GUNNISON, Colo.  It is a rematch of last season's first-round game as the 10th-ranked Mountaineers will face off against No. 19 Central Washington University for the second consecutive year in the opening round of the NCAA Division II tournament.

The 2023 contest, won in overtime by the Wildcats, 16-13, was the first game to be played in the renovated Mountaineer Bowl at The Rady Family Sports Complex. The completed project has a full season of games under its belt now, and includes naming rites to the turf – Mojo Field.

WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2024 Stats

• The Mountaineers will have four first-team and six second-team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference players leading them into the postseason.
• Quarterback Drew Nash, offensive lineman Stevie Byron, defensive end Ricky Freymond and inside linebacker Kendall Lightfoot were voted first-team all-conference players by the league's coaches. Freymond was also voted the league's Defensive Player of the Year.
• Representing Western on the second team were wide receiver Josiah Ayon, tight end Daniel Parsek, and lineman Zach Brumfield from the offense, defensive tackle Mikey Smith and outside linebacker Cy Shope from the defense, and punt returner Jack Jones from special teams.
• In addition to Freymond, inside linebacker Cooper Cameron was voted the Defensive Freshman of the Year and, for the second straight season, Jas Bains was named the league's Coach of the Year.
• Freymond, in last week's final regular season, added a sack in the win at Colorado Mesa, breaking the old record (22.0) for career sacks with a new record of 22.5.
• Western finished the regular season with a 10-1 overall mark and an 8-1 record within RMAC play. The only defeat came in a top-20 matchup against then-No. 10 and current top seed in Super Region Four Colorado State Pueblo.

CENTRAL WASHINGTON HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2024 Stats

• The Wildcats posted an overall record of 8-3 and finished second in the Lone Star Conference standings with a record of 7-2.
• In common opponents with the Mountaineers, both Western (No. 2 in the region) and CWU (No. 7) defeated Colorado Mesa, West Texas A&M and Midwestern State, the later two LSC opponents for the Wildcats.
• In addition to a season-opening loss to D-I San Diego, the Wildcats' other defeats came at home against Texas Permian Basin and on the road at Angelo State, which is ranked 15th nationally and third in Super Region Four.
• After its final regular season win, 13-3 over Western Oregon, two Wildcats earned LSC Player of the Week honors. Linebacker Brycen Indell was named the Defensive Player of the Week after an 11-tackle performance that included 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, while kicker Cooper Britton was the Special Teams Player of the Week after going 2-for-2 in field goals and adding an extra point kick.
• Earlier in the season, quarterback Kennedy Mcgill (Oct. 21) won an offensive weekly honor, and Chase Loidhamer (Sept. 20), Daniel Matagi (Oct. 21) and Tanner Volk (Oct. 28) won defensive weekly honors.

WHEN WESTERN HAS THE BALL

• The Mountaineers have been a balanced offense all season, taking what's available through either the rushing or passing game.
• A four-game stretch early in the season saw Western pile up 250, 231, 304 and 306 yards from the run game, but only once since then have they topped 160 yards on the ground.
• At midseason they found success through air, going for more than 250 yards off the arm of Nash five times, including games of 320, 399 and 405 yards.
• The combination of the two across the season sees Western 17th nationally in total yards per game, averaging 435.3 per outing, and 13th in scoring at 36.3 points per game.
• Central Washington, however, counters with a stout defense that is highly ranked nationally. The Wildcats are fifth in the nation in passing defense (127.4 YPG) and 12th in rushing defense (83.1 YPG).
• Overall they have the nation's third-ranked defense, allowing just 210.5 yards per game while surrendering only 11.3 points per game, eighth nationally.

WHEN THE WILDCATS HAVE THE BALL

• To say that Central Washington is a run-oriented offense might be an understatement. It ranks fifth nationally at 261.2 yards per game on the ground, led by their quarterback. McGill leads the team in rushing yards (1,093) which is 12th most in Division II.
• McGill hasn't been much of a thrower, accumulating 1,586 yards through the air for a passing attack that is only averaging 155 YPG. He seems to pick his spots, however, as he's tossed 15 touchdown passes with only 5 interceptions.
• The Mountaineer defense's strength this season has been its run defense – allowing an average of 74.2 YPG, fifth lowest in the country – so the matchup between McGill and the CWU rushing attack with Freymond, Lightfoot, Cooper and company could be the deciding factor in the game.
• While Western, at 224.7 YPG, is not ranked nationally in pass defense, its 37 sacks at an average of 3.36 per game could make it tough on McGill if he is required to use his arm to lead the Wildcats offense.

UP NEXT
If the Mountaineers defeat the Wildcats, Western would host a second round game on Nov. 30 against the winner of the Angelo State/Bemidji State game.