GAME #1
Western Oregon (7-4 in 2015) vs. Sacramento State (2-9 in 2015)
Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 at 6 p.m. PT
Sacramento, Calif. – Hornet Stadium

LIVE COVERAGE LINKS
RADIO: KLOO 1340 AM (Mark Gilman)
TV: None
LIVE VIDEO: Watch Big Sky
LIVE STATS: Sacramento State StatBroadcast
TICKETS: WOU Ticket Office
TWITTER UPDATES: @WOUWolves

Western Oregon officially kicks off the 2016 football season on Saturday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. at Division I FCS Sacramento State at Hornet Stadium.
 
TICKETS - Tickets for Saturday's game in Sacramento are available for presale at WOUWolves.com/WOUtickets. Fans may also purchase tickets for all four home games (9/10 vs. CWU, 10/1 vs. APU, 10/8 vs. SFU, 10/22 vs. HSU) and the road game at Montana State (9/17) online or by calling the WOU Ticket Office (503-838-8917).

PRESEASON HOWLINGS – Western Oregon has been tabbed in third place in the GNAC preseason coaches' vote. The Wolves collected 17 total points, trailing defending league champion Humboldt State with four first-place votes and 23 points and Azusa Pacific with 18 points (and the other first-place vote). The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) preseason football rankings also have Western Oregon receiving nine votes heading into a tough 2016 schedule.
 
ON THE ROAD AGAIN – The Wolves open the campaign on the road for the fourth year consecutively and eight time in the last nine seasons. WOU was defeated by Humboldt State in last season's opener 29-20 at the Redwood Bowl in Arcata, Calif. accounting for the team's lone league loss. This will be the third time in the last four seasons a D-I FCS school is first on the schedule after facing Portland State in 2014 and Eastern Washington in 2013.
 
VS. SACRAMENTO STATE – Western Oregon was defeated by the Hornets in the only meeting between the two teams, 31-17, on Sept. 11, 2010. Demario Ballard had 111 receiving yards as the Wolves outgained the Hornets through the air, 266-209. Caleb Singleton and Sherman Vercher each had eight tackles while Bryce Peila had two interceptions.
 
FIRST THINGS FIRST – Since 2000, the WOU football team is 7-9 on opening weekend. Currently, the Wolves have dropped five consecutive openers to Humboldt State, two FCS schools (Portland State, Eastern Washington) and twice to nationally-ranked teams from Grand Valley State (2011, 2012). The last victory on opening day came in 2010 in a 38-0 road shutout win over Simon Fraser.
 
SIGNAL CALLERS – Last season, three quarterbacks got starting nods for the Wolves. Midway through the week six home victory over North Alabama, junior Phillip Fenumiai seized control of the offense and led WOU to a six-game winning streak. The dual-threat QB accounted for 12 total touchdowns – eight through the air and four rushing scores. He returns as the most veteran quarterback on the roster. The newest member to the QB squad is Nick Duckworth, the Arizona native who transferred in from Phoenix College. Redshirt freshman Ty Currie will also be in the mix for WOU.
 
AIR TARGETS – The variety of wide receiver and tight end targets should help the QBs in their effort to move the ball through the air. WOU returns its top two receivers from 2015 in juniors Paul Revis and Wesley Gray. Revis led the Wolves with 44 grabs, 710 yards and six touchdowns. Gray was second on the club with 21 grabs and 251 yards. Also returning for a final go-around is senior tight end Andy Avgi. The hoop star played in eight games in 2015 and made four scoring grabs while being named a first-team All-GNAC selection. Letterwinners Keoni Piceno, Kenny Portera and Caleb Tingstad return for the Wolves. Two transfers from American River Junior College add new talent to the team in Jonathan Lopez and Zack Suarez.
 
BACKS GOING FORWARD – Sophomore Malik Braxton opened some eyes during his first year with the Wolves, accounting for 634 rushing yards and four touchdowns in nine games. The ground game will be aided by the return of five offensive lineman that saw at least one game in a starting role in 2015, including All-GNAC selection Bryson Dizon. Braxton will be joined by two WOU newcomers in Steven Long (transfer from Portland State) and true freshman Torreahno Sweet (Bishop Amat HS).

LEADERS OF THE DEFENSE– The Wolves may have lost six of its top eight tacklers to graduation, the returning men of the defensive side of the football bring plenty of hard-hitting credentials. Junior linebacker Tyler Johnson is the squad's returning leader in tackles with 65 total sops, 41 of the solo variety. The defensive line brings back all four starters in Jeremy Moore, Michael Kluge, Kui Williams and one-time GNAC Defender of the Week George Swartzlender. The defensive backs and safeties will all see familiar names in a starting role like Trebiel Larry and Danny Hankins at the corners while Austin Spencer and Nathan Jones handle at safety.
 
