'Cats drop double OT heartbreaker to South Dakota

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	OT	Final F
Weber State	28	0	14	0	7	0	49
South Dakota	14	7	0	21	7	3	52

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Weber State

South Dakota

VERMILLION, S.D. - Weber State dropped a 52-49 heart-breaker in double overtime to the University of South Dakota Saturday afternoon at the DakotaDome.

The Wildcats held a 21-point lead heading into the fourth quarter before USD scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to force overtime. USD's Miles Bergner knocked down a 34-yard field goal in the second overtime to seal the win.

"This one hurts but we have to keep our heads up and move on," said WSU head coach Jay Hill. "We played like a really good football team for a while but had some things happen late that we have to fix. We didn't take care of the ball and made mistakes and you can't do that and win games."

It was a wild first quarter as the two teams combined for 42 points. The Wildcats got off to an incredible start in the game scoring three touchdowns in the first 6:30 with two of them on defense. Landon Stice returned an interception 64-yards for a touchdown to put the 'Cats up 7-0, just 4:31 into the game. It was the sixth longest interception return in Weber State history.

On the next possession, Dre Snowden recovered a fumble at the five-yard line an on the next play Drew Batchelor found Jadrian Clark for a 6-yard TD pass and the 'Cats led 14-0 with 9:05 left in the first.

Just 35 seconds later, Cardon Malan recovered a South Dakota fumble and the one yard line and ran it in to make it 21-0 Weber State with 8:30 left in the first quarter.

The Coyotes finally got things going offensively as they scored back-to-back touchdowns by Chris Streveler to make it 21-14 with less than a minute to play in the quarter.

On the final play of the quarter, Treshawn Garrett ran for a 71-yard touchdown to close the quarter at 28-14.

Only one touchdown in the second quarter as South Dakota added an 18-yard touchdown pass by Streveler to Shamar Jackson to make it 28-21 at halftime.

The 'Cats extended their lead to 35-21 early in the third quarter when Clark found Darryl Denby for a 47-yard touchdown pass. With under 5:00 left in the third, Cory Thomson added a one-yard touchdown to make it 42-21.

The Coyotes scored on a 42-yards pass to cut it to 42-35 and then converted on a fourth and 12 for a 26-yard touchdown to tie the game at 42 with 32 seconds left.

South Dakota scored first in the first overtime with a 10-yard touchdown. Weber State followed when Clark found Andrew Vollert for a 25-yard TD.

Taylor Hintze missed a 37-yard field goal attempt in the second overtime before Bergner's field goal sealed the win.

South Dakota totaled 491 yards of total offense, compared to 373 for Weber State. The Coyotes had 29 first downs and converted on 16 of 28 third downs.

Individually, Jadrian Clark threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns but did have two interceptions. Andrew Vollert led the way with six catches for 86 yards and one touchdown. Cameron Livingston had five catches for 36 yards. Treshawn Garrett led the rushing attack with 22 carries for 141 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, Stice had 16 tackles and Tre'von Johnson added 15.

The 49 points was the most by the Wildcats in three years and the most under coach Hill.

The Wildcats will return home for the home opener next Saturday night when they host Sacramento State at 6 p.m. at Stewart Stadium.

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Team Stats

Clark Jadrian

Batchelor Drew

Players Mentioned

Drew Batchelor

Jadrian Clark

Darryl Denby

Treshawn Garrett

Taylor Hintze

Tre'von Johnson

Cameron Livingston

Cardon Malan

Dre Snowden

Landon Stice

Cory Thomson

Andrew Vollert