ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Football Team (0-1) looks to build off of their week one performance at NCAA Division I Cal Poly with another major test for their home-opener and the first home game under Head Coach
Scott Power. The 'Cats will welcome the top-ranked and back-to-back defending national champion Ferris State Bulldogs (2-0) on Saturday, September 12 at 6:00 p.m. from Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium.
Saturday's gameday sponsor The Ranch by Royal Family Farming will be helping CWU Athletics give away an electric scooter during the game. The first 500 fans will also get a special home-opener t-shirt presented by Lightcurve Internet. On top of that, if you are a Wildcat Athletic Association member of the $100 plus level you get free access to the Wildcat Plaza.
A reminder that ticketing for CWU home events is cashless. Concessions will still accept cash and encourages the use of Grubhub for ordering concessions at home football events. Parking will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will cost $10.
Below is a list of prohibited items for CWU home events:
- Outside food and beverages
- Weapons of any kind
- Pets (Service animals are okay)
- Alcohol
- Smoking, E-cigarettes, or vaporizers
- Bikes, skateboards, or scooters
- Wagons (including collapsible ones)
- Any other item or action deemed dangerous or inappropriate
People are allowed to bring the following items into CWU events:
- Portable chairbacks or soft sided seat cushions
- Small strollers
- Blankets
- Small umbrellas
GAME INFORMATION:
WATCH (FloCollege - $):
HERE
LIVE STATS:
HERE
TICKETS:
HERE
QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH SCOTT POWER:
"Ferris has a very proven, very successful head coach that's been there for quite some time. They've been able to have continuity both in that role and almost their entire staff. So, I would assume, from the outside, that they have good staff chemistry and that typically leads to good team chemistry. They have one of the front runners for the Harlon Hill Award in quarterback Wyatt Bower. They have outstanding talent, really all over the field on offense, and defense, and on special teams. Then, they have winning DNA. They have an expectation to win, they know how to win. When you play that many games, when you play deep in the playoffs, you wind up playing almost an entire extra season in terms of the amount of practice and game reps that you get. A lot of teams at this level will play 10 or 11 games where Ferris has been playing 15 or 16 games a season. Over the past two years they've basically played a whole extra season. Their 32-game win-streak is just to the start of the 2024 season, so that's 32 games that they've really played in just two years. They have a lot of experience in a lot of different situations, but there's not much they haven't encountered, so it's going to be quite the challenge."
LAST WEEK:
The Central Washington University Football Team traveled to California to face the NCAA Division I Cal Poly Mustangs to open up the new
Scott Power era of CWU Football. The 'Cats gave them everything they had and pushed the Mustangs to the brink but despite a late surge, the 'Cats couldn't complete the comeback falling 24-17.
Central Washington jumped out to an early 7-0 lead over Cal Poly behind a strong offensive drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run from
Justin Brennan, but the Mustangs answered in the second quarter with a 55-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. Cal Poly then seized control, scoring two more touchdowns to take a 17-7 lead into halftime and extending the advantage to 24-7 early in the third quarter after intercepting Brennan. The Wildcats continued to battle, with Brennan connecting with
Mason Juergens for a 40-yard gain and later a touchdown to cut the deficit to 24-14 in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats' defense then forced a turnover on downs, setting up a late scoring drive that ended with a 23-yard
David Weber field goal to make it 24-17. Despite forcing another Cal Poly punt with just over a minute remaining, the Wildcats' final drive stalled on downs, allowing the Mustangs to kneel out the clock and secure a 24-17 victory.
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.
Ryder 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
Isaac Torres added 81 on six catches.
Defensively, the 'Cats were led by
Omar Lazcano with 10 tackles and two tackles for loss for a loss of four yards.
Cale Allen added nine tackles, a half tackle for loss, and two pass breakups.
David 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.
ABOUT THE #1 BULLDOGS:
Ferris State is already 2-0 on the season, riding a 32-game winning streak heading into Saturday that dates back to the beginning of September, 2024. They began their season heading to Kansas to face the opponent that last handed them a loss in the then 4th-ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas. They dispatched the Gorillas by a 42-14 score to start their season off with a bang. They welcomed the Bentley Falcons last week for their home-opener where their defense stifled the Falcon offense to help secure the 38-3 victory.
Ferris State is currently outscoring their opponents 40 points per game to the 8.5 points they give up per game. The crimson and gold have a potent ground attack, averaging 317 rushing yards per game while holding their first two opponents to just 95.5 rushing yards per game. FSU averages 181.5 passing yards per game while their opponents have been slightly more successful in the air, averaging 223.5 passing yards per game.
The Bulldogs are currently successful on 59 percent of their third down attempts and are 0-1 on fourth down attempts this season. That is compared to their opponents 41.9 third down conversion percentage and 1-2 on fourth down attempts this season. Opponents are holding onto the ball slightly longer than FSU by a margin of 32:30 minutes per game compared to the 27:00 minutes the 'Dawgs hold onto the ball. Ferris State is currently averaging 59 penalty yards per game racking up 15 penalties for a total of 118 yards this season.
Wyatt Bower has been the starting quarterback, completing 25 of 34 passes for 338 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Bower is also the leader in the rushing attack with 139 yards and 1 touchdown on 18 carries. Zak Ahern has also eclipsed 100 rushing yards on the season at 119 with a team-high 3 touchdowns on 16 rushes. Jaylin Townsend has been the favorite target so far this season with 7 receptions that have totaled 117 yards and a touchdown. Ahern has only one catch on the season but has made it count with the only other receiving touchdown of the season for the Bulldogs on a 57-yard play.
The Bulldogs already have four athletes with double-digit tackles led by Ryan Ahern and Trace Corlew each with 11 tackles while Manny Peoples and Tim Allen aren't far behind with 10 each. Allen is the current team leader in tackles for loss with 3.5 tackles for loss for a total of 9 yards, but Tre'Qyori Rollerson isn't far behind with 3 tackles for loss for 10 yards on the year. 4 different Bulldogs have logged a sack this season with two more combining for a sack. 3 different Bulldogs have an interception to their name. Dre Thomas leads the team with three pass breakups while Allen has the only forced fumble for the team while Tyrone Fowler has the only fumble recovery for the crimson and gold
Eoin O'Sullivan has been the main punter this season for FSU, punting the ball away 4 times for 180 yards with 3 landing within the opponents 20-yard line. O'Sullivan has also served as the kicker with kickoff duties, making 13 kickoffs for 841 yards. Jay Cady has attempted 3 field goals this season going 1-3 with his only attempt coming from 34 yards out but is a perfect 11-11 on PAT attempts. Dakari Neely has been the main returner, making 7 punt returns for 110 yards with his longest coming for 51 yards.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats will turn their attention to their Lone Star Conference opener that will be no small feat when they welcome the 12th-ranked Western Oregon Wolves (2-0) on Saturday, September 19 at 6:00 p.m. from Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium.
