Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Montana
Weber State Grinds #7 Ranked Montana, 30-21
10/30/2010 11:41:00 PM | Football
OGDEN, Utah - The promotion at Stewart Stadium was a Blackout.
The Wildcat defense made sure the fans got their money's worth.
With the exception of three minutes late in the first half, Weber State's defense was, in the words of coach Ron McBride, "just flat out awesome."
Weber State picked off Montana quarterback Justin Roper three times in the second half, ultimately scoring on all three of those miscues as the Wildcats shutdown the Grizzlies 17-0 in the second half en route to a 30-21 victory against the No. 7-ranked team in the FCS on Saturday afternoon.
Senior fullback Vaingamalie Tafuna was unstoppable, rushing 29 times for 124 and four touchdowns. It's the first time a Wildcat has rushed for four touchdowns in a game since Trevyn Smith did so against Eastern Washington in 2008.
Overall Weber State rushed for 259 yards on 68 carries.
Sophomore running back Bo Bolen had 82 yards rushing, and Josh Booker rushed 10 times for 45 yards.
Senior quarterback Cameron Higgins had a quiet day, completing 13-of-18 passes for 129 yards, but the Wildcats didn't need to go to the air very often as the rang up yardage grinding through the Grizzlies' defense.
Weber State's defense all but shut down Montana's offense in the second half. Even when the Grizzlies looked like they might get something going, as David James, Jordan Brown and Nick Webb all came up with interceptions for the Wildcats in the second half.
Brown finished with a solid all around game, getting eight solo tackles and 13 overall, as well as an interception and a forcing and recovering a fumble.
Things didn't go well early for Weber State, with Wildcats committing their only turnover of the game midway through the first quarter. Montana recovered a fumble on the seven yard line and scored on the next play to take a 7-0 lead.
Weber State responded with an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped with a two-yard rushing touchdown from Tafuna. The Wildcats, however missed the extra point and trailed 7-6.
Weber State took its first lead of the game with 7:20 left in the second quarter, marching 70 yards in 15 plays after the Grizzlies missed a field goal to take a 13-7 lead on a one-yard rushing TD from Tafuna and ensuing PAT from kicker Shaun McClain.
Montana seized the momentum late in the half, scoring two touchdowns in the final 2:38, storming ahead to a 21-13 lead at halftime. The Grizzlies came out rolling in the second half, quickly holding the Wildcats to 3-and-out and them marching down the field to the Weber State 17 yard line.
Webb turned the tide, and ultimately the game, on the next play after picking off Roper and returning it 29 yards to the 37. The Wildcats rapidly drove down the field, marching 63 yards in 11 plays capped by Tafuna's third rushing touchdown of the day. Trying for two, the Wildcats came up short, but not for long.
In Montana's first play from the line of scrimmage following the kickoff, James picked off Roper and returned it to the Montana 48-yard line. Ten plays later, Weber State regained the lead on Tafuna's fourth touchdown of the afternoon.
Bolen tacked on two more points, running the ball in to put Weber State ahead by six with 2:01 left in the third quarter.
After trading possession, Montana drove the ball to the Weber State 48-yard line and Roper was again picked off, this time by Brown, who returned it 47 yards to put the Wildcats at Montana's 21-yard line with 10:42 remaining.
Weber State capped a brief possession with a 33-yard field goal from McClain to push the lead to nine with 8:39 to go.
The Wildcats held the Grizzlies to three-and-out, taking over the ball with 7:42 left on their own 35 yard line and never let go of the ball as they ground out 41 yards and three first downs to run out the clock.
Weber State improved to 4-2 in Big Sky Conference action (5-3 overall), while Montana fell to 5-2 in Big Sky (6-3 overall). The Wildcats also picked up their second win over the Grizzlies in the past three seasons, cutting Montana's lead in the series to 37-13 after 50 meetings.
Saturday was the Wildcats final regular season home game, with Weber State honoring 11 seniors prior to kickoff.
Weber State returns to Big Sky Conference action on the road on Nov. 6, traveling to Bozeman, Mont., to meet Montana State at Noon.