KICK THE DUST UP – With four-year players Alex Bradt and Jesse Correa leaving, WOU has turned to a youth movement in the kicking game. Redshirt freshmen Nathan Osborn and Jacob Bannister will assume the punting and place kicking duties while junior college transfer Jacoby Cid will be in the mix.

STAFF FAMILIARITY – Head coach Arne Ferguson begins his 12^th season at the helm of the Wolves. The majority of his staff has remained in place from last season. Brian Harris runs the offense while Ferguson controls the defense. joining the staff after playing for the Wolves last year is Trey Shimabukuro, who will act as an assistant quarterbacks coach.

2015 SEASON IN REVIEW

COMEBACK CUT DOWN BY JACKS: Humboldt State scored the first 19 points of the game and held off a Western Oregon comeback to post 29-20 victory in a rare week one GNAC contest. Western Oregon got on the board late in the first quarter when quarterback Trey Shimabukuro found Andy Agvi on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 4:02 left in the first half. The Wolves cut the lead to five when Shimabukuro found Paul Revis for a 33-yard touchdown strike before the Lumberjacks scored the next 10 points to close out the game. Shimabukuro completed 26 of 38 for 368 yards and three touchdowns to lead Western Oregon. Revis caught six balls for 116 yards and a score.

WOLVES CAPITILIZE ON SECOND HALF CHANCES AGAINST SFU: Western Oregon trailed Simon Fraser in nearly every statistical category except touchdowns and the final score as the Wolves beat the Clan, 31-14, at McArthur Field. Simon Fraser outgained Western Oregon in total offense 442 to 294, including 333 passing yards by quarterback Ryan Stanford, but the Wolves scored the final four touchdowns of the score to come back from a 14-6 deficit midway through the third quarter. The Wolves came within 14-12 on their next possession with Trey Shimabukuro finding Daniel Thomas for a 23-yard touchdown reception. Western Oregon took the lead for good when Shimabukuro found Wesley Gray for a 32-yard touchdown strike with 14:02 left and made it a 25-18 game when he found Kamakana Apelu for the 35-yard scoring pass. Danny Hankins punctuated the win when he intercepted Stanford with just over a minute left, returning the ball 99 yards for a touchdown. Shimabukuro completed 18 of 28 for 233 yards and three touchdowns for Western Oregon. Gray caught six balls for 69 yards and a touchdown. Shane Kuenzi had 10 tackles.

CWU'S SCORE BARRAGE SINKS WOLVES ON ROAD: Central Washington came home after two weeks on the road and scored 40 points in the first half to get past Western Oregon 40-19 at Tomlinson Stadium. After Phillip Fenumiai opened scoring with a five-yard run four minutes into the game, the Wildcats scored 40 unanswered points. Western Oregon scored two second half touchdowns, one on a Joe Harris three-yard run and a Daniel Thomas six-yard reception. Western Oregon outgained Central Washington on offense 331-300. Trey Shimabukuro led WOU by completing 23 of 46 for 293 yards and a touchdown. Paul Revis led six WOU receivers with 76 yards on seven catches.

WOLVES STYMIED AT PSU: The near upset that Western Oregon put together last year wouldn't be repeated as Portland State's vaunted defense held the Wolves in a 31-0 loss at Providence Park. The Wolves put together 224 yards of total offense, but the Vikings forced 12 punts and picked off WOU quarterbacks three times. Western Oregon held their own early, with the No. 17 (Division I-FCS) Vikings not scoring until Alex Kuresa scored on a two-yard run with 9:51 left in the first half. Western Oregon quarterback Trey Shimabukuro completed 18 of 35 passes for 182 yards with two interceptions. Maurice McSwain caught two passes for 52 yards and Daniel Thomas caught four balls for 44 yards.

HARRIS CARRIES WOU PAST DIXIE: A career day by running back Joe Harris led Western Oregon as they rolled to the 42-24 win over Dixie State at Hansen Stadium. Harris rushed for 90 yards on 18 carries and scored a career best three rushing touchdowns, all of which came after WOU interceptions. Dixie State took the early one, taking a 10-0 lead after one quarter. It was the Wolves' game from there, though, as they scored 42 straight points. Harris gave WOU the lead with his four-yard touchdown run with 2:54 left in the second quarter. Paul Revis made it a 21-10 game when he caught a 32-yard touchdown pass from David Sowards with four minutes gone in the third quarter. Western Oregon poured it on with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, two by Harris and an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown by Revis with 10:56 to go.

WOLVES GET PAST NO. 6 UNA -Two timely interceptions by Jonathan Breland proved to be momentum changers as Western Oregon upset No. 6 ranked North Alabama 24-22 at McArthur Field. Breland finished with two of the Wolves' three interceptions as they forced the Lions to turn the ball over five times in the driving rain. After the Wolves converted a fumble into a 39-yard Jesse Correa field goal, Breland picked Luke Wingo to start a seven-play, 37-yard drive that ended on Paul Revis' 15-yard touchdown pass to Devin Williams on a fake field goal with 4:08 left in the first quarter. Quarterback Phillip Fenumia'i used a 13-yard keeper to take the 17-16 lead and then found Andy Avgi for an eight-yard touchdown pass with 4:35 to go. The Lions marched to the Western Oregon 23-yard line before Breland stepped up to intercept Wingo with 1:04 left to close out the game. David Sowards completed 11 of 22 for 155 yards to lead Western Oregon while Fenumia'i completed 5 of 8 for 57 yards and rushed for 60 more yards on seven carries. Revis caught three passes for 90 yards.

