The CWU football team’s strong, 4-0, start has led to them being ranked #16 in the nation, their first national ranking since 2009.

Senior Jackson Huerta has had a big impact defensively, leading the team in tackles with 31 and also adding two interceptions.

“We’ve prided ourself all year on playing at a high level. We take one game at a time. Every opponent we play is a worthy opponent, they’re a college football team,” Huerta said. “We like worrying about us, and if we worry about us the wins will keep coming each week.”

Reilly Hennessey, a junior transfer from Eastern Washington University, has thrown for 775 yards, has five passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Hennessey went 11 for 19, throwing 151 yards and two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown against Dixie State University last week.  

“I think we’ve done a good job,” Hennessey said. “But there is still a lot of technical stuff, and a lot of down-the-stretch plays we need to improve.”

Head coach Ian Shoemaker said the thing that matters most is the group that chooses the teams in the regional ranking at the end of the year, the Wildcats want to be in position to be in the regional ranking.

“It’s great to get recognized, but our focus is that last regional ranking, that’s the most important thing to us. It doesn’t matter what the national rankings say or what the voters say,” Shoemaker said.

The national ranking is less important than their preparation for the next opponent.

“Honestly that stuff doesn’t really mean anything to us, really just trying to get on film, and get on the practice field and try and figure out how to beat the next team on our schedule,” Hennessey said.

It’s key for the Wildcats to reset each week,

“The most important thing is to be 1-0, and work the process every week,” Shoemaker said. “That’s how we kind of focus ourselves, talk about doing the weekly process that it takes to earn an opportunity to win on Saturday. Every week we try to restart that process and start that new season.”

Things haven’t been as smooth to prepare for the games as the Wildcats would have liked, there has been many challenges. School getting underway, five hour round trips to practices in Tacoma or Bothell and playing a home game away from home because of the smoke that was caused by the wildfires. Shoemaker said he’s happy with how coaches and players have responded to the situations they have faced.

“I love this group, I think they’ve done a great job of dealing with adversity,” Shoemaker said. “We’ve had tough games, we’ve had tough travel and we’ve had tough practice situations. These guys have showed up, and ready to go.”

Next up for the Wildcats is a home game against Simon Fraser University on Saturday, Sept. 30. Simon Fraser comes to Ellensburg with an overall record of 0-4 and 0-2 in the conference.