MONMOUTH, Oregon --- The Western Oregon football team plays its first game of the season at home as the Wolves welcome to Monmouth Lincoln University out of California on Saturday at McArthur Field.

Of note, as part of joining the Lone Star Conference for football this season - all Western Oregon games will be on the LSC Digital Network and will cost money to view. Click the link above to get there or follow the link that tells you how to watch games on the channel.

THE WOLVES HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2022 STATISTICS
Western Oregon enters Saturday's home opener 0-1 after falling at Division-I Weber State 41-5 on Sept. 1 in Ogden, Utah.

The Wolves opened the game with a safety after Anthony Mack Jr. blocked a punt through the end zone on the Wildcats's opening drove before WSU scored 24 unanswered points to end the half. WOU opened the second half with a scorin drive nded by a Daniel Cossette 34-yard field goal to make it 24-5, but the Wildcats answered with 17 unanswered points to end the game to make the final 41-5.

Gannon Winker finished the game for Western Oregon going 15-for-33 for 129 yards and three interceptions. Thomas Wright was the team's top receiver, catching four passes for 80 yards while London Smalley caught three passes for 18 yards.

Jaylin Parnell had a strong game defensively - a game WOU didn't played solid defensively, allowing just 343 yards as tough field position often put the Wolves' defense in bad positions - as the senior had 10 tackles, a sack and a pass breakup. Isaiah Abraham also had 10 tackles while Machiah Lee, Lalcolm Liufau and Joey Sinclair had seven tackles apiece.

LINCOLN HEADING INTO THE WEEK
The Oaklanders are 0-2 heading into this game after dropping a contest at D-I Texas A&M-Commerce 52-7 on Sept. 1. No statistics were available for this game when this preview was written.

The week before, Lincoln opened the season with a 35-10 loss against Webber International in Florida - an NAIA team. Rhett Reilly went 10-for-15 for 163 yards and two interceptions for Lincoln, Otis Weah had a team-high 24 yards and Taivonn Ervin led the team with four catches for 84 yards. Defensively, Kobe Jenkins had a team-high five tackles.

HISTORY VS. LINCOLN
The Wolves played Lincoln last season in the Oaklanders' first season as a program and won 55-16 in Monmouth. Winker finished 10-for-15 for 164 yards and three touchdowns, Omari Dixon-Land had 56 yards and a touchdown rushing while Dante Davis had 58 yards and a score and Damon Hickok had three catches for 87 yards and a score. Defensively, Quindarius Coles had 10 tackles - including 1.5 sacks.
  DIXON-LAND APPROACHING ALL-TIME RUSHING RECORD AT WESTERN
Senior running back Omari Dixon-Land has been the leading rusher for the Wolves in each of the past three seasons and he's now approaching becoming one of the top rushers in program history. His 2,751 career rushing yards is third on the all-time Western Oregon list behind Jason Taroli (2,846 yards - 1997-2001) and Bill Volk (3,172 yards - 1992-95). His 504 rushing attempts puts him fourth on the all-time list and his 20 rushing touchdowns has him tied for No. 8.

Western Oregon All-Time Rushing List (2,000 yards or more)

3,172	Bill Volk (1992-95)
2,846	Jason Taroli (1997-2001)
2,751	Omari Dixon-Land (2018-Current)
2,557	Doug Trice (1970-73)
2,530	Mark Ross (1975-78)
2,516	Greg Shewbert (1974-77)
2,357	Bob Pennel (1959-62)
2,259	Ben Kuenzi (2006-09)
2,119	Eliot Vinzant (2005-06)
2,103	Doug Lulay (1975-78)

COACH FERGUSON APPROACHING CENTURY MARK IN WINS
WOU head football coach Arne Ferguson has been a staple in the Western Oregon football program since his playing days from 1985-88 where he was an All-CFA choice three times. Now entering his 17th season as head coach (he was an assistant coach from 1989 until head coach save one season in 1992), he's approaching a career milestone only one other Western Oregon coach has reached - the 100 career wins at Western Oregon. Ferguson enters the 2022 campaign with 94 victories with only the legendary Bill McArthur - who coached 36 seasons at Western - ahead of him at 180 victories.

Western Oregon All-Time Coaching Wins List (30 wins or more)

180	Bill McArthur (1947-54, 1956-82, 1991)
94	Arne Ferguson (2005-current)
41	Larry Wolfe (1928-34)
34	Duke Iverson (1985-87, 2001-04)
31	Mark Ross (1975-78)