Football | 10/27/2008 1:08:35 AM

This Week: Saturday, Nov. 1 vs. Humboldt State, McArthur Field, 1 pm
Last Week: Central Washington 38, WOU 31. Western Washington 56, HSU 20
Records: Western Oregon 5-4 (4-3 GNAC), Humboldt State 2-7 (0-6 GNAC)

Wolves welcome Lumberjacks: Western Oregon will play its final home contest of the 2008 season this Saturday (Nov. 1), hosting Humboldt State at McArthur Field (1 pm). WOU will then wrap up the regular season on Nov. 8 at Linfield.

Take a kid: This Saturday, Western Oregon and the NCAA are sponsoring "Take a Kid to the Game" day. Any child, 14 years and younger, can get into the game free with the purchase of an accompanying adult ticket. Tickets can be picked up on game day at McArthur Field. For more information, call 503-838-8252.

Series stats: The all-time series between Humboldt State and Western Oregon is dead even at 13 wins apiece. But the Wolves have won the last three games in the rivalry, including its 44-28 victory on Sept. 27 this year in Arcata. WOU claimed 27-3 and 64-0 wins over the Lumberjacks in 2007.

Salute to seniors: Saturday's game will be the final McArthur Field contest for 12 WOU seniors: Keith Akina (linebacker), Matt Cox (defensive tackle), Cory Dickson (tight end-punter), Ronnie Faavae (linebacker), Cody Feakin (guard), Patrick Fuller (running back), Anthony Marin (defensive tackle), Robert Oberst (guard), Cory Perkins (center), Keith Robertson (defensive end), Isaiah Smith (wide receiver), and Jason Zarate (tight end).

Listen in, watch: You have a number of options to listen to the game live on the Wolves Radio Network. On the internet, link to the game from the Wolves website at www.wouwolves.com, or go directly to MidValleySports.Net. Four radio stations will also broadcast the on the Wolves Radio Network: KPJC 1220 AM (Salem), KLOO 1340 AM (Albany), KOHI 1600 AM (St. Helens) and KMVS 1610 AM (Monmouth). Russ Blunck and "The Coach" Bear Blunck will provide the call for the 12th consecutive season. The Tailgate Show begins 45 minutes before kick-off and the pre-game shows starts 15 minutes prior to the first snap. You can also watch WOU games live on your computer screen. Just click on the GNAC TV link for pay-per-view instructions.

Coach speak: You can listen or watch the WOU Coaches Show live on Wednesday nights at Rick's Place in Monmouth (Main Street) on MidValleySports.Net at 8 p.m. Catch Steve Swart and David Olson when they interview Arne Ferguson and other guests each week.

Wildcats clinch title with 38-31 win over Wolves: Western Oregon compiled a season-high 527 yards of total offense but it wasn't quite enough to overcome the nation's No. 5 team on Saturday at Central Washington. The host Wildcats clinched the Great Northwest Athletic Conference title in front of 4,313 homecoming fans and improved to 8-1 on the season and 7-0 in conference play with the 38-31 victory. Central Washington has now won 24 consecutive games against teams in the GNAC.

Wolves replay: You can watch the replay of the Wolves-Wildcats contest on CCTV channel 22 in Salem, and in Monmouth-Independence, the game will show on channel 17 and 18 throughout the week. Past games will show at 1 am each night. For DVD copies of the game, email Russ Blunck at blunckr@wou.edu.

GNAC update: Western Washington slipped past WOU in the GNAC standings with an impressive 56-20 win over Humboldt State in Bellingham. Dixie State picked up a non-league victory on the road, topping Azusa Pacific (NAIA), 30-23.

