KINGSVILLE, Texas – The Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas raced past Central Washington 35-7 on the new turf at Javelina Stadium Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Jonathan Woodson led the way for the Javelinas (1-0) with a pair of 14-yard scoring runs and senior Nate Poppell threw for two more in the win. Woodson had 92 yards of total offense.
After a CWU missed field goal, Matt Stoll opened the scoring for the Javelinas with field goals from 23 and 29 yards. Woodson displayed his elusiveness on the next score as he danced through the defense for a 14-yard score and a 12-0 lead with 1:20 left in the first half.
Central Washington answered with a touchdown in the waning seconds. Quarterback Ryan Robertson hit receiver Tavoy Moore, who had 129 yards of total offense, for a 15-yard strike with seven seconds left in the half to make the score 12-7.
The Javelinas scored all 23 of the points tallied in the second half.
Woodson’s second 14-yard touchdown opened the scoring in the final half early in the third period for an 18-7 lead as the PAT failed.
Poppell then sandwiched aerial touchdown strikes of two and 48 yards to Robert Armstrong and Jake Willingham, respectively, around Stoll’s third field goal of the game to cap the scoring at 35-7.
CWU outgained Kingsville 352 to 309 for the game, but the Javelina defense forced four turnovers and four sacks for 36 yards.
The Javelinas return to action next Saturday as they visit Abilene Christian at 6 p.m.