ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Sept. 13) — Central Washington University (1-1) scored on its first offensive play of the game and never looked back in a 48-14 win over Dixie State University (0-2) of St. George, Utah. A crowd of 2,972 at Tomlinson Stadium turned out to see the Wildcats roll in their football season home opener.
 
"Our guys were fired up to get out here and play this game," said first-year head coach Ian Shoemaker. "We came out with a pretty high level of play early and I think we overwhelmed Dixie a little bit."
 
Those who didn't take their seats early missed CWU's first tally. The Red Storm went three-and-out on their first offensive series. Then, following a punt of just 26 yards, the Wildcats got the ball at the DSU 46 yard line. On a first down, play-action pass, sophomore quarterback JAKE NELSON (Lake Stevens, Wash.) connected with sophomore wide receiver Kent McKinney (Seattle/O'Dea), who was wide-open down the right side of the field, for the score.
 
On its next series, Dixie State quickly responded with a 62-yard scoring strike of its own from quarterback Hayden Gavett to wide receiver Nate Stephens. But that was the only score for the Red Storm until late in the fourth quarter. Between those touchdowns, CWU scored 41 unanswered points.
 
Nelson connected on 18 of 26 passes for a career-high 299 yards and two scores, while rushing for 68 additional yards and another touchdown. Junior running back JORDAN TODD (Bellevue, Wash./Interlake) ran for 111 yards on 25 carries and also scored twice on the ground. And redshirt freshman MELVIN THORNTON (Port Hadlock, Wash./Chimacum) carried the 21 times for 91 yards and a touchdown. Along with his first-play score, McKinney caught five balls total for 140 yards, including another impressive 29-yard grab in double coverage.
 
On the day, CWU threw for 309 yards and added 272 more on the ground. CWU recorded those numbers despite turning the ball over four times, on two interceptions and two fumbles.
 
"You usually don't score 48 points when you turn the ball over as many times as we did," Shoemaker acknowledged.
 
Defensively, redshirt freshman middle linebacker KEVIN HAYNES (Brush Prairie, Wash./ Battle Ground) had two interceptions and led the team with nine tackles. Junior defensive end TOVAR SANCHEZ (Seattle/Ingraham) also set the tone defensively early, pressuring Gavett and sacking him twice.
 
"The rush end, the position I'm at, I'm back off-the-ball a little bit," Sanchez said. "In this game, I was able to get loose. It was good that we were getting after it. We came out flying and it was fun."
 
Sanchez is wearing the No. 44 season, which is awarded annually to the Wildcat defender who best exemplifies the high standards of the CWU defense: dedication, toughness, discipline and tenacity. It's quite an achievement for Sanchez, who came to CWU as an invited walk-on player. But it's an honor that comes with some additional pressure.
 
"Wearing 44 [means] you can't take a play off," Sanchez said.
 
That was not a problem for Sanchez or his teammates Saturday.
 
CWU has now won 12 of the 13 games played in the series with DSU, which dates back to 2008. The wins include all seven contests that have been played in Ellensburg.
 
Next Saturday, the Wildcats travel to Monmouth, Ore. to take on the Wolves of Western Oregon University. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
 
"We made a good leap from last week to this week as far as improvement," Shoemaker added. "We've got to make that same leap to go beat a good Western Oregon team."