Football | 9/14/2013 5:20:00 PM

Box Score

ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Western Oregon football team held Central Washington to just 242 yards of total offense; however, turnovers and penalties doomed the Wolves as they fell in their Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener on Saturday, 20-7. With the loss, WOU falls to 0-2 on the season, 0-1 in league play, while CWU improves to 1-1 overall, 1-0 in conference action.

The WOU defense limited the Wildcats to just 3.6 yard per play throughout the contest as Patrick Tepea led the Wolves with nine tackles while forcing a turnover with an interception.

The defensive effort would not be enough; however, as CWU managed to take advantage of some key plays to take control of the game.

On the second drive of the contest, the Wildcats would get new life when a roughing the kicker penalty by the Wolves on fourth down would extend the drive. CWU would eventually find the endzone when Ishmael Stinson scored on a 1-yard run to give the Wildcats a 7-0 lead.

On the ensuing possession, WOU would turn the ball over for the first of five times when Delonte Gordon intercepted a Ryan Bergman pass to give the Wildcats the ball.

CWU capitalized on the error as Stinson would extend the lead to 14-0 as his two-yard rush with 5:10 remaining in the quarter capped a two-play drive as the Wildcats grabbed control.

The WOU offense was unable to respond as the Wildcats would extend the lead to 20-0 on a six-yard touchdown reception by Colter Clinch with 2:59 left in the third.

WOU would avoid the shutout when Joe Harris scored on a one-yard plunge with 2:34 remaining in the contest; however, the Wolves would be unable to recover the onside kick as the Wildcats would run out the clock for the win.

Bergman would lead the WOU attack, going 27-of-50 for 251 yards while Stinson led the Wildcats on offense, rushing for 68 yards on 12 carries.

WOU outgained the Wildcats, 295-241, as the Wolves also held an edge in first downs, 15-13.

The Wolves will return to action as WOU hosts Dixie State for its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 1:00 p.m.