Central Washington enters Year 7 under Chris Fisk with a familiar blueprint: win the line of scrimmage, run with layers, play fast when it suits them—and lean on a locker room packed with Pacific Northwest kids who act like they’ve worn crimson and black their whole lives.
Two numbers tell the story. No. 44 lives on with captain Chase Coalson, an all-effort tone-setter on defense. And the O-line’s compass, All-American center Slade Edwards, wears No. 54 in tribute to longtime line coach John Pica—“really kind of the captain of the O-line group,” Fisk said. The full captain group—Coalson, Edwards, Brett McCalla, Kennedy McGill, and Bennett Nield—spreads leadership across all three phases.
Fisk didn’t need the transfer portal to build this two-deep. “We truly have a football program of Washington kids from all over the state—including the Tri-Cities—and we just replace those guys year after year.” He added, “If you’re fishing out in the Tri-Cities, we’ve been catching some pretty good ones out that way… the Tri-Cities has been good to us.”
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Jalen Webber (Pasco/Chiawana) — “Jaylen had a big pick against Montana… if we capitalize on that interception, we’re right in that game.” The staff loves his range and comfort in space; he’s tracking to be a snap-count riser in the back end.
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Jaxin McCallum (Kennewick/Kamiakin) & Gavin McCallum (Kennewick/Kamiakin) — The McCallum brothers give CWU size and consistency in the interior. Of the younger McCallum, Fisk said he has an “unbelievable bright future as a redshirt freshman.”
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Braxton Feldmann (Pasco/Chiawana) — Redshirting now, but already flagged as a “really good young guy” in the pipeline who fits CWU’s mold: tough, coachable, and ready to help on special teams early.
That Mid-Columbia thread matters on Saturdays—and in the room. It’s part of why CWU returns to the preseason AFCA poll and expects to be in the NCAA Division II bracket again.
Quarterback Kennedy McGill wasted no time reminding the league what he can do, opening the year as the Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week after piloting a 516-yard Rodeo Bowl performance. A true dual-threat, McGill has the ability to take over a game with his legs, but the 2025 emphasis has been on command—staying on schedule, making the right reads, and keeping the Wildcats ahead of the chains so his rushing ability shows up by design rather than necessity. His balance of explosiveness and efficiency will dictate much of CWU’s ceiling this fall.
“Kennedy made his name as a runner—he led Division II in yards per carry last year,” said Fisk, “but we challenged him this offseason to command the passing game. Against Mesa, he showed he can push the ball downfield and hit the intermediate throws we’ve needed.”
Backing him is Caleb Christensen, the Royal High School product whose prep career included three WIAA 1A state titles, a State Player of the Year award, and a school-record 50-touchdown season. After stops at Whitworth and Linfield, Christensen brought his championship pedigree to CWU, flashing last fall with a 54-yard strike against West Texas A&M. His proven arm and poise give the Wildcats reliable depth behind McGill and continue CWU’s tradition of keeping homegrown Washington quarterbacks at the heart of the program.
Beyond the quarterback room, CWU leans on a three-headed backfield that offers change-of-pace options on every series. Justice Taylor provides steady downhill power, Beau Phillips brings burst and vision—highlighted by his 31-yard touchdown at Montana—and Ryder Bumgarner adds balance with quick cuts and versatility. Head coach Chris Fisk has praised the trio for their different tempos and finish, making the run game a central piece of CWU’s identity alongside its quarterback depth.
“Justice Taylor took over in Tyler [Flanagan’s] starting role and has done a great job. We really haven’t missed a beat. He’s a powerful runner… our tailbacks are pretty darn good. Beau Phillips played really well against Montana and had some really good runs, and Ryder Bumgarner, so we’re really talented in the backfield.”
Outside, Jalen Grable stretches the field, Logan Brady is the chain-mover, and Mason Juergens adds matchup problems on crossers and posts. All of it runs through an offensive line that looks retooled but settled: Edwards in the middle, veteran pieces around him, and the McCallums giving CWU a heavier short-yardage menu.
“We’ve got Logan Brady out there at slot receiver who’s a returning starter for us who’s doing a really, really good job. Jaylen Grable, who’s an outside receiver, had a big game against Mesa as the receiver of a couple of those long touchdowns. And then Mason Juergens, a transfer from Wazzu, came in this first year as a graduate transfer and is doing a good job at outside receiver for us as well. So I feel like we have a couple targets to go down to, to get the ball down the field to complement that run game.”
Defensively, CWU is still building cohesion but has talent at every level. Up front, with only one full-time starter back, Chase Loidhamer provides the leadership and edge presence for a rebuilt line. Mikaio Edward has emerged as an interior disruptor, flashing in both games.
Defensively, we replaced all of the defensive line along with the O-line. So to see our team come out and really compete at the line of scrimmage both against Mesa and then again against Montana, I felt like our D-line was able to go toe-to-toe with them.”
