ELLENSBURG, Wash. -- The Central Washington University football team saw its perfect season come to an end Saturday as Texas A&M – Commerce erased a 21-point deficit to upend the Wildcats 34-31 in double overtime to advance to the NCAA Super Region 4 Finals.
 
The Wildcats finish 2017 with an 11-1 record, while the Lions improve to 11-1 and move forward to play Minnesota State – Mankato next Saturday.
 
The Wildcats held 28-7 halftime lead with CWU quarterback Reilly Hennessey orchestrating scoring drives on the Wildcats first two possessions of the game.  The Wildcats scored touchdowns on four of their first five drives off a pair of passing touchdowns from Hennessey to Christian Stafford and Kyle Self, and a pair of rushing scores from Pernell and Hennessey.
 
The Lions scored on the opening possession of the second half to but the CWU lead to 14, and in turn, the Wildcat offense stalled in the third quarter, producing just 42 yards of offense and two first downs.
 
With 12 minutes to go in regulation, the Lions marched 67 yards on 11 plays ending with a nine-yard touchdown to pull to within seven of Central Washington.
 
Up seven with 3:48 remaining, the Wildcats went three-and-out, and the Lions took over possession on their own 36 with 2:37 remaining.
 
The Lions used 14 plays and scored the game-tying touchdown with 3-seconds left to play, forcing a 31-31 tie and overtime.
 
In the first overtime, both teams kicked a field goal to force a second overtime period where the Wildcats started with the ball.  A holding penalty forced the Wildcats into a third and fifteen, and a pair of incomplete passes ended the Wildcats scoring attempt in the frame.
 
Commerce ran three running plays for a total of four yards before setting up for a 38-yard attempt that rang true for kicker Kristov Martinez, giving the Lions the final 34-31 double-overtime victory.
 
Austin Pernell set a CWU Division II rushing record by totaling 158 yards on a record 31 carries to lead the CWU ground attack.  Hennessey finished 22 of 34 for 265 yards and two touchdowns.  Hennessey also toted the ball 13 times for 49 yards and a score.
 
On the defensive side of things, All-American linebacker Kevin Haynes had a standout day with a game-high 16 tackles, 1.5 for loss, a sack, and an interception that was returned 27 yards, setting a new CWU Division II playoff record for yards from an interception.
 
Tevin Gray set a career-high with 13 tackles, and Bo Banner had two of the Wildcats three sacks on the day.
 
The Lions were led by receiver Buck Wilson who caught 12 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns, including a 52-yard score in the second quarter.
 
Harlon Hill finalist Luis Perez threw for 394 yards and three touchdowns, but was picked off four times in the game.  Perez had thrown just six touchdowns on the season coming into the game.
 
The Wildcats outgained the Lions 487 to 429, and held a 29-22 advantage in first downs.  Six of the Lions 22 first downs came of CWU penalties.  The Wildcats racked up a record 14 penalties for 133 yards, while the Lions had 10 for 95.