ELLENSBURG, Wash. - It was a disappointing final few minutes Saturday for the Lincoln Blue Tigers.
The Central Washington Wildcats scored 10 points in the final 1:29 as they rallied for a 17-14 victory against Lincoln.
A 4-yard run by Central Washington quarterback Jake Nelson tied the game at 14 with 1:29 remaining.
Lincoln then fumbled the ball on the ensuing possession, giving the ball to Central Washington at the Blue Tiger 34 with :23 remaining. The Wildcats moved the ball to the 22 before giving up three yards to get it to the center of the field for a field-goal attempt.
Sean McDonald, who had missed from 33 and 21 yards earlier in the game, hit this one from 41 yards out to give the Wildcats (5-4) the victory.
Lincoln took a 6-0 lead with six minutes remaining in the opening quarter on a 31-yard pass from Owen Jordan to Khiry Draine. Draine finished with 101 receiving yards in the quarter. The run after a bad snap failed and it was 6-0.
Central Washington took advantage of a Lincoln mistake to take the lead in the second quarter as Kevin Haynes returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown. McDonald's PAT made it 7-6 with 4:38 to go before halftime.
Lincoln regained the lead with 8:42 left in the game. Morris Henderson capped a long drive with a 17-yard touchdown run to make it 12-7. Jordan then hit Delvon Rouser with a 2-point pass and it was 14-7.
Henderson finished with 116 yards on 27 carries for the Blue Tigers, while Draine had five receptions for 110 yards.
The Blue Tigers outgained the Wildcats 329-313. Both teams had 16 first downs.
Lincoln (2-7) will close out its home slate next Saturday against McKendree. Game time is 1 p.m.