Jan. 18, 2005

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Four home games and the third annual Battle in Seattle highlight the Western Washington University football schedule for 2005.

The Vikings, who were 6-4 last year, host St. Cloud State MN in their home opener on Sept. 10 (6 p.m.). Three Great Northwest Athletic Conference opponents round out Western's contests at Civic Stadium, including Humboldt State on Oct. 1, Central Washington on Oct. 29 in the 10th annual Cascade Cup clash and Western Oregon on Nov. 5 in the annual Homecoming/Hall of Fame game. All of those contests have 1 p.m. kickoffs.

The third annual Battle in Seattle between Western and Central takes place on Oct. 8 at Qwest Field, beginning at 6 p.m. The arch-rivals have split the first the first two games.

Western, which was 6-4 last year, opens its season with three of its first four games on the road against non-league foes. The Vikings make their season debut on Aug. 27 (1 p.m. MT), traveling to Grand Junction, Colo., to play Mesa State. They are at Topeka, Kan., on Sept. 3 (1 p.m. CT) to meet Washburn, and at Grand Forks, N.D., on Sept. 17 to face North Dakota.

North Dakota was 11-3 last year, reaching the NCAA II semifinals for the second time in three years. St. Cloud State was 8-3, falling to North Dakota in the opening round of the national playoffs. Washburn was 8-4, the best record for the Ichabods since 1986.

Two GNAC road contests round out Western's schedule. The Vikings are at Monmouth, Ore., on Oct. 15 (1 p.m.) to play Western Oregon on Oct. 15 and at Arcata, Calif., on Oct. 22 (1 p.m.) to meet Humboldt State.

WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY - 2005 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Aug. 27 (Sat.) at Mesa State, Grand Junction, CO, 1 p.m. MT
Sept. 3 (Sat.) at Washburn, Topeka, KS, 1 p.m. CT
Sept. 10 (Sat.) ST. CLOUD STATE, BELLINGHAM, 6 p.m.
Sept. 17 (Sat.) at North Dakota Grand Forks, ND, TBA
Sept. 24 (Sat.) Bye
Oct. 1 (Sat.) HUMBOLDT STATE*, BELLINGHAM, 1 p.m.
Oct. 8 (Sat.) vs. Central Washington*, Seattle, 6 p.m.(Battle in Seattle at Qwest Field)
Oct. 15 (Sat.) at Western Oregon*, Monmouth, OR, 1 p.m.
Oct. 22 (Sat.) at Humboldt State*, Arcata, CA, 1 p.m.
Oct. 29 (Sat.) CENTRAL WASHINGTON* (CASCADE CUP) BELLINGHAM, 1 p.m.
Nov. 5 (Sat.) WESTERN OREGON* (HOMECOMING/HALL OF FAME) BELLINGHAM, 1 p.m.
Nov. 12  (Sat.) NCAA II National Playoffs - First Round
Nov. 29 (Sat.) NCAA II National Playoffs - Quarterfinals
Nov. 20 (Sat.) NCAA II National Playoffs - Semifinals
Dec. 3 (Sat.) NCAA II Championship, Florence, Alabama (host North Alabama)
*Great Northwest Athletic Conference contestHome games (ALL CAPS) at Bellingham's Civic StadiumAll games broadcast on KBAI Radio (930 AM)