Dixie State dropped a non-conference matchup at Central Washington on Saturday, falling 40-18 to the Wildcats at Tomlinson Stadium in Ellensburg, Wash.

Central Washington (2-2) scored on a blocked punt just two minutes into the game to take a 7-0 lead after forcing a DSU three-and-out on the game's first possession.

The Trailblazers (1-3) used a 7-play, 71-yard drive later in the quarter to cut the lead to 7-3.  After consecutive rush attempts to open the drive, freshman quarterback Josh Thompson (Ontario, Calif./Colony HS) found senior receiver Aubrey Reed (Tacoma, Wash./Woodland Hills HS) for a 64-yard pass down the sideline to move into red zone. However, DSU was forced to settle for a field goal after false start and illegal substitution penalties halted the drive. Freshman kicker Eric McLaughlin (Las Vegas, Nev./Silverado HS) nailed the 30-yard attempt to get the Trailblazers on the scoreboard with 2:01 remaining in the first quarter.

CWU wasted no time responding and scored three plays later on a 70-yard screen pass to push the lead back to 14-3 with 40 seconds remaining in the period. The Wildcats found the end zone on two of their next three drives, scoring first on a 41-yard pass, and later on a one-yard plunge after a 40-yard pass set up the run to extend the lead to 27-3 with 3:58 remaining in the first half.

Then just before intermission, Dixie State responded with its own scoring drive, moving 31 yards in seven plays before Thompson found sophomore running back Orlando Wallace (Cathedral City, Calif./Cathedral City HS) across the middle for a 43-yard touchdown strike to cut the lead to 27-10.

CWU padded its lead midway through the third quarter, scoring on a five-yard run after an 11-play, 83-yard drive. DSU junior defensive back Tyneil Cooper (Providence, R.I./Hope HS) blocked the ensuing extra point attempt to keep the lead at 33-10.

The Trailblazers opened the fourth quarter with a 12-play, 87-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by redshirt freshman running back Clifford Simms (Compton, Calif./St. John Bosco HS). Wallace moved to quarterback at the start of the drive and found sophomore tight end Cooper Robinson (St. George, Utah/Snow Canyon HS) in the end zone to complete a 2-point try after the touchdown to pull to within 33-18 with 8:19 remaining in the game.

However that would be as close as DSU would get as Central Washington marched 71 yards in six plays on its next drive, capped by a quarterback-keeper rush up the middle for a 31-yard touchdown to move the score to the final count of 40-18.

Dixie State finished the game with 362 yards of total offense (276 pass, 86 rush), falling short of the 100-yard rushing mark for the second consecutive game. Thompson went 15-of-24 for 238 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Reed led all receivers with four catches for 125 yards. Wallace finished with seven catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, with another 46 yards rushing. Simms finished with 41 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries.

The Trailblazers allowed 490 yards of total offense to CWU (275 rush, 215 pass), the most DSU has given up in four games this season. Junior safety Colton Olson (Spanish Fork, Utah/Spanish Fork HS) finished with a team-high nine tackles, while sophomore linebacker Peter Brown (St. George, Utah/Desert Hills HS) added eight tackles. Senior defensive lineman Keanu Foki (Honolulu, Hawai'i/Farrington HS) and junior linebacker Shiloh Pritchard (American Samoa/Leone HS) each finished with six tackles and combined for one sack.

DSU returns home to host Western State Colorado at Legend Solar Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 1. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.