At linebacker, captain Brett McCalla remains the heartbeat of the unit. Fisk praised him as a consistent force through the first two games, while veterans Kuma Scanlan and Logan Lisherness give the Wildcats range and depth in the middle of the field. Together, the group sets the tone for a defense that still hangs its hat on physicality.
“Really thought Brett McCalla, our starting Mike linebacker, has played really well through both games. So we feel really good about the individuals but more importantly we feel good about our ability to compete at the line of scrimmage.”
The secondary is the youngest piece, with Fisk acknowledging that “we replaced mostly that entire secondary” and that it remains a room with “a lot of room to grow.” Still, there are building blocks: King Williams brings Power-5 polish from Washington State, Jalen Webber has shown ball skills with a red-zone interception at Montana, and Javonte Walker provides the center-field speed to handle tempo offenses. The two mandates after Missoula are clear—tackle through contact and turn takeaways into points.
Fisk also pointed to the “third phase” as an area that must be a strength. Punter Wyatt Redding can flip the field, kicker David Weber has proven reliable from distance, and return coverage will be under the microscope immediately against a dangerous West Texas A&M unit. Special teams, Fisk emphasized, must set CWU up with short fields rather than put the Wildcats behind.
CWU Offensive Snapshot
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QB Kennedy McGill
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Passing: 15 completions / 29 attempts • 266 yards • 3 TDs • (long 55 yards)• 3 INT
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Rushing: 26 carries • 191 net yards • 2 rushing TDs • (long run 41 yards)
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QB Caleb Christensen – 3/5, 66 yds
Rushing:
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Justice Taylor – 66 yds on 13 carries (long 18 vs. Montana)
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Beau Phillips – 69 yds, 1 TD on 11 carries (long 31 vs. Montana)
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Ryder Bumgarner – 52 yds, 1 TD on 5 carries (long 23 vs. Colorado Mesa)
Receivers:
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Jalen Grable – 3 catches, 43 yds (long 36 vs. Montana)
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Logan Brady – 2 catches, 24 yds (long 28 vs. Colorado Mesa)
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Mason Juergens – 2 catches, 75 yds, 1 TD (long 55 vs. Colorado Mesa)
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Camden Loidhamer – 2 catches, 14 yds, 1 TD (long 15 vs. Montana)
CWU Defensive Snapshot
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Chase Coalson (LB) – 7 tackles vs. Montana; 10 tackles, 2 PBUs vs. Colorado Mesa
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Brett McCalla (LB) – 6 tackles vs. Montana; 5 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT (pick-six) vs. Colorado Mesa
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Chase Loidhamer (DL) – 1 sack shared vs. Montana; steady veteran anchor up front
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Mikaio Edward (DL) – 1.5 sacks vs. Colorado Mesa; disruptive presence inside
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Javonte Walker (DB) – INT vs. Montana; 3 tackles vs. Colorado Mesa
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Jalen Webber (DB) – INT vs. Montana; 4 tackles vs. Colorado Mesa
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King Williams (DB) – 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 PBU vs. Colorado Mesa
Special Teams:
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Wyatt Redding (P) – 6 punts for 255 yds vs. Montana; long 46 • 7 kickoffs for 451 yds vs. Colorado Mesa
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David Weber (K) – 44-yd FG vs. Montana; 4/5 PAT vs. Colorado Mesa
Saturday vs. West Texas A&M (Hometown Heroes Game)
Kickoff: Sat., Sept. 20 • 6:00 p.m. • Steve Hertling Field at Tomlinson Stadium (Ellensburg)
“We’ve had an incredible set of practices through the bye week… live periods to sharpen tackling… the guys are energetic and hungry,” Fisk said.
What Fisk sees on Texas A&M: “They immediately jump off the film as a much-improved team… up-tempo offense with a very dynamic quarterback… skill players and an O-line that protects him.”
WT keys/scouting snapshots
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QB RJ Martinez has been a problem—efficient through the air and active on the ground. If you let first-down completions stack up, tempo becomes the enemy.
- 924 pass yds (308.0/g), 7 TD, 1 INT; 173 rush yds, 4 TD (through 3 games)
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Perimeter threats:
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Trevin Edwards – 14 catches, 203 yards, 2 TD (long 62)
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Drew Zamar – 15 catches, 199 yards, 1 TD (long 55)
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C’ing Blanton – 9 catches, 151 yards, 2 TD (long 54)
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Jamir Roberts – 9 catches, 126 yards, 1 TD (long 42)
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Hidden yards: Blanton is a field-tilter in the return game. Punt and kickoff lane integrity will matter as much as any red-zone snap.
CWU focus points
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Start clean vs. tempo. Early substitutions and first-contact tackling set the night’s tone.
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Stay on schedule. A 40-rush night usually means McGill’s RPO menu is unlocked and the clock’s your ally.
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Finish takeaways. Webber/Walker can steal possessions; the offense has to cash them in.