown and with Larsen's PAT, cut the team black lead to 21-14 with 8:30 left in the third.
 
Team black struggled on their next possession going three and out to give the ball back to team crimson. Brennan connected with Bumgarner and Atterberry for a pair of tosses followed by Bumgarner running out the rest of the third quarter as team black led 21-14.
 
Brennan's pass to begin the fourth was intercepted by team crimson however there was a pass interference on the interception keeping the ball with team crimson and moving them to the 28-yard line of team black. A short rush by Taylor followed by a quick pass from Brennan to Taylor helped Bumgarner run it in for a 19-yard touchdown. Larsen hit the PAT to tie things up at 21 apiece with 11 minutes to go.
 
Team black struck disaster as the second play of their next drive saw the ball get fumbled and recovered by Blake Borup of team crimson to set up team crimson at the 43-yard line of team black. Christensen found Atterberry for a big gain before handing it over to Taylor who took team crimson to the 15-yard line of team black where Larsen came on to hit the 32-yard field goal attempt and give team crimson the 24-21 lead with four minutes to go.
 
Team black couldn't make anything work offensively and a pair of interceptions from Braxton Feldmann and Landon Schafer sealed the team crimson victory by a 24-21 score.