Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Montana
Wildcats host Montana in Big Sky showdown Saturday
10/24/2017 2:23:00 PM | Football
GAME #8
Sat., Oct. 28, 2017 • 2 p.m.
Ogden, UT - Stewart Stadium (17,500)
TV: SWX (in Montana)
Online: Pluto TV 235 / WatchBigSky.com
Radio: KLO 1430 AM / kloradio.com
Live stats: WeberStateStats.com
Series: Montana leads 40-14
Streak: Weber State 1 win
In Ogden: Montana leads 18-7
Last game: 10/10/15 - WSU 24-21 (ot)
THE GAME
• It's a Big Sky showdown between nationally-ranked teams Saturday as No. 22 Weber State hosts No. 24 Montana.
• Saturday's game will kickoff at 2 p.m. from Stewart Stadium. The game will be televised by SWX in Montana and will be will be streamed everywhere online for free on Pluto TV channel 235 and on WatchBigSky.com.
• Radio broadcast will be on 1430 KLO radio and kloradio.com with Steve Klauke, the 2016 Utah Sportscaster of the Year, and former Wildcat All-American Bo Bolen.
• Live stats will be at WeberStateStats.com.
FIRST AND 10
• Weber State is 5-2 on the season and 3-1 in Big Sky play, following a 17-3 win at Cal Poly on Saturday.
• The Wildcats are ranked 22nd in the country in the FCS Coaches poll.
• Montana is also 5-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play and comes in ranked 24th nationally in the STATS poll.
• Head coach Jay Hill is in his fourth season as head coach at Weber State. He enters Saturday with an 20-22 career record and is 16-12 in Big Sky games.
• The Grizzlies are coached by Bob Stitt who is in his third season at Montana.
• Weber State continues to lead the Big Sky in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, and red zone defense.
• WSU is first in the nation in red zone defense, while Montana is first in red zone offense.
• This will be the 55th all-time meeting between the two teams, both charter members of the Big Sky. Montana holds a 40-14 all-time lead. WSU won the last meeting, winning in overtime in Missoula in 2015. This will be Montana's first visit to Ogden in five years.
WILDCATS GET BACK ON TRACK WITH WIN AT CAL POLY
Weber State bounced back with a 17-3 road win at Cal Poly Saturday night to improve to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in Big Sky play. WSU totaled 340 yards of offense and held the Mustangs to 179 yards, and a season-low 73 yards passing. The 'Cats also had four sacks and forced four Cal Poly turnovers.
WSU RANKED 22ND IN FCS COACHES POLL
After the win, Weber State moved up one spot to 22nd in the nation in the FCS Coaches poll. However, the 'Cats fell out of the national rankings in the STATS poll. WSU has been ranked in the top 25 in at least one poll each week this year.
Weber State is one of five Big Sky teams that are nationally-ranked. Eastern Washington is on top of the polls coming in 12th and 14th in the polls, despite a 46-28 loss at Southern Utah Saturday. Northern Arizona is on top of the league at 4-0 and comes in 24th in the coaches poll and just outside the top 25 in the STATS poll. Montana is ranked 24th in the STATS poll and just outside the top 25 in the coaches poll. Southern Utah is 25th in the STATS poll and just outside in the coaches poll.
NATIONALLY-RANKED BIG SKY SHOWDOWN SATURDAY
No. 22 Weber State will host No. 24 Montana Saturday in a Big Sky Conference showdown. Both teams are 5-2 overall and 3-1 in Big Sky play. It will be the first game this season for Weber State against a nationally-ranked team. It will also be the first game for the Grizzlies in Ogden in five years.
Saturday's game will also be Tackle Cancer Day.
THROWBACK TO 1987
The year was 1987. Ronald Reagan was in the White House. A gallon of gas cost 89 cents. The top song in America was "Walk Like an Egyptian", and the Weber State football team had one of its best seasons ever.
Saturday Weber State will throw it back 30 years to 1987 to honor the '87 Wildcat football team that was the first Weber State team to win 10 games and the first to advance to the Division I-AA Playoffs.
The 1987 team will be honored at halftime of the game. As part of the celebration, the Wildcats will wear purple helmets with the old flying "W" logo for that game, the same logo that was on the helmets in 1987.
The 1987 team posted a 10-3 overall record and tied for first in the Big Sky at 7-1. The team was the first Weber State team to win 10 games in a season and was the first Weber State team to advance to the FCS Playoffs. The team also was ranked as high as seventh in the during the season.
After a 7-1 record in conference play, the Wildcats were selected for the then-Division I-AA Playoffs and were sent to take on Big Sky rival Idaho in Moscow. Weber State team the Vandals 59-30 in the first round before falling at Marshall in the second round.
