The Mountaineers won their first-ever playoff game Saturday and are on their way to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. After a hard-fought 28-21 victory over No. 19 Central Washington, Western, ranked No. 10, will face Bemidji State in a highly anticipated matchup this Saturday, December 1, in the Mountaineer Bowl.
Western Quarterback Drew Nash was instrumental in the victory, scoring four touchdowns—one rushing and three passing, avenging the stinging defeat against Central Washington that eliminated the Mountaineers from last year’s playoffs. “We came in and thought we had a better game plan than a year ago,” Nash said after the game. “I thought we executed it a lot better than we did a year ago as well.”
Nash rushed for 127 yards and threw for another 164 though the Mountaineers had fewer total yards and time of possession. Full game stats can be found here.
The Mountaineer defense was at the top of its game as well, helping secure the program’s first-ever 11-win season.
This weekend’s matchup against unranked Bemidji State (9-3) will be a challenge an an opportunity for Western. If the Mountaineers come out on top they could face a rematch with CSU Pueblo, the only team to beat Western this season. That would be an away game for the Mountaineers as CSU Pueblo ranks above them as the first seed in the region.
Tickets for the game will go on sale Monday. at 8 am at gomountaineers.com. Students and kids tickets are $5, general admission is $15 and Seniors are $10. There is also chair-back seating available for $20. The game will likely also be broadcast on ESPN Plus, you can find the link on gomountaineers.com as well.
Western senior Braeden Hogan carries the ball in the team’s win.
