Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Southern Utah
Wildcats Fall 35-28 to Thunderbirds
10/23/2011 3:17:00 AM | Football
OGDEN, Utah -- Future Big Sky Conference member Southern Utah rallied from an 11-point deficit and scored 25 straight points in route to defeating Weber State 35-28 Saturday afternoon at Stewart Stadium. The loss drops the Wildcats to 3-4 on the season heading into the final five Big Sky games.
The Wildcats held a 14-3 lead at halftime. The Thunderbirds opened the third quarter with a touchdown to cut the lead to four but Weber State responded right back with a Tanner Hinds touchdown run and the 'Cats held a 21-10 lead with 11:32 to play in the third quarter. That was when Southern Utah took over. The Thunderbirds scored on a 25-yard pass play to cut the lead to four. Then after Jarret Gooden had an interception, the Thunderbirds tackled him in the end zone resulting in a safety and WSU's lead was down to two points and the end of three quarters.
Back-to-back touchdown rushes by Austin Minefee and the Thunderbirds took a 35-21 lead with 6:18 remaining.
Weber State came back with a Josh Booker touchdown just a minute later. But after a stop the 'Cats couldn't score on their final possession and the Thunderbirds escaped with the victory, just their third win in 14 tries in Ogden. The loss was WSU's first on the new turf field at Stewart Stadium.
Weber State finished with 429 yards of total offense, with SUU totaling 348. The 'Cats had 141 yards on the ground with 288 passing yards. For the second-straight game penalties hurt the 'Cats as they finished with 11 penalties for 77 yards.
Junior quarterback Mike Hoke finished the night 27-40 passing for 288 yards and one touchdown and also rushed for one touchdown. Shaydon Kehano led the receivers with six catches for 71 yards.
On the ground Josh Booker had 11 carries for
74 yards and one touchdown. Anthony Morales led the 'Cats on defense with 11 tackles with Mo Neal adding 10.
The Wildcats, now 3-4 overall, will play at Montana next Saturday, followed by a home game against league-leading Montana State.
