Football | 9/2/2013 5:15:00 PM

WOU FOOTBALL AT NO. 2 EASTERN WASHINGTON
Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013 – 4:05 p.m. - Roos Field – Cheney, Wash.

TICKETS: PURCHASE HERE
LIVE AUDIO: 1340 KLOO AM (Mark Gilman, play-by-play)
LIVE VIDEO: None
LIVE TV: Regionally in Washington (visit www.goeags.com for more information)
LIVE STATS: ewulive.statb.us (web) or ewustats.com (mobile phones)

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon football team kicks off the 2013 season this week as the Wolves travel to face No. 2 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision foe Eastern Washington on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 4:05 p.m. from Roos Field in Cheney, Wash.

WOU enters the 2013 campaign returning 39 letter winners and 14 starters from last year's squad that finished the season with a 6-5 overall record and tied for second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with a 6-4 mark.

The Wolves return seven all-conference players as wide receiver Tyrell Williams and offensive linemen Marcus Cuellar and Alex Jones look to lead the WOU offensive attack in 2013. Last season, Williams caught 39 passes for 658 yards and four touchdowns in earning first team all-league honors while Cuellar and Jones were second-team all-conference selections on the offensive line.

A pair of quarterbacks should see time at the position in 2013 as Ryan Bergman and Trey Shimabukuro return for the Wolves. Bergman played three games last season, starting the final two, going 40-of-83 for 607 yards and five touchdowns. Shimabukuro played in four games in 2012, completing 26-of-59 passes for 291 yards.

In addition to Williams, the top returning receivers for the Wolves include Lucas Gonsalves and Antoinne Wafer. Gonsalves caught 23 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns as he ranked third in the GNAC in punt returns (21-254-12.1) and seventh in kickoff returns (14-267-19.1). Wafer had 17 catches for 229 yards and one touchdown in 2012.

On the defensive side of the ball, WOU returns three all-league selections as the Wolves ranked second in the GNAC in total defense last year. WOU is led by returning GNAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Gustave Benthin as the senior led the league in tackles for losses with 12 for 47 yards.

Defensive linemen Kraig Akins and Sipili Tuigamala also return for the Wolves after earning second-team all-conference honors a year ago. Akins had 54 total tackles and matched Benthin's league-leading tackle for losses with 12.

Meanwhile, Eastern Washington enters the weekend with a 1-0 mark following an impressive, 49-46, victory at Oregon State on Saturday. The Eagles, a member of the Big Sky Conference, are led by sophomore quarterback Vernon Adams.

The signal-caller earned a variety of honors after finishing the contest against the Beavers with a school-record 518 yards of total offense. Most notably, Adams was selected as The Sports Network National Offensive Player of the Week and was one of four FBS/FCS nominees for Capital One Impact Performer of the Week.

The meeting between the former NAIA rivals marks the 17th in the series as WOU holds a 9-6-1 mark all-time against EWU. The Eagles have won four straight in the series; however, as Eastern Washington captured a 35-14 win over the Wolves in 2009.

Wolves fans wishing to make the trek to Cheney, Wash., for the season opener can purchase tickets to the contest through the WOU ticket office at the following link or by calling 503-838-8051. Tickets in Section P (visitor's section) are $20 each.

Following the contest against the Eagles, WOU will open GNAC play when it travels to Ellensburg, Wash., to face Central Washington on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 1:00 p.m.