It looked like it was not going to be the Central Washington University football team's night when it went up against rival Western Washington University in the "Battle in Seattle."

But the Wildcats weren't about to let it stay that way in the action played Saturday, Oct. 21 at Quest Field in Seattle.

Western led 21-17 and then worked its way out to a 28-21 team before Federal Way resident and Kennedy graduate Johnny Lopez vaulted over Western's front and into the end zone to break the game open, 35-21.

CWU went on to post a 42-28 victory.

"This team has a lot of tradition," said Lopez of the winning Wildcats. "We don't even get down. We get our guard up and play hard. We knew it would be a tough battle."

Central head coach John Zamberlin agreed.

"These aren't the kind of guys that are going to crack," he said.

The Wildcats also have a Thomas Jefferson connection in Aaron Gilbert, who started the CWU game. Gilbert was known as the "biggest guy on the bench" as a redshirt freshman two years ago.

Now he stands among the biggest in the league at 6-foot-3, 301 pounds.

Former Decatur player Reggie Ford is also on the Central team as a kick return specialist playing next to Lopez.

Western also has Decatur graduate Chris Corey playing on the offensive line. He stands at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds.

Kennedy graduate A.J. Porter plays for WWU on special teams as the holder.

Federal Way graduate C.J. Green is a redshirt freshman defensive back.