Wildcats selected to finish second in preseason poll
MIKE MAYNARD | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 months, 3 weeks AGO
The Central Washington Wildcats football team were selected to finish second in the Lone Star Conference’s 2025 preseason poll. The Wildcats have finished in the top three of the conference in their first three seasons as a member.
COURTESY GRAPHIC/CWU ATHLETICS
ELLENSBURG – On Thursday, the Central Washington Wildcats were selected to finish second in the Lone Star Conference, according to a statement by CWU athletics. The 2025 preseason poll also indicated the Wildcats received four first-place votes.
“It's an honor that the schools in the LSC think that highly of us,” CWU Head Football Coach Chris Fisk said.
The Wildcats' selection reflects where they have finished in their first three seasons in the LSC, the statement said. They received a total of 257 points to earn their second-place selection just behind defending champions, the Angelo State Rams.
ASU accumulated 292 points and 23 first-place votes. Following the Wildcats is UT Permian Basin with 229 points and two first-place votes followed by Texas A&M-Kingsville with 211 points and one first-place vote. Western Oregon followed with 173 points with West Texas A&M (157 points), Midwestern State (139 points), Eastern New Mexico (88 points), Western New Mexico (53 points), and Sul Ross State (51 points) rounding out the poll.
According to CWU’s statement, offensive lineman, Slade Edwards, who was a LSC Academic All-American as well as a member of the D2Football.com Elite 100, named a Don Hansen All-American, was named a member of the Super Region 4 team, and was named the LSC Offensive Lineman of the Year.
He's served as a staple of the offensive line the past few seasons helping the 'Cats have one of the top rushing attacks in NCAA Division II as the crimson and black finished with 3,090 total yards on the ground in 2024.
Defensive back Chase Coalson was tabbed Honorable Mention All-LSC after a breakthrough season last season accumulating 49 total tackles, five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and one deflected pass.
According to a statement by the LSC, the Wildcats finished 8-4 overall last season and 7-2 in league competition. In the last two seasons, the Wildcats have reached the NCAA postseason Heritage Bowl.
“We've been consistently in the top three of the LSC every year, and in the end, it doesn't mean anything. We're just excited to start getting ready for fall camp and facing Colorado Mesa. We're excited to get at it and chase a Lone Star Conference championship,” Fisk said.
According to the LSC, the preseason poll was voted on by LSC head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
The Wildcats will begin the 2025 season with the return of the Rodeo Bowl on Thursday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m., welcoming the Colorado Mesa Mavericks, who make their first appearance back in Ellensburg since 2008.
2025 LSC Football Preseason Poll
Team 1st Total
Angelo State 23 292
Central Washington 4 257
UT Permian Basin 2 229
Texas A&M-Kingsville 1 211
Western Oregon 173
West Texas A&M 157
Midwestern State 139
Eastern New Mexico 88
Western New Mexico 53
Sul Ross State 51
Preseason Offensive Players to Watch
Name School Yr. Pos.
Braeden Fuller Angelo State Jr. QB
Slade Edwards Central Washington Sr. OL
Jarius Stewart Eastern New Mexico Jr. RB
Demonte Green Midwestern State So. WR
Trayvon Young Sul Ross State Jr. OL
Jack Turner Texas A&M-Kingsville Sr. QB
Kory Harris UT Permian Basin Sr. RB
Kanyon Ives West Texas A&M Jr. OL
Deuce Zimmerman Western New Mexico Jr. WR
Kainoa Jones Western Oregon Sr. QB
Preseason Defensive Players to Watch
Name School Yr. Pos.
Owen Seaver Angelo State Sr. DE
Chase Coalson Central Washington Sr. DB
Matthew Quartieri Eastern New Mexico Jr. LB
Kam'rin Devault Midwestern State Sr. DE
Brendon Martin Sul Ross State Sr. DB
D'Cambren Verrett Texas A&M-Kingsville Jr. DB
Tristan Exline UT Permian Basin Jr. LB
Cam Manahan West Texas A&MT Jr. CB
Cole Lalama Western New Mexico Jr. LB
Malcolm Liufau Western Oregon Sr. LB
ARTICLES BY MIKE MAYNARD
Cougs’ extend win streak after win over Portland
PULLMAN — The Washington State Cougars (19-17) extended its win streak to five after defeating the University of Portland Pilots 9-3 Monday, according to a statement by WSU Athletics. Pitcher Brock Blatter was happy with his performance after coming back from a recent injury. “It felt good (to) give us a good start and stuff and get us in good position and get a win on a Monday,” Blatter said. “(I just) keep getting innings and building up my pitch count and stuff like that and continue to build each outing. (I) got four innings today and continued to build the pitch count.”
Basin diamond roundup, April 7-13
MOSES LAKE — Over the last week, we have crossed the halfway mark of the spring sports season for Basin baseball and softball. While many schools were enjoying a relaxing spring break, many others still stepped out on the diamond as they work toward the postseason. See below how your favorite teams fared and their current record.
More than basketball
Grant County Red Tails emphasize mentorship while earning dramatic home victory
MATTAWA — The Grant County Red Tails (6-5) are the Basin’s newest professional basketball team. Part of The Basketball League, the Red Tails aren’t only focused on hoops, they’re also driven by community service. “We came together because we saw the need, number one, that we could revitalize the mentorship and the leadership things that are missing in this community, with touch points, with kids and families and family engagement, being in such a rural area, and we wanted to really take advantage of that and be the answer,” Co-Founder Antonio Williams said. Alongside Doug Foodies and Ryan Purdie, the trio has brought another option for entertainment to Mattawa and Grant County as a whole. Williams pointed to a new jail being built in the area as motivation for pursuing this endeavor, he said.