Central Washington wins second-round playoff game

Published 4:25 pm Saturday, November 21, 2009

ELLENSBURG — Randall Eldridge rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns and top-ranked Central Washington cruised past No. 12 Tarleton State for a 27-6 victory Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Eldridge scored on a 3-yard run with 8 minutes left, his second of the game, to give the Wildcats (12-0) a three touchdown lead.

Tarleton State (10-3) jumped out to a 3-0 lead, before CWU and the No. 1 scoring defense in the country clamped down, forcing two fumbles and holding the high-powered Texans’ offense to only 58 yards in the first half.

Cole Morgan threw for a season-high 287 yards and a touchdown for CWU. His 48-yard TD strike to Johnny Spevak gave the Wildcats the lead for good.

The Wildcats, the top seed in Super Region Four, will host second-seeded Northwest Missouri State (11-1) in the national quarterfinals next Saturday.

A fumble by TSU’s Roderick Smith inside the Texans’ 20 would set up Eldridge for his first score, a 2-yard run that extended the Wildcats lead to 14-3.

Garrett Lindholm hit from 31 yards to pull Tarleton State within eight, but Garrett Rolsma was good from 27 yards just before halftime to give CWU a 17-6 edge at the break.

Scott Grantham connected with Jahmeel Hobson for 59 yards on TSU’s first drive of the second half, accounting for more yards on one play than the Texans had amassed in the entire first half. The drive ended when Smith fumbled again, ending the Texans best scoring opportunity of the second half.

Eldridge then broke a 60-yard run that led to another Rolsma field goal.

Grantham threw for 192 yards, but the Texans were held to -14 yards rushing by the Wildcats.