The 1987 coaching staff was led by head coach Mike Price. Dave Arslanian was the offensive coordinator with Mike Zimmer, the current head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, as the defensive coordinator. Other coaches on the staff included Larry Lewis, Lawrence Livingston, current Louisville head coach Bob Petrino and Jim Zeches. Price was named Big Sky Coach of the Year that season. Hall of Fame running back Fine Unga, senior linebacker Robb Akey and senior linebacker Vernell Quinn all earned First Team All-Big Sky honors. The team also included Hall of Fame quarterback Jeff Carlson.
WILDCAT DEFENSE ON TOP OF THE BIG SKY
The Wildcat defense still ranks on top of the Big Sky. WSU leads the conference in scoring defense (16.0), total defense (314.3), rushing defense (126.1), passing defense (188.1) and opponent first downs (14.6).
RED ZONE SHOWDOWN
Saturday's game could come down to the red zone and will feature the top red zone defense and the top red zone offense in the country. Weber State is tied for first the nation in red zone defense. The Wildcats have allowed opponents to score on 62.5 percent of its attempts in the red zone. WSU has allowed opponents inside the red zone just 15 times and has given up 10 scores with just four touchdowns.
Montana is first in the country in red zone offense, converting on 31-of-32 attempts in the red zone with 24 touchdowns.
THREE FOURTH QUARTER INTERCEPTIONS
Weber State forced four Cal Poly turnovers in the win and the defense came up big in the fourth quarter with three interceptions on three-straight possessions. Freshman linebacker Cameron Mortensen picked off a Mustang pass at the goal line early in the first quarter for his first interception. On the next Cal Poly possession, senior Xequille Harry then had his second career interception. Finally, senior Taron Johnson had his fourth career pick with 3:20 left in the game to seal the win.
The Wildcat defense also had three sacks, two by McKay Murphy and one by Kawika Tupuola. Cal Poly had only given up three sacks in their first three games before giving up three to the Wildcats on Saturday.
CANTWELL RETURNS WITH TWO TOUCHDOWNS
Wildcat senior Stefan Cantwell returned to action and threw for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the win. He left the Oct. 14 game against Southern Utah with a concussion but returned to finish 14-of-23 passing and rushed for 54 yards. He found David Jones for a 25-yard touchdown in the first quarter and connected with Drew Batchelor for a 35-yard completion in the fourth quarter.
On the season, Cantwell ranks sixth in the Big Sky in pass efficiency, ninth in passing yards and is 10th in total offense. He has thrown for 1,409 yards and nine touchdowns and has rushed for 247 yards four more touchdowns. He is completing 61 percent of his passes this season.
TIME OF POSSESSION
Weber State again led in time of possession in Saturday's game and has led its opponent in time of possession in six of the seven games. WSU is fifth in the country in time of possession, averaging 34:21 per game.
BY QUARTER
Weber State is outscoring its opponents 74-20 in the first quarter of the first seven games this season. The 'Cats are also winning the second quarter 79-47 and are dominating in the third quarter 43-16. After scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter Saturday, WSU is now 30-29 in the fourth quarter this season. Weber State has trailed at halftime just once this season.
INJURY REPORT
Freshman center Ben Bos missed the game at Cal Poly due to a concussion. WSU senior wide receiver Darryl Denby has missed the last few games with a concussion and junior cornerback Jawain Harrison Jr., has missed the last few games with a hamstring injury.
TEAM CAPTAINS
Coach Hill has named five captains for the Wildcats for this season, two on offense and three on defense. The two offensive captains are senior quarterback Stefan Cantwell and senior tight end Andrew Vollert. The three defensive captains are senior cornerback Taron Johnson, senior defensive tackle McKay Murphy and junior linebacker LeGrand Toia.
AROUND THE BIG SKY
Weber State is one of five Big Sky teams that are nationally-ranked. Eastern Washington is on top of the polls coming in 12th and 14th in the polls, despite a 46-28 loss at Southern Utah Saturday. Northern Arizona is on top of the league at 4-0 and comes in 24th in the coaches poll and just outside the top 25 in the STATS poll. Montana is ranked 24th in the STATS poll and just outside the top 25 in the coaches poll. Southern Utah is 25th in the STATS poll.
EXTRA POINTS
Senior All-American tight end Andrew Vollert had four receptions for 44 yards in Saturday's win...He now has 92 career receptions, leaving him eight away from becoming the 26th player in WSU history with 100 career receptions...Junior running back Treshawn Garrett rushed for 69 yards and passed 1,500 career rushing yards...Senior McKay Murphy is first in the Big Sky and 12th in the nation in tackles for loss with 11.5 for 1.64 per game.
LOOKING AHEAD
After Saturday, the Wildcats will hit the road for back-to-back road games at Eastern Washington on Nov. 4, and Portland State on Nov. 11.
