Sept. 2, 2005

Seattle, Wash. -

By Jim Riley, Special to The Seattle Times

The rivalry between Western Washington and Central Washington is so fierce the annual football game always draws a crowd, no matter where it's played.

For the third consecutive year, one of the two games between the archrivals will be played at Qwest Field in Seattle.

The game, scheduled for Oct. 8 at 6 p.m., has become enough of an event to carry an official corporate name -- the Wells Fargo Battle in Seattle, presented by Comcast.

Playing the game in Seattle has proven popular, and both schools hope it continues. It is currently negotiated on an annual basis and both sides see it as a key date in their seasons.

Central Washington, in Ellensburg, leads the all-time series 57-33-4, but the teams have split their games in Seattle. Central won the first 29-20 in 2003, and Western, located in Bellingham, won last year, 28-21, by scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter.

Western coach Rob Smith said the game takes on even more significance because it is played in a professional stadium with more fans from both schools.

"Both schools have a lot of kids from the Puget Sound area, so we get a lot of family and a lot of friends at the game," Smith said. "It has certainly benefited both schools in recruiting."

Central athletic director Jack Bishop said playing the game in Seattle, where he estimates there are approximately 120,000 alumni from the two schools, makes it a favorable experience for everyone involved.

"We've heard nothing but positives about playing in Seattle," Bishop said. "The players tell us it's a great adventure to play on that turf and be able to look up in those stands and hear so many fans. It's one of the nicest stadiums in the country and we're excited about the opportunity to play there."

The attendance for the first game at Qwest Field was 16,392 in 2003 and 11,458 last year. Both schools expect the numbers to be back up this year when the game is held a little later in the season.

"We think the attendance will really go up this year," Bishop said. "Last year, the game was played earlier and we missed some of our students who weren't back at school yet. This year, we're expecting even more people there."

The universities are adding a couple of promotional activities to boost attendance. There will be four Grid Kids games at Qwest Field played in the morning, and a Battle of Seattle golf tournament, featuring teams from each school, will be held Oct. 7.

Both schools play in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, but both will be switching to the North Central Conference for football only, beginning in 2006.

Both will play a full eight-game North Central Conference schedule in 2006, but the Central vs. Western game will continue in Seattle for years to come.

The new affiliation also means the teams will play each other only once each season, a fact that should make the rivalry even more heated.

Western quarterback James Monrean, a junior from Bellingham who played at Sehome, is getting his first opportunity to play at Qwest Field.

"I've yet to play in the big house, so I'm excited to get on the field and play a couple of downs," Monrean said. "To play in an atmosphere and a venue like this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It's just a rush to be out on that field where the professionals play."

Smith, who has been the head coach at Western for 17 years, said the game in Seattle is special for everyone involved.

"It's been something we all look forward to," Smith said. "For a lot of these kids, it's the only time they get to experience playing at a place like Qwest Field. It's exciting for all of us."

Central Washington, 7-4 last season, was selected as the team to beat in the GNAC race this year. The Wildcats received three of the four first-place votes in the annual coaches preseason poll.

The Wildcats return five starters on offense, including all-star receivers Brian Potucek and Nate Brookerson. They will be led at quarterback by Washington State transfer Mike Reilly.

Western, 6-4 last season, was second in the poll and received the other first-place vote, with Humboldt State third and Western Oregon fourth.

All four schools will have new quarterbacks, but Monrean did see playing time. He completed 30 of 55 passes for 374 yards and tied a school record with five touchdown passes in his only start against St. Joseph's. Monrean's favorite target should be Andy Olson, a first-team all-conference selection after catching 66 passes for 1,075 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.