CWU WILDCAT FOOTBALL

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Central Washington University Football Team (7-1, 6-0 LSC) welcomes the 16th-ranked Angelo State Rams (6-2, 4-2 LSC) for a Saturday evening tilt that could alter the playoff outlook for both teams.

CWU students attending the game will need their physical connection card to enter on Saturday, or else CWU students can go onto wildcatsports.com/tickets and select the student ticket option which gives students a QR code that they can show at the game for entry for free.

QUOTING CWU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH CHRIS FISK:

"The Rams are a very good football team. Early on they had two very quality wins over MIAA opponents that really set the tone for their season, but then their quarterback got hurt and they kind of had a stumble there in the middle part there, but now the quarterback's back and it feels like they're in a scenario where they're starting to get back on stride and back on tempo with the expectations they had at the beginning of the season. They're backed in a corner, they're fighting for their lives, they're fighting for playoff hopes. Just like I know how the Rams will be, if they're backed in a corner, they're going to come out swinging. I think this will be just like every matchup we've ever had with these guys. If you look at every one of them they've been decided by a touchdown or less and they're tight and physical games. It's usually for us the most physical game of the year, I think their O-line is 310 plus across the board in terms of pounds. They have big kids, they have physical kids, they have a great quarterback, they have great skill players, and we're going to have to be at our best to win this football game."

LAST GAME:

Both teams started slowly with three straight three-and-outs before CWU's Kennedy McGill found Ryder Bumgarner for a 22-yard touchdown. David Weber's PAT made it 7–0 CWU with 8:14 left in the first. MSU answered as Jakolby Longino hit Jaden Coulter for 90 yards, then Demonte Greene for a nine-yard score to tie it 7–7. McGill led another drive early in the second, connecting with Andrew Molloy for a 17-yard touchdown and a 14–7 CWU lead.

MSU settled for a 31-yard field goal to make it 14–10, but McGill broke free for a 58-yard touchdown run to push it to 21–10. The defense added to the lead when Brett McCalla returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown, making it 28–10 CWU. After a fake punt conversion, McGill ran in another score from 37 yards out, extending the lead to 35–10. MSU hit a 50-yard field goal before halftime, but Samaje Featherstone's 85-yard kickoff return gave CWU a commanding 42–13 lead at the break.

The Wildcats picked up right where they left off in the third as Bumgarner ran in a 24-yard touchdown to make it 49–13. Ki'Marree Washington later added a 25-yard touchdown early in the fourth, increasing the lead to 56–13. From there, CWU's defense dominated, forcing repeated punts to seal the 56–13 victory for the Wildcats.

McGill gave an outstanding performance, completing 7 of 9 passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, while also leading the rushing attack with 174 yards and two more touchdowns. On the ground, Bumgarner and Washington each added a rushing touchdown, with Bumgarner contributing 64 yards and Washington 55 yards, respectively. In the air, Bumgarner also led the 'Cats in receiving, hauling in three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown, while Molloy added 17 yards and a touchdown of his own.

Defensively, Jalen Webber led the team with eight tackles, followed by McCalla, who tallied five tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pick six. Kuma Scanlan also posted five tackles, and Mikaio Edward recorded one tackle, with both contributing a tackle for loss. Logan Lisherness added three tackles and a sack, while Chase Loidhamer had two tackles and a sack.

On special teams, Redding handled punting and kickoff duties, averaging 47 yards on two punts (94 total) and 65.5 yards on nine kickoffs (590 total). Weber went 0-for-1 on field goal attempts but was a perfect 8-for-8 on PATs. In the return game, Mika Roberson totaled 39 yards on four punt returns, and the LSC Special Teams Player of the Week, Featherstone, electrified the crowd with an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

The Wildcats totaled 488 yards while giving up 367 to MSU. The Wildcats earned 22 first downs compared to the Mustangs 17 but outgained the 'Cats in the air 234 yards to 98 yards. The crimson and black, however, earned more yards on the ground by a 390 to 133 margin.

 The 'Cats clung to the ball for a resounding 35:00 during the game, only allowing the 'Stangs to possess it for 25:00. The 'Cats were 4/10 on third down attempts and 1/2 on fourth down attempts while limiting the potent Mustangs to 3/13 on third downs and 0/1 on fourth downs. The Wildcats had 4 penalties for 60 yards while the Mustangs also had 4 penalties, but only for 28 yards.