Wildcats advance with OT win over Western Colorado
IAN BIVONA | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 10 months AGO
The Central Washington Wildcats defeated No. 2 Western Colorado 16-13 in overtime on Saturday, advancing in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
COURTESY PHOTO/CWU ATHLETICS/JACOB THOMPSON
Ian Bivona serves as the Columbia Basin Herald’s sports reporter and is a graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He enjoys the behind-the-scenes stories that lead up to the wins and losses of the various sports teams in the Basin. Football is his favorite sport, though he likes them all, and his favorite team is the Jets. He lives in Soap Lake with his cat, Honey. | November 20, 2023 4:28 PM
GUNNISON, Colo. — The Central Washington Wildcats are moving on in the NCAA Division II playoffs after defeating No. 2 Western Colorado Saturday, winning 16-13 in overtime.
Saturday’s win was Central’s first playoff win since 2009, the year they defeated Tarleton State 57-56 in the second round in double overtime.
"It feels amazing," CWU head football coach Chris Fisk said in a release. "We've been working so hard for this for so long. We've had some opportunities in the playoffs and fell short, and the way we overcame it feels amazing. It's that respect level that our kids are searching for, nationally, and within our conference. It was great to be able to represent the Lone Star Conference, and to be able to go get a win."
After remaining scoreless through the first quarter, Western Colorado took a 3-0 lead on a 31-yard field goal, set up by an interception of Central quarterback Kennedy McGill early in the second quarter. The score held at 3-0 until early in the fourth quarter, when Wildcat receiver Darius Morrison caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from McGill with 13:40 left in the game.
Western Colorado took the lead on a 19-yard touchdown catch with under six minutes left. CWU kicker Josh Jones hit a 28-yard field goal just before the end of regulation to tie the game at 10.
The Mountaineers scored first in overtime, hitting a 41-yard kick, but McGill’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Morrison sent the Wildcats into the second round of the playoffs with a 16-13 win over Western Colorado.
"We pride ourselves on these kind of ball games," Morrison said. "There's no other way to win a game for Central at least, than to do it like that. We pride ourselves on the fourth quarter and coming down the stretch, we know when we're in those games we're always going to come out on top."
Central faces off against Bemidji State on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Minnesota. The Beavers defeated No. 3 Texas Permian Basin 10-3 in the first round.
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