SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The Central Washington University Football Team (0-1) fell just short in their season-opening test at NCAA Division I FCS Cal Poly (2-0) by a 24-17 score Saturday evening.
QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH SCOTT POWER:
"It's a tough loss on the road tonight against a good FCS football team. I'm proud of the way our guys competed and battled for four quarters. We'll learn from it, own the mistakes, and get back to work. This team will respond."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Cal Poly started with the ball and made their way into CWU territory but a tackle for loss by Omar Lazcano and a quarterback hurry by Riah Tua to force an incomplete pass paired with a Mustang penalty saw the 'Cats for a punt from CP.
- The 'Cats took over and saw Ryder Bumgarner earn a first down with a quick 20 yards followed by Justin Brennan making his way into Cal Poly territory with a 22-yard gain. Brennan made a couple connections with Bumgarner and Isaac Torres while Justice Taylor and Bumgarner took over the ground game to get the 'Cats into the Mustang red zone where Brennan rushed up the middle for a one-yard touchdown to get the 'Cats on the board. David Weber added the PAT to make it 7-0 in favor of the 'Cats with 1:47 left in the first quarter.
- Lazcano and Hudson Hardy combined for a tackle for loss, but a seven-yard connection between Anthony Grigsby Jr. to Tayvion McCoy brought the Mustangs to their own 31-yard line to force fourth down to end the first quarter.
- Cal Poly punted the ball to begin the second quarter.
- Brennan took to the air, making connections to Samaje Featherstone, Torres, Bumgarner, and Antoine Lee, but unfortunately it wasn't enough as the drive stalled at the Cal Poly 45-yard line where the Mustangs took over on downs.
- The Mustangs took advantage immediately to tie the game up as Grigsby Jr. found Ray Hall for a 55-yard touchdown pass and with the Noah Thayer PAT, made it 7-7 with 10:58 left in the second.
- The next Wildcat drive stalled out as the Mustang defense wouldn't allow the 'Cats run attack to get going forcing the 'Cats to punt.
- The Mustangs used the most of their momentum as they quickly maneuvered their way down the field thanks to a 47-yard rush by Jaden Green to the CWU five-yard line and two plays later Grigsby Jr. found Fidel Pitts for the Mustang touchdown. Thayer kicked the PAT to make it 14-7 in favor of the Mustangs with 6:47 left in the second quarter.
- Once again, the Mustang defense stifled the 'Cats offense, forcing another three and out to force the 'Cats to punt the ball.
- Cal Poly looked to continue to ride the momentum wave as they made their way into the 'Cats side of the field, but a penalty on the Mustangs swayed the momentum and the Mustangs had to punt the ball.
- Bumgarner got the 'Cats off with a big 15 yard gain on the ground and two plays later an 11-yard completion from Brennan to Mason Juergens set the 'Cats up at mid field, however a fumble by the 'Cats gave the Mustangs the ball back with 44 seconds left before halftime.
- The Mustangs pushed their way down the field in large part thanks to a 22-yard connection from Grigsby Jr. to Luke Leighton which eventually set up a 38-yard field goal attempt by Thayer which sailed no good, but an offsides penalty by the 'Cats gave Cal Poly a second chance only from 33-yards this time and Thayer made it count to send the teams to the half break with Cal Poly leading 17-7.
- The Mustang defense began the third quarter with a bang, intercepting Brennan on the first play to set up the Mustang offense at the 'Cats 35-yard line.
- Two plays was all Cal Poly needed as Grigsby Jr. found Hall once again for the touchdown pass and with Thayer's PAT, the Mustangs saw their lead grow to 24-7 with 14:12 left in the third.
- The Wildcat offense came back and saw a connection from Brennan to Juergens for a quick 40-yard gain and with Bumgarner and Lee attacking the ground, the 'Cats found their way back into the Cal Poly redzone where a pair of incomplete passes ended the 'Cats run down the field as they turned the ball over on downs giving Cal Poly the ball back at their own four-yard line.
- The Mustangs continued their momentum as they maneuvered their way into Wildcat territory, but it eventually stalled out to set up a 33-yard field goal attempt by Thayer that sailed no good to keep it 24-7 Cal Poly with 1:20 left in the third.
- Brennan was sacked nine yards to begin the 'Cats next drive, but made up the lost ground with a connection to Bumgarner for 13 yards to end the third with Cal Poly leading 24-7.
- Brennan connected with Juergens for 12 yards to start the fourth quarter and with a penalty against the Mustangs saw the 'Cats make their way into Mustang territory where Brennan immediately grabbed 18 yards on the ground and followed it up with a 12-yard pass to Juergens to get the 'Cats back in the Mustang red zone. A six yard rush by lee set up Brennan to find Juergens for the touchdown and with the Weber PAT pulled it to a 24-14 game in favor of Cal Poly with 11:06 left.
- The Mustangs began their next drive by maneuvering into CWU territory only to see the 'Cats defense stiffen up and a pass breakup by Cale Allen forced a turnover on downs to give the 'Cats the ball back at their own 29-yard line with 6:30 left.
- Brennan immediately found Torres for a 13-yard gain followed by a pair of rushes by Bumgarner put the 'Cats on the Mustang side of the field. A couple plays later Brennan connected with Torres for a 26-yard gain to put the 'Cats at the Mustang 11-yard line. A three-yard gain by Lee and a three-yard connection from Brennan to Wiley Donnerberg was all the Mustang defense allowed to force Weber to come out and attempt the 23-yard field goal which sailed through the uprights to cut it to a 24-17 Cal Poly lead with 1:48 to go.
- The 'Cats defense came out on the next Mustang drive and did what they needed to do seeing key tackles from Lazcano, Allen, and Brady Phillips to force the Mustangs to punt with 1:19 left.
- Brennan earned nine yards on the ground followed by Bumgarner adding 15 yards on the ground to get the 'Cats to their 33-yard line. Brennan connected with Donnerberg for six more yards but key plays by the Mustang defense forced a turnover on downs giving the Mustangs the chance for a kneel down to seal the 24-17 victory.
STATS FROM THE GAME:
- Brennan made the most of his first collegiate start and first game since the 2024 season completing 25 of 36 passes for 262 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while adding 42 yards and a touchdown on the ground on 10 attempts.
- Bumgarner led the rushing attack for the 'Cats with 21 rushes for 99 yards while Taylor and Lee added 15 and 12 yards, respectfully.
- Juergens had a huge day, logging 10 receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown while Torres added 81 on six catches. Bumgarner tacked on three catches for 39 yards while Donnerberg added 15 yards on three catches, Featherstone had one catch for seven yards, and Lee made two snags for six yards.
- Defensively, the 'Cats were led by Lazcano with 10 tackles and two tackles for loss for a loss of four yards.
- Allen added nine yards, a half tackle for loss, and two pass breakups. Trishion Sullivan added six tackles and a tackle for loss while Kam Watkins-Hunter and Isaiah Paul both tacked on five tackles.
- Brian Kuhn included four tackles, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hurry while Hudson Hardy finished with three tackles and a half tackle for loss.
- King Williams finished with two tackles and a tackle for loss while Tua added a tackle and a quarterback hurry.
- Weber had two punts for 70 yards while going one for one on field goal attempts. He also added three kickoffs for 110 yards and was a perfect two for two on PAT attempts.
- Juergens had one punt return for eight yards while Featherstone added two kick returns for 28 yards.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will face a huge task next week when they host the top-ranked and back-to-back national champion Ferris State Bulldogs (2-0). The 'Cats and 'Dawgs will clash on Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 6:00 p.m.
