WSU Rallies Late for Win Over Vikings

PORTLAND, Ore. -- If cats really do have nine lives, then the Weber State University Wildcat football team is one down and eight to go. WSU's Walter Payton Trophy candidate, quarterback Cameron Higgins (6-2, 210 Jr.), took his team 84 yards in six plays with under a minute left, capping the drive with a 38-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Tim Toone (5-10, 175 Sr.) with just 17 seconds left to lift the 'Cats to a 36-29 Big Sky Conference win on the road at Portland State. T he win evens Weber State's record at 2-2 for the season and gives them a 2-0 record in Big Sky Conference play. Portland State drops to 1-3 for the season and 0-2 in conference play.

The Wildcat led 14-10 at half time on a four-yard run by Trevyn Smith (5-9, 210 Sr. RB) and a 10-yard pass from Higgins to red-shirt freshman wide receiver Kamana Kaimikaua (6-3, 210). That score came with 1:40 left in the half as the Wildcats used 5:27 of clock time going 64 yards in 12 plays. The Vikings got a 20-yard field goal from Zach Brown and a five-yard touchdown pass from Drew Hubel to Aaron Woods.

The Portland State defense came in determined to stop Smith, the Big Sky's leading ground gainer who was averaging just over 114 yards per game. They held him to just 10 yards on five carries in the first half and forced him out of the game with a cut lip for nearly the entire second quarter.

“They did a good job of stopping our run game, particularly Trevyn in that first half and I think it frustrated us a bit,” said WSU head coach Ron McBride. “When Trevyn got hurt we put Bo Bolen in and I thought he did a great job of giving us a lift with his speed and quickness.”

Bolen, a 5-9, 200 red-shirt freshman, had all seven of his carries for 56 yards in the first half. Smith came back in the second half and only picked up 20 yards on eight carries but had four receptions for 77 yards.

The Wildcats got the ball to start the second half but were stopped on three plays. Mike Snoy(6-2, 175 Sr.) boomed a 59 yard punt with was downed at the PSU two-yard line. It was one of two punts Snoy had downed inside the Viking five-yard line in the game and the Vikings took over.

On second and one, Hubel found Aaron Woods on an 83-yard pass play who was finally stopped at the WSU 12-yard line. The Wildcats held and forced a 32-yard field goal attempt by Zach Brown which went wide left.

Using momentum produced by the defense, Higgins took charge and led the Wildcats on 80-yard scoring drive in five plays finishing it up with a four-yard TD toss to Tim Toone. It was set up by a short pass to Trevyn Smith to took it 49-yards.

“I told the team at half time we needed to make some big plays on both sides of the ball and that we weren't playing with enough purpose,” said McBride.

The defense came up with a big play the next series. After Toone's TD catch, the Vikings used a 38-yard kickoff return by Aaron Woods and a 38-yard pass from Hubel to Ray Fry to put themselves at the Wildcat 10 yard line. PSU's Ben Bowen took the hand off and looked like a lock to score, but he was stripped of the ball at the goal line by Beau Hadley (6-0, 195 Sr. Safety) and the fumble was recovered by Thyrell Lewis (5-9, 175 Sr. CB ) at the four-yard line.

Trevyn Smith was dumped for a three-yard loss by Erik Pedersen on the first play, putting the Wildcats at the one. Higgins then went to work completing five straight passes, including a 13-yarder to Smith on a third-and-10. Higgins completed the nine play, 96 yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bo Bolen with 1:57 left in the third quarter and the Wildcats, up 28-10, appeared to be in control.

That is where the fireworks began. Following Bolen's scoring, PSU's Aaron Woods took the kickoff back 97-yards for a touchdown making it 28-17. After the PSU kickoff, WSU got the ball at the 33-yard line. Backup quarterback Mike Hoke (6-2, 210 RsFr.) came in for one play and tried a short pass which was picked off by DeShawn Shead who returned it 31 yards for the score making it a 28-23 game.

The Wildcats had a chance to make it an eight point game mid way through the fourth quarter but Jon Williams (5-10, 185 Jr. K) missed a 42-yard field goal attempt.

That was the opening Portland State was looking for. The Vikings went 75 yards in 11 plays with Hubel tossing a 15-yards touchdown pass to Aaron Woods with 1:12 left . The key play in that drive was a 35-yard pass to Ray Fry on third and nine at mid field.

Bo Bolen returned the kickoff out of the end zone to the 16 yard line. Higgins then began his magical drive with passes of 20 yards to Kaimikaua and a 10-yarder to Joe Collins (6-2, 185 Sr. WR). The Wildcats then benefitted from an pass interference on Mike Phillips (6-1, 195 Jr. WR). Higgins threw and incomplete pass to Collins, found Toone for seven yards, then on third and three, Collins dropped a pass which would have given the Wildcats a first down, forcing the Wildcats into a do or die situation. Higgins scrambled, saw Toone streaking, and threw down field. It went through the hands of Tracy Ford who put a bit of a wobble on the ball but Toone hauled it in for the touchdown. Higgins then found Tyrell Francisco (6-3, 240 Jr. TE) for the two-point conversion.

“We prepare for the situation every week in practice,” said McBride.”Everyone on our sideline had full confidence in Cameron and his ability to make the big play and he did. That's what all-American players do.”

Higgins ended the day completing 31-47 passes for 410 yards and four touchdowns. Toone caught eight passes for 135 yards and two scores. Portland State held Trevyn Smith to just 30 yards on 13 carries and held the Wildcats to just 89 rushing yards on 26 attempts. The Wildcats had 499 total yards.

Drew Hubel, who threw for 485 yards and nine touchdown passes against the Wildcats two years ago in Portland in a 73-68 loss, completed 17-26 for 353 yards and two touchdowns. Ray Fry had seven receptions for 196 yards and Aaron Woods five for 128. Woods had 330 all-purpose yards (five kickoff returns for 202 yards).

Jordan Brown (6-2, 175 Jr. Safety) had 11 tackles, including five unassisted. Kevin Linehan (6-3, 245 Sr. DE) had six tackles ( four unassisted) and two quarterback sacks for minus 14 yards.

The Wildcats now return home for a Saturday, October 4 home game against Montana State. Kickoff in Stewart Stadium is set for 1:30 p.m.

NOTES: The 410 passing yards by Cameron Higgins was his third 400+ yard passing game in his career and the third best single game effort in his career. It was the 9th time in his career in which he has thrown four or more touchdown passes in a game... Beau Hadley now has EIGHT FORCED FUMBLES in his career and three this season. He is now alone in 2nd place on the WSU career charts and needs one more to tie former WSU all-America defensive end Brady Fosmark for the record which is nine... With his two quarterback sacks, Kevin Linehan now has 20 in his career at Weber State. The ranks him 4th on the WSU career list. He needs two more to move past Shane Barkdull (21.50) into third place.

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Players Mentioned

Bo Bolen

Jordan Brown

Joe Collins

Tyrell Francisco

Beau Hadley

Cameron Higgins

Mike Hoke

Kamana Kaimikaua

Thyrell Lewis

Kevin Linehan

Mike Phillips

Trevyn Smith

Mike Snoy

Tim Toone

Jon Williams

Weber State University Athletics