Central Washington earned the top overall seed in the NCAA Division II Super Region 4 football playoffs on Sunday and will receive a first-round bye.
The Wildcats (11-0) will play the winner of No. 4 Winona State and No. 5 Texas A&M Commerce on Saturday, Nov. 25 at Ellensburg. Game time is noon.
The Wildcats have secured home-field advantage until the semifinals if they advance.
Central Washington entered this week ranked second in the region, but after a decisive 42-28 win at 10th- ranked Humboldt State on Saturday, the Wildcats jumped Minnesota State-Mankato.
“This is a fantastic feeling and we are honored to be selected as the top team in our region,” CWU head coach Ian Shoemaker said. “This is a special group that has worked tirelessly to get to this point. We are going to welcome the week off, get some rest, and get prepared for our matchup in two weeks.”
Among the Clark County connections on the CWU team are senior linebacker Kevin Haynes, a Battle Ground High grad; junior quarterback Reilly Hennessey, a Camas High grad; and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Will Ortner, a Hockinson grad.
Linfield to host D-III first-round game — Linfield was picked to host Hardin-Simmons in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 18, at Maxwell Field in McMinnville, Ore.
The Northwest Conference champion Wildcats (8-1) face the American Southwest Conference runner-up Cowboys (9-1) at noon. The winner advances to face the winner of the Mary Hardin-Baylor vs. Chapman matchup in next week’s second round.
Clark County players for the Wildcats include senior offensive lineman Matt Matteo, a Skyview High grad; junior kicker/punter Willy Warne, a Mountain View grad; and junior running back Michael Fuller, a Camas grad.
Southern Oregon hosts NAIA first round — Fifth-ranked Southern Oregon (10-0) will host the No. 13 Dickinson State (N.D.) Blue Hawks (9-1), the North Star Athletic Association champions, in the first round of the NAIA playoffs at 1 p.m. Saturday in Ashland, Ore.
Clark County players for the Raiders include redshirt sophomore receiver Jordan Suell, a Fort Vancouver grad who leads the team in receiving touchdowns with seven; and redshirt sophomore receiver Parker Randle, a Battle Ground grad.
