1995 Central Washington Wildcats football team

The 1995 Central Washington Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented Central Washington University and won the national championship during the 1995 NAIA Division II football season. In their fourth season under head coach Jeff Zenisek, the Wildcats compiled a 10–3–1 record. They participated in the NAIA Division II playoffs, defeating Western Washington (28–21) in first round, Hardin–Simmons (40–20) in the quarterfinals, and Mary (48–7) in the semifinals. In the NAIA Division II Championship Game, the Wildcats played a 21–21 tie with Findlay, resulting in both teams being national co-champions.[1][2]

1995 Central Washington Wildcats football
NAIA Division II national co-champion
NAIA Division II National Championship Game, T 21–21 vs. Findlay
ConferenceColumbia Football Association
DivisionMount Rainier League
Record10–3–1 (4–1 CFA)
Head coach
Home stadiumTomlinson Stadium
Seasons
← 1994
1996 →
1995 Columbia Football Association standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Mount Hood League
No. 15 Pacific Lutheran x^ 4 0 1 6 3 1
No. 18 Willamette x 4 0 1 6 2 1
No. 21 Linfield 3 2 0 6 3 0
Puget Sound 2 3 0 2 7 0
Lewis & Clark 1 4 0 5 4 0
Whitworth 0 5 0 1 8 0
Mount Rainier League
No. 1 Western Washington x^ 5 0 0 9 1 0
No. 14 Central Washington ^ 4 1 0 10 3 1
Simon Fraser 2 3 0 4 6 0
Southern Oregon 2 3 0 4 5 0
Western Oregon 1 4 0 2 7 0
Eastern Oregon 1 4 0 1 8 0
  • x – League champion/co-champions
    ^ – NAIA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NAIA Division II poll

The team played its home games at Tomlinson Stadium in Ellensburg, Washington.

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 9at Montana State*L 14–34
September 16vs. WillametteKennewick, WAW 21–16
September 23at WhitworthSpokane, WAW 27–10
September 30at Pacific LutheranPuyallup, WAL 32–35
October 7Puget Sound
W 52–6
October 14Simon Fraser
  • Tomlinson Stadium
  • Ellensburg, WA
W 34–19
October 21at Western WashingtonBellingham, WAL 16–19
October 28Southern Oregon
  • Tomlinson Stadium
  • Ellensburg, WA
W 47–22
November 4at Western OregonMonmouth, ORW 56–7
November 11at Eastern OregonLa Grande, ORW 21–13
November 18at Western Washington*Bellingham, WA (NAIA Division II first round)W 28–21[3]
December 2at Hardin–Simmons*
  • Shelton Stadium
  • Abilene, TX (NAIA Division II quarterfinal)
W 40–20[4]
December 9vs. Mary*
  • Sparks Stadium
  • Puyallup, WA (NAIA Division II semifinal)
W 48–73,100[5]
December 16vs. Findlay*Tacoma, WA (NAIA Division II Championship Game)T 21–21[6]
  • *Non-conference game

References

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  1. ^ "1995 Football Schedule". Central Washington University. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "25th Anniversary: 1995 NAIA Football Division II National Championship". Central Washington University. December 16, 2020.
  3. ^ "Central's Kitna spoils Western's perfect season, championship run". The Spokesman-Review. November 19, 1995. p. C7 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Al Pickett (December 3, 1995). "Central Washington 40, HSU 20: Kitna avoids rush to down". Abilene Reporter-News. p. 1D, 7D – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "CFA team advances to NAIA title game". Statesman Journal. December 10, 1995. p. 7D – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "CWU, Findlay unhappy with deadlock: NAIA Division II title is shared for the third time since 1981". The Spokesman Review. December 17, 1995. p. C4 – via Newspapers.com.