Weber State University Athletics

Wildcats beat Hornets 31-24
9/17/2017 12:10:00 AM | Football
The game got off to a terrific start for Weber State as the Wildcats scored three-straight touchdowns and made two-point conversions on each score to jump out to a 24-0 lead early in the second quarter.
WSU opened the scoring with a trick play as Andrew Vollert found Drew Batchelor for a three-yard touchdown, followed by a Stefan Cantwell two-point conversion to make it 8-0 with 7:56 left in the first quarter.
On the next Sacramento State possession, Jonah Williams blocked a Sac State punt and picked up the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. It was the first blocked punt returned for a touchdown by a WSU player since 2002. Cantwell then found Kallin Fisher for the two-point conversion to make it 16-0 with 6:39 left in the quarter.
Early in the second quarter Cantwell found Batchelor for a 12-yard touchdown, followed by a Vollert pass to McKay Murphy and the 'Cats led 24-0.
Sacramento State got on the board with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Thompson to Jaelin Ratliff to make it 24-7 with 6:02 to play. On the next play from scrimmage, Cantwell's pass was intercepted by Malcolm Thomas and returned 15-yards for a Hornet touchdown to make it 24-14.
The Hornets cut it to 24-21 in the third quarter after a three-yard run by Andre Lindsay.
Weber State opened the fourth quarter with an 11-yard, 60-play drive, capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Cantwell to make it 31-21.
After a big kickoff return, the Hornets added a 36-yard field goal to make it 31-24 and Weber State was able to stop Sacramento State the rest of the way.
"We got off to a great start and really fought when things didn't go our way," said WSU head coach Jay Hill. "I was proud how they continued to battle. It wasn't the cleanest of games but we did a lot of little things that you have to do to win games and we were able to do that."Wildcats win! Weber State with a 31-24 win over Sacramento State. Back home for Homecoming next Saturday. #WeAreWeber #BigSkyFB pic.twitter.com/pRuJqPY01w
— Weber State Football (@weberstatefb) September 17, 2017
Weber State had 279 yards of total offense, compared to 220 for Sacramento State. WSU also had 21 first downs with just nine for the Hornets. The 'Cats also converted on 50 percent of their third down conversions and held the Hornets to 4 of 13 on third downs.
Individually, Cantwell threw for 109 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 56 yards and another score. Batchelor led the receivers with four catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns and Vollert had four catches for 26 yards. Treshawn Garrett led the rushing attack with 18 carries for 99 yards.
Defensively, Landon Stice, playing in his first game of the year, had seven tackles with one tackle for loss. Jawain Harrison Jr. also had seven tackles, while Taron Johnson had five tackles and one pass breakup. The Wildcats had five tackles for loss and one sack.
The win was Weber State's first win in Sacramento since 2008.
The Wildcats will return home next week to open Big Sky play as they host UC Davis on Saturday, Sept. 23, in a 5 p.m. kickoff at Stewart Stadium. It will also be the annual Homecoming game at Weber State.
.@CoachJayHill after tonight's win in the @UtahEyeCenters Coach's Corner. #WeAreWeber ?? pic.twitter.com/zuxR336HLT
— Weber State Football (@weberstatefb) September 17, 2017
Team Stats

WSU 8, SAC 0
WSU - BATCHELOR, Drew 3 yd pass from VOLLERT, Andrew (CANTWELL, S. rush) 15 plays, 75 yards, TOP 7:04

WSU 16, SAC 0
WSU - WILLIAMS, Jonah 0 yd blocked punt return (FISHER, Kallin pass)

WSU 24, SAC 0
WSU - BATCHELOR, Drew 12 yd pass from CANTWELL, S. (MURPHY, McKay pass) 8 plays, 52 yards, TOP 4:32

WSU 24, SAC 7
SAC - RATLIFF, Jaelin 42 yd pass from THOMSON, Kevin (MEDEIROS, Devon kick) 5 plays, 47 yards, TOP 2:58

WSU 24, SAC 14
SAC - THOMAS, Malcolm 15 yd interception (MEDEIROS, Devon kick)

WSU 24, SAC 21
SAC - LINDSEY, Andre 3 yd run (MEDEIROS, Devon kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:26

WSU 31, SAC 21
WSU - CANTWELL, S. 1 yd run (TUTTLE, Trey kick), 11 plays, 60 yards, TOP 6:07

WSU 31, SAC 24
SAC - MEDEIROS, Devon 36 yd field goal 4 plays, -1 yards, TOP 0:40