Aug. 27, 2005

Final Stats

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Western Washington University scored a pair of touchdowns in the final half-minute of the first half to take the lead for good and defeated Mesa State College, 49-20, in a non-conference football contest Saturday night at Stocker Stadium.

It was the season opener for both schools, and marks the first time since 1998 that the Vikings have won consecutive season openers.

Western quarterback James Monrean (Jr., Bellingham/Sehome) completed 20 of 30 passes for 266 yards and four touchdowns, and was intercepted once.

The Vikings won despite a massive night by Mesa State wide receiver Drew Bohannon. Bohannon, a sophomore transfer from Scottsdale JC playing his first game for the Mavericks, had seven receptions for 212 yards and three touchdowns.

"All in all, you have to be pleased," said Western head coach Rob Smith. "A 29-point win on the road to open the season - we'll take that any time."

With the score tied, 7-7, late in the first half, the Vikings put together a seven-play, 60-yard drive, capped by a 17-yard pass from Monrean to slotback Brett Upchurch (So., Sammamish/Eastlake) with 28.3 seconds left in the second quarter.

Mesa State moved downfield in the dying seconds of the half, getting in range for a 36-yard attempt by Tyler Johnson. The kick missed, but a roughing the kicker penalty gave Johnson another shot from 24 yards.

That attempt was blocked by Geoff Hise (Sr., Snoqualmie/Mount Si), and Sly Whitfield, Jr. (Seattle/Garfield) caught the ball on a bounce and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the half, giving Western a 21-7 lead.

The Mavericks twice pulled to within eight points in the third quarter on touchdown receptions of 80 and 32 yards by Bohannon, and trailed just 28-20 entering the fourth quarter, but the Vikings put the game away in the first five minutes of the final period.

Monrean hit slotback Chris Robinson (So., Tacoma/Clover Park) for a 3-yards score on the opening play of the fourth quarter, and on Western's following possession, running back Duncan Sherrard (Sr., Seattle/Roosevelt) slipped out of a tackle and ran 61 yards for a score, the longest run from scrimmage for Western since 1999, giving the Vikings a 42-20 lead with 12:07 to go.

Western running back Jordyn Jackson (R-Fr., Vancouver/Columbia River) capped the scoring with five minutes left, having a run of 20 yards that set up a 3-yard scoring rush.

"It was wild at the end of the first half ... we got the big break on the block of the rekick," Smith said. "I was very pleased with our second half in the way we took control of the line of scrimmage and the way we were able to run the ball."

Mesa State took an early lead, driving 74 yards in 10 plays on the opening series and scoring on a 35-yard pass to Bohannon from quarterback Sean McGraw, who completed 13-of-26 passes for 228 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.

The Vikings evened the score early in the second quarter on a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Matt Wilson (So., Auburn).

The Vikings had a 492-313 edge in total offense, rushing for 218 yards. Sherrard had 10 carries for 94 yards and Jake Carlyle (Sr., Olympia/Capital) added 63 yards on 14 carries.

Western wide receiver Andy Olson, a preseason All-America pick in three publications, had eight receptions for 121 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter that extended his string of games with a touchdown reception to 10. He had a school-record 15 scoring catches last year.

Safety Steve Davis (R-Fr., Kennewick/Kamiakin) had eight tackles for the Vikings in his first collegiate game. Two transfer newcomers - linebacker Shane Simmons (So., Kent/Kentlake) and cornerback Ekene Agwuenu (Sr., Chino Hills/Ayala) - had a fumble recovery and an interception, respectively.

It was the 13th consecutive loss for Mesa State, a streak that began in the 2003 NCAA Division II playoffs.

Next Saturday, Western is a Topeka, Kan., for a game at Washburn University that kicks off at 11 a.m. PT. Washburn defeated Colorado Mines, 28-17, on Saturday.

SCORING SUMMARY
Western Washington  0    21    7   21 --- 49Mesa State      7    0   13    0 --- 20
MSC - Bohannon 35 pass from McGraw (Johnson kick)WWU - Wilson 13 pass from Monrean (Younggren kick)WWU - Upchurch 17 pass from Monrean (Younggren kick)WWU - Williams 76 blocked field goal return (Younggren kick)MSC - Bohannon 80 pass from McGraw (kick failed)WWU - Olson 24 pass from Monrean (Younggren kick)MSC - Bohannon 32 pass from McGraw (Johnson kick)WWU - Robinson 3 pass from Monrean (Younggren kick)WWU - Sherrard 61 run (Younggren kick)WWU - Jackson 3 run (Younggren kick)Attendance: 2334