GNAC Standings
Central Washington 7-0 (8-1)
Western Washington 4-2 (4-4)
Western Oregon 4-3 (5-4)
Dixie State 1-5 (3-6)
Humboldt State 0-6 (2-7)

Saturday's WOU opponent results
Portland State (3-4) 36, Idaho State 13
Western Washington (4-4) 56, Humboldt State (2-7) 20
Central Washington (8-1) 38, Western Oregon (5-4) 31
Dixie State (3-6) 30, Azusa Pacific 23
Southern Oregon (3-5) 40, Mary Hardin-Baylor 28
Willamette 52, Linfield (4-2) 28

Rotary Bowl update: Central Washington strengthened its chances for an NCAA post-season berth with the win over Western Oregon. If the Wildcats make it to the NCAA playoffs, the second place team from the GNAC will qualify for the Rotary Bowl on Dececmeber 6 in St. George, Utah. Western Washington has a half-game lead on the Wolves for that spot. If the Vikings defeat Dixie State this Saturday on the road, they will clinch the berth, even if WOU and WWU finish the season tied. The Wolves and Vikings split their games against each other, but WWU wins the slight point differential, as they topped WOU by 11 points and Western Oregon defeated the Vikings by nine. The opponent in the Rotary Bowl will come from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The RMAC leader currently is Chadron State, who is ranked third in Super Region Three and likely a shoo-in for the NCAA playoffs. Three other teams are battling for that second-place spot and Rotary Bowl berth: Mesa State (6-3/6-1 RMAC), Nebraska-Kearney (6-3/6-1 RMAC) and Colorado School of Mines (6-3/5-2 RMAC).

Region watch: Here is today's Super Regional Four ranking (Oct. 27). The top six teams in the final poll will qualify for the NCAA playoffs at the end of the regular season. (1) Abilene Christian TX (8-0), (2) Northwest Missouri State (8-1), (3) Pittsburg State KS (8-1), (4) West Texas A&M (8-1), (5) Central Washington (8-1), (6) Nebraska-Omaha (5-3), (7) Central Missouri (6-3), (8) Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-3), (9) Tarleton State TX (7-2), (10) Central Oklahoma (5-4).

Wolves come up short against 'Cats: Western Oregon led for most of the first half but a Wildcat blitz after the break was enough for the nationally ranked hosts to edge the Wolves, 38-31. Central Washington scored 28 consecutive points at one juncture before the Wolves came roaring back with three TD's of their own in the final 17 minutes of play.

Flinging it: Junior quarterback Josh Riddell had a season-best 381 yards passing and four touchdowns to help lead the Wolves to 527 yards of total offense. Riddell twice found senior Isaiah Smith for scores (35 and 16 yards) and also threw scoring strikes to Shaun Kauleinamoku (25 yards) and Justin Ore (45 yards).

Tall targets: Riddell's favorite recipients on Saturday were 6-6 Demario Ballard and 6-4 Isaiah Smith. Ballard had a career-high 127 yards on seven receptions, while Smith pulled down five catches for 101 yards.

Running game slowed: Sophomore DJ Jackson missed his third consecutive game with an injured ankle. Junior Ben Kuenzi managed a hard-earned 67 yards on 17 carries. Senior Patrick Fuller had 33 yards on five carries, all in the first half, before leaving the game with an injury.

Matt causes more mayhem: It was another career day for senior defensive tackle Matt Cox. One week after recording a career-high 10 tackles against Dixie State, he compiled 13 at Central Washington. He also had 2.5 tackles for loss, including 0.5 quarterback sacks, giving him 55.5 career TFL and 27.5 QB sacks. No one in GNAC history has more TFL than Cox, and he is half a sack short of the same mark in that category. Cox also blocked a field goal attempt, but the play was called back because of a penalty.

Anti-rush: Western Oregon came into the contest with CWU giving up only 64 yards on the ground a game, fifth best in the nation. The Wildcats ran for a season-high 134 yards, although 43 of it came on one long run at the very end of the game. WOU's stop unit now gives up 71.8 yards a contest.

Thieves: Junior linebacker Gavin Romanick intercepted his fifth pass of the season, picking CWU All-American candidate Mike Reilly in the first quarter. That marked only the fourth time all season that Reilly had been foiled. Romanick's five interceptions are the most for a WOU defender since Bret Hughes had five in 2005. The Wolves have 16 interceptions on the season, with Caleb Singleton next on the list with four.