CARDIAC WOLVES WIN AGAIN -For the second straight week, Western Oregon held off a late drive by their opponent to secure the win, this time a 31-25 GNAC victory over Central Washington at McArthur Field. Malik Braxton led the WOU offense as he carried for 131 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Fenumia'i completed 13 of 19 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. Western Oregon's Shane Kuenzi led all defensive players with 11 tackles, including an assisted tackle on the fourth quarter stop.

WOLVES TAKE ROAD CLASH WITH CLAN - Once again, Western Oregon used heroics at the end to secure their fourth straight game in a 37-26 victory over Simon Fraser at Swangard Stadium. The Wolves led 31-26 in a close contest before Malik Braxton broke off a GNAC record 99-yard run for a touchdown with 8:05 to go close scoring. Braxton ran for 176 yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns. Shimabukuro, competing for the first time in four games, completed 5 of 10 for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Revis caught five passes for 104 yards. The teams were close to even in total offense with Western Oregon outgaining Simon Fraser 449 to 429.
 
WOLVES TAME COUGAR COMEBACK- Western Oregon held off a second half rally by Azusa Pacific to win their fifth straight game Saturday, beating the Cougars 17-14 at McArthur Field. The Wolves scored the first 17 points of the game, all in the first half. Jesse Correaopened scoring with a 21-yard field goal a minute into the second quarter. Quarterback Philip Fenumiai added a one-yard touchdown run with 4:03 left in the half and Paul Revis caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Trey Shimabukuro with 33 seconds left to give WOU a 17-0 halftime lead. Western Oregon outgained Azusa Pacific 285 to 227. Malik Braxton led the Wolves with 105 yards on 20 carries. Fenumiai completed 9 of 19 passes for 54 yards and also rushed for 65 yards on 16 carries. Western Oregon's Shane Kuenzi led all defenders with 10 tackles, including one for loss.
 
CLIMBING OVER THE 'ROCKERS - Western Oregon shut down South Dakota Mines' scoring machine to extend their win streak to six games Saturday, beating the Hardrockers 33-15 at McArthur Field. The Wolves did allow the Hardrockers 359 yards of total offense, but limited the visitors to 6 of 16 on third down conversions and 2 of 6 in the red zone. Philip Fenumiai threw for the first two touchdowns of the game, the first a 26-yard strike to Daniel Thomas and a 16-yard scoring reception to Maurice McSwain with 1:50 to go in the first quarter. Western Oregon closed out the game with three straight second half touchdowns. McSwain caught his second touchdown pass of the game with three minutes gone in the third. Paul Revis then caught a 15-yard touchdown pass with five minutes left in the stanza and Malik Braxton had a 4-yard touchdown run with 2:01 left in the game. Fenumiai completed 10 of 24 passes for 168 yards and four touchdowns for the Wolves, with Revis catching four balls for 81 yards as WOU finished with 444 yards of total offense. Braxton rushed 18 times for 136 yards.
 
JACKS END PLAYOFF HOPES: The Western Oregon football team allowed GNAC leading running back Ja'Quan Gardner to rush for 261 yards on 38 carries as the Lumberjacks snapped a 12-game home winning streak with a 29-13 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Wolves (7-4) jumped out to a 7-0 lead with a 71-yard scoring strike from quarterback Phillip Fenumiai to Maurice McSwain down the sideline. Humboldt State, the 2015 GNAC champion in football, tied the game in the first quarter after Garnder scampered 48 yards for a score on the first play from scrimmage after a WOU fumble. The Jacks extended the lead to 17-7 at halftime with a field goal and TD pass to Richard Doctor from 16 yards out. HSU continued their run to finish with all 29 of their points unanswered heading into the fourth quarter. On the final play of the season, senior running back Joe Harris scored on a 1-yard rush set up by a nice layout grab by McSwain. Defensively for the Wolves, four players notched at least eight tackles, led by junior defensive end George Swartzlender with a career-best 11 stops. Shane Kuenzi,Tyler Johnson and Mitch Nelson each had eight tackles with Kuenzi nabbing an interception late in the first half in the end zone to thwart a HSU drive. Freshman running back Malik Braxton led the Wolves with 26 yards on 11 carries. McSwain tabbed his first game over the century mark with 129 yards on five catches. Fenumiai went 3 of 9 for 89 yards through the air while Shimabukuro was 13 of 29 for 125 yards. WOU ended the year with its 10^th consecutive season with a winning record.