ELLENSBURG, Wash. – A new era of Central Washington University Football is set to begin this week as the Wildcats head to sunny California to face NCAA Division I FCS Cal Poly who are receiving votes in this week's American Football Coaches Association Coaches Poll this Saturday, September 5 at 5:00 p.m. from Mustang Memorial Field Presented by French Hospital in San Luis Obispo, Calif. for new CWU Head Football Coach
Scott Power's first game at the helm for the crimson and black.
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QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH SCOTT POWER:
"They're really well coached and have an experienced staff down there that's been successful at multiple places. There's the element of them having eight hour CARA weeks all summer so they were able to meet and do on field installs and work with their players for eight hours a week over the summer where that's not part of the D2 operation. They started training camp two weeks before us and they've already played a game. The FCS, scholarship-wise is about double the amount that we have. On top of that they have very good players. There's a number of things that will make this a challenge for us, but we're excited to go down there, strap it up, and compete.
I was impressed by their size that they added when I watched them last Friday night. I think that watching last years team compared to what they've built since Coach took over, I think on both sides of the line of scrimmage they've improved themselves. Then I think their offensive skill, the quarterback caused a real problem for Idaho. Then the running backs, they have two different kinds of backs, one guy that's a 10.5 100-meter guy, then they have another guy that's 225 pounds. So, they can have a change of pace and styles in the backfield. The wideouts, obviously they made the game-winning touchdown catch the other night, but I thought number two did a really nice job and was a difficult cover and a difficult matchup for Idaho as well too. They pose a number of threats, I think the defense front seven is pretty experienced. The inside linebackers have been productive there for a long time, one of them is a preseason All-American. I was just impressed. Week zero wins are hard to come by. I was impressed with how they played last Friday night."
LAST SEASON:
The Wildcats made waves last season, going 10-2 on the season with a perfect 9-0 Lone Star Conference record that saw the 'Cats capture their first ever LSC Championship. The 'Cat also hosted their first playoff game since the 2017 season where they ultimately saw their season come to a close in their third-straight clash with the Western Colorado Mountaineers in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs.
The Wildcats were well represented in both conference and national recognition. 27 Wildcats grabbed All-LSC honors with quarterback
Kennedy McGill earning the J.W. Rollins Offensive Player of the Year as well as the Academic Player of the Year award while
Slade Edwards was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year,
Tyler King grabbed Defensive Lineman of the Year, and
Mika Roberson was named the Defensive Freshman of the Year. McGill was nominated for the prestigious Harlon Hill Award while Edwards and King grabbed All-Super Region 4 honors and multiple All-American distinctions. Edwards also became the first-ever 'Cat to be a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award and winning the Rimington Trophy as the best center in NCAA Division II. Edwards joined
Brett McCalla as Academic All-Americans.
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS:
Cal Poly has already had a successful start to the season after a 4-8 campaign a season ago with a 38-34 victory at home over Idaho in week zero. The Mustangs built up a 21-10 lead at the halftime break but saw the Vandals score 24 second half points to take a 34-31 lead with 1:03 left in the game but a 34-yard touchdown pass from Tayvion McCoy to Anthony Grigsby Jr. with nine seconds left helped secure the victory for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs found a lot of success in the passing game as Grigby Jr. completed 26 of 35 passes for 319 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions. Collectively the Mustangs added 197 yards on the ground, led by Jaden Green with 71 yards while Grigsby Jr. added 62 rushing yards and the only rushing touchdown. McCoy was Grigsby Jr.'s favorite target, targeting him 10 times for 170 yards and a touchdown. Grigsby Jr. also connected with Fidel Pitts, Alek Marshall, and Misa Paiau for touchdown passes.
The Vandal offense slightly out passed the Mustang offense 363 yard to 319 yards with Idaho quarterback Joshua Wood completing 18 of 25 passes and two touchdowns. The Mustangs did outgain the Vandals on the ground by a 197 to 119 margin with each team earning one rushing touchdown. Collectively, the Mustangs outgained the Vandals by a 516 to 482 margin. Cal Poly only had three penalties for 27 yards while Idaho had eight penalties for 61 yards.
The Mustang defense was led by D'amato Mikey who had 14 tackles while Troy Bean added six tackles but had two tackles for loss for a total of 12 yards with a sack accounting for 11 of those yards. SJ Gentle had the only pass breakup for the Mustang defense while D'amato, Bean, and Jalonn Booth all logged one quarterback hurry. On special teams, Dean Scrivner only had one punt for a total of 45 yards but it landed in the Vandal 20-yard line. Noah Thayer finished the game going 1-3 on field goal attempts, with his only make coming at 28 yards while his two misses came at 40 and 43 yards out. Thayer did add seven kickoffs for a total of 411 yards with two landing as touchbacks and one landing out of bounds. Jaden Green had two kick returns for 64 yards and the only punt return for one yard while Paiau added one kick return for 13 yards. Thayer was a perfect five for five on PAT attempts.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will have a big challenge on their hands when they have their home-opener for the season when the top-ranked and back-to-back national champion Ferris State comes to town. The 'Cats and Bulldogs will clash on Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 6:00 p.m.
