Central captures opener

Johnny Lopez ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns in muddy conditions to lead host Central Washington over Ashland 40-24 in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs on Saturday at Ellensburg.

With Ashland (8-2) leading 7-3 midway through the first quarter, a blocked Derek Riedel punt was returned 26 yards for a touchdown by Tyrell Nielsen to give CWU a 10-7 edge.

Ashland countered with a seven-play, 64-yard drive, ending in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Billy Cundiff to Brandon Gilmore.

A 32-yard reception by Durrell Moss put CWU in position for Lopez’s first touchdown, a 3-yard run to start the second quarter.

Dawon Harvey regained the lead for the Eagles with a 42-yard run on Ashland’s next possession.

Lopez’s second TD gave the Wildcats a 24-21 halftime lead.

Following a missed Ashland field goal, Mike Reilly led the Wildcats on a seven-play, 80-yard drive culminating in his 1-yard TD run.

Reilly went 14 of 24 for 218 yards for CWU. Cundiff was 13 of 34 for 141 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked five times and intercepted once.

Central (9-2) will play at Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday.

Carroll 34, Black Hills 0: The second-ranked Saints (12-0) are back to the quarterfinals of the NAIA playoffs after defeating the Yellow Jackets (7-4) in a first-round game at Helena.

Carroll senior quarterback John Barnett connected on 19 of 35 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Travis Browne had eight catches and a touchdown, while also adding a 76-yard kickoff return.