 

GNAC leaders: Running backs DJ Jackson and Ben Kuenzi rank second and third respectively the GNAC yards-per-game category. Jackson averages 69 yards a game and Kuenzi is at 67. Kuenzi leads in rushing touchdowns with five. Josh Riddell is third in passing yards a game (239) and pass efficiency (149.8). Senior receiver Isaiah Smith is fourth in receiving yardage a contest (71.9). Jon Dowd is fourth in the conference in kick-off returns with 22.0 per return and Patrick Fuller is fifth at 20.4. Dowd is fifth in forced fumbles with two. Cory Dickson is second in punting at 37.9. JT Gilmore ranks second in the GNAC in tackles with 8.9 per game (80 total). Gavin Romanick is second in the GNAC in interceptions with five, with Caleb Singelton (four) right behind him. Matt Cox leads the league lead in quarterback sacks (1.11 a game), and the senior defensive tackle leads the loop in tackles for loss with 1.89 a game. Bryan Huber leads the GNAC in passes defended with 1.11 a game, while Miguez Gonzalez is third (0.88) and Gavin Romanick is fourth (0.78).

Touting the team: Western Oregon leads the GNAC in Rushing Offense (150.0), Pass Defense Efficiency (130.5), Rushing Defense (71.8), Interceptions (16), and Punt Coverage (35.1 net).

Career tallies: Junior running back Ben Kuenzi now has 1,830 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in three seasons, both of which rank ninth on WOU's career lists. Senior wide receiver Isaiah Smith has 107 catches for 1,860 yards and 14 scores. The yardage totals put him sixth on the career list, the 14 TD grabs is tied for eighth and the 107 catches is tenth all-time at WOU.

Ferguson facts: Head coach Arne Ferguson is in his fourth season at WOU as the program leader. He has also spent nearly a lifetime at the school as a player and as an assistant coach. The Vale, Oregon native was a three-time All-CFA defensive back for the Wolves from 1986-88, and began his coaching career at Western in 1989. He has been WOU's defensive coordinator since 1997. In Ferguson's first season at the helm in 2005, he took over a program that finished 1-9 the year previous and pushed them to a 5-6 mark, finishing the season on a three-game win streak. In 2006 they finished 6-4, with all four losses coming by a total of 21 points. His career head coaching mark is now 25-16.

Humboldt headlines: The Lumberjacks will be looking for its first conference victory of the season when they arrive at McArthur Field this weekend. HSU had non-conference victories this year over Southern Oregon (15-14) and Azusa Pacific (24-17) and is 2-7 overall, but is 0-6 in the GNAC. Former WOU quarterback Garrett Hubrich is scheduled to get the start this week at that position for the Lumberjacks. The Hillsboro native, who was a back-up at WOU in 2005, was 16-of-27 for 211 yards last week in a loss at Western Washington, and he completed a season-best 26 passes the week previous versus Central Washington. In four games this season, he has completed 65 percent of his passes. Guy Ricciardulli leads the GNAC in interceptions with six and Michael Lynch is one of the league's top tacklers with 8.7 per game.

 

To the nines: WOU's nine wins in 2007 (9-2) was only the fourth nine-win season in 78 years of Western Oregon University football. The last one was a Bill McArthur club in 1976 (9-1). McArthur's 1975 squad also went 9-1, and his 1949 team holds WOU's top all-time mark at 9-0. Coach Arne Ferguson's Western Oregon football squad finished the 2007 season with a 26-12 Dixie Rotary Bowl victory over Colorado School of Mines on Dec. 1 in St. George, Utah.

Oregon's team: Western Oregon has 98 players from the state of Oregon on its 2008 roster. 74 percent of the squad hails from the state, a percentage more than double of any other football roster in the Oregon University System. Here's the breakdown.
Western Oregon 74%
Portland State 32%
Eastern Oregon 31%
Southern Oregon 30%
Oregon State 29%
Oregon 16%