Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Montana
Wildcats win 24-21 in overtime in Missoula
10/11/2015 12:35:00 AM | Football
MISSOULA, Mont. -- The Weber State football team did something it hadn't done in 28 years Saturday, win a game in Missoula. The Wildcats pulled off a dramatic 24-21 overtime win over 12th ranked Montana on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, WSU first win in Missoula since 1987.
The Wildcats got off to a great start in the first quarter. After a defensive stop, the 'Cats converted on their first possession, capped by three-yard touchdown run by Eric Wilkes, his first rushing TD of the year.
The Grizzlies came right back with a 75-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 7-7. Montana added another TD to take a 14-7 lead after three quarters.
Weber State came right back with a long scoring drive with Jadrian Clark finding Cameron Livingston for a 15-yard TD to tie the game at 14-14 early in the second quarter.
Late in the half senior Cordero Dixon had a 30-yard interception returned for a touchdown that gave Weber State a 21-14 lead at halftime. It was Dixon's second career interception and his first one returned for a TD.
Neither team scored in the third quarter and Weber State had just 36 yards of offense in the third quarter but the WSU defense made several key stops including two Montana fourth down attempts.
The Grizzlies tied the game on a 44-yard touchdown pass to Ben Roberts with 4:51 to play. The Wildcats missed a 50-yard field goal with one second left to put the game in overtime.
On the first possession of overtime, Tre'von Johnson forced a Montana fumble that Filipe Sitake recovered and the Wildcats took the ball. Four plays later, Josh Kealamakia converted on a 37-yard field to seal the win for the Wildcats.
“That was unbelievable,” said WSU head coach Jay Hill. “I just can't say enough about how the players and coaches bounced back from last week. To come up here in a hostile environment and to win for the first time in 28 years is a huge thing for our program. We had so many key plays and key players today and I was so proud of the toughness and resiliency of our team.”
Montana totaled 383 yards of total offense, compared to 345 for the Wildcats. WSU had 253 yards rushing and 92 yards passing.
Individually, sophomore Eric Wilkes had 24 carries for 112 yards and one touchdown. WSU quarterback Jadrian Clark had 21 carries for 84 yards rushing. Clark also finished the day 8-of-15 passing for 54 yards and one touchdown.
Tre'von Johnson led the defense with 13 tackles, while Dixon and Emmett Tela each had nine tackles. The win snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Grizzlies in Missoula.
The win moves WSU to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in Big Sky play. Weber State is back in action next Saturday as the 'Cats host North Dakota at 6 p.m. at Stewart Stadium. It will be UND's first trip ever to Ogden.
