ELLENSBURG, Wash. (Oct. 13) – The Central Washington University football team (5-2, 5-0 GNAC) rolled to a 48-10 victory over Western Oregon University (3-4, 2-3 GNAC).

Reilly Hennessey threw for 172 yards and three touchdowns. Michael Roots tallied 90 yards on the ground and one touchdown, while Cedric Cooper ran for 81 yards and one TD.

The Wildcat offense moved out to a quick start, driving 77 yards on 13 plays, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Hennessey to Christian Stafford.

“Early on we had a great effort in all three phases,” CWU Head Coach Ian Shoemaker said. “We got a couple stops early and a few long touchdown drives and we were able to feed off of each other, which was good to see.”

After Adrian Saldana booted a 50-yard field goal for the Wolves, Central once again drove over 70 yards, this time moving 75 yards in just eight plays. The eighth play of the drive saw Hennessey take it in himself for a 14-3 advantage.

Western Oregon took over at their own 22-yard line. Ty Currie dropped back and fired a pass that was intercepted by Tevin Gray. Tyler Hasty added a second interception midway through the second quarter.

Taking over just outside the red zone, Hennessey immediately found Stafford on a 15-yard pass. After a Roots’ run and a penalty to Western Oregon, Hennessey found the big man Winterhawk Leighton wide open in the end zone.

Central added 17 points to their lead in quarter two. Manners knocked a 21-yard field goal through the uprights, before Cooper raced into the end zone from 24 yards out. The Wildcats then found the end zone with just seven seconds left in the half, as Hennessey found Tony Archie.  Central went into the half with a 38-7 advantage.

The Wildcats added a touchdown from Roots in the third and a 20-yard field goal from Manners in the fourth.

The Wolves lone touchdown came in the fourth on a blocked punt recovered in the end zone.

Christian Moore finished 8-for-12 with 113 yards passing after relieving Hennessey in the third.

“It’s great to have that stable of guys and share the load,” Shoemaker added. “Reilly [Hennessey] got dinged up a bit and that gave plenty of opportunities for Christian [Moore] to play with live bullets and to work him a little more.”

The Wildcats are back at home next Saturday (Oct. 20) as they host Simon Fraser. Kick-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.