Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Montana State
Wildcats Drop Home Opener to Montana State
9/22/2007 6:00:00 AM | Football
OGDEN, Utah -- Montana State turned two Weber State passing miscues into touchdowns and added a 29-yard touchdown pass from Jack Rolovich to Jamelle Banks to defeat the Wildcats 21-5, spoiling WSU's home opener and homecoming game.
Weber State's defense, which limited the Bobcats to just 283 total yards on the afternoon, held serve in MSU's first two offensive series' and forced two punts. On WSU's second offensive possession MSU defensive back Chase Gazzerro jumped in front of a Jimmy Barnes pass in the flat, returning it 26-yards for a touchdown. When the Wildcats got the ball back Barnes was lifted in favor of backup Cameron Higgins, who saw his first considerable action of the season.
The Bobcats got their only offensive touchdown of the afternoon on the 29-yard strike from Rolovich to Banks at the 3:42 mark of the second quarter. Weber State took the ensuing kickoff and went 63 yards in nine plays and were rewarded by a 20-yard field goal by Mike Snoy to end the first half.
Higgins played all but one series of the third quarter. That series, however, was a disaster for the Wildcats as Barnes was inserted back into the lineup, and on his first pass attempt threw an interception which was returned 12-yards by Michael Beach for a touchdown, making it 21-3.
With 12:42 left int he game the MSU offense gave back two points when Wildcat senior defensive tackle Derek Johnson sacked Rolovich in the end zone for a safety. Under the heavy pressure, Rolovich threw the ball away into a sea of purple jerseys and intentional grounding was called, making it 21-5.
The Wildcats in-game merry-go-round got even more complicated when junior college transfer Brendon Doyle saw his first action in a WSU uniform. Doyle came in and played the fourth quarter completing 7 of 21 passes for 93 yards, and seemed to put a spark into the offense taking them into the "red zone" twice.
Weber State return specialist/receiver Bryant Eteuati was held in check by the Bobcats. Eteuati came into the game averaging 258 yards of all-purpose running per game and ranked second in the Division FCS. But the Bobcats held him to just 144 yards on five catches for 23 yards, five punt returns for 46 yards and three kickoff returns for 75 yards.
Ty Sparrow had another solid game on the defensive side. He had 11 total tackles, five unassisted with one pass break up. J.D. Folsom added 10 total tackles (five unassisted), had a quarterback sack for minus six yards and two tackles for loss for minus seven yards.
The win by Montana State gives the Bobcats a 2-1 record overall and 1-0 mark in Big Sky league play. The Wildcats fall to 0-3 for the first time since 2004 and are now 0-1 in Big Sky Conference action.
The road doesn't get any easier next week as the Wildcats travel to Missoula, Montana to face the University of Montana Grizzlies. Montana could well be ranked number one this week in Division FCS. The Griz were ranked second coming into this week's play and defeated the University of Albany Saturday in Missoula while top ranked Appalachian State was stunned on the road at Wofford.
