Sept. 5, 2002
Final Stats
EDMOND, Okla. - Western Washington University scored touchdowns on its first three possessions of the second half to rally from a halftime deficit to defeat University of Central Oklahoma, 24-16, in the football season opener for both schools.
Western, ranked No.24 in this week's American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II Top 25, trailed 7-3 at halftime, but got two touchdown passes from quarterback Josh Shimek (Jr., Pasco) and a 2-yard scoring run by running back Jake Carlyle (R-Fr., Olympia/Capital), both making their first career starts, to take a 24-10 lead early in the fourth period.
Central Oklahoma, which got inside the Western 20 six times but failed to score on four of them, pulled to within eight points on a 6-yard pass from Erick Johnson to tight end Brandon Whiteley with two minutes left, but the extra point was blocked, and the ensuing onside kickoff went out of bounds. Western then picked up one first down and ran out the clock.
"It says something to be down at halftime, on the road, in elements you're not used to like the heat, and then come out in the last 30 minutes and be a completely different football team and take control of the game," said Western coach Rob Smith.
It was the first season-opening win for the Vikings since 1998. Western lost to Central Oklahoma, 28-24, at Bellingham in their 2001 season opener.
Shimek was 28-of-38 passing for 325 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He opened the second half with a 4-yard scoring pass to slotback Nate Kuhns (Jr., Yakima/Eisenhower) to cap a 12-play, 78-yard drive, then followed that up with a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Adam Snel (Sr., Everett/Cascade) that gave Western a 17-7 lead with 5:20 left in the third quarter.
A.J. Haglund hit a 50-yard field goal to narrow the margin to 17-10, but Carlyle, who ran for 50 yards on 16 carries, scored three minutes into the fourth quarter to give the Vikings a two-touchdown lead.
Western had 271 of its 413 total yards after halftime, with Shimek going 18-of-22 for 200 yards in the second half.
"The game plan was to do what we did in the second half," said Smith. "We spread their defense out the way we wanted to and Josh was able to run the offense very efficiently."
Western opened the scoring on a 52-yard field goal by Michael Koenen (So., Ferndale) early in the second quarter, but the Bronchos dominated the first half, having a 257-143 edge in total offense and taking a 7-3 lead on a 1-yard run by Derrick Camacho six minutes before halftime.
Johnson was 14-of-26 for 196 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception. Wide receiver Dee Dee Carter, who led NCAA II nationally in receiving yardage (133.5 avg.) in 2001, was held to five catches for 72 yards. The 72 yards was lower than Carter had in all but one game last season. Brent Ingram had four catches for 80 yards.
Central Oklahoma's Jason Phenix led all rushers with 79 yards on 12 carries, but the Bronchos had just seven yards net rushing in the second half.
Koenen's 52-yard field goal was a Wantland Stadium record and was also a Western record seventh consecutive make. His career long is a school-record 54-yarder last year against Central Oklahoma in Bellingham.
Wide receiver Mike Westbrook (Sr., Lakewood/Lakes) had seven receptions for 73 yards for the Vikings. Greg Dykstra (Sr., Everson/Lynden Christian) had six catches for 55 yards, extending his consecutive games with a reception to 29, and Kuhns had five catches for 81 yards.
Western returns home to host Fort Lewis College on Sat., Sept. 14 (6 p.m.) at Bellingham's Civic Stadium.
