Wildcats roll to 41-3 Big Sky opening win

OGDEN - What a way to start the Big Sky season. The 18th ranked Weber State football team jumped scored in a variety of ways and rolled to a 41-3 win over UC Davis Saturday night at Stewart Stadium in the first conference game of the season.

After a UC Davis field goal made it 3-0, the Wildcats dominated with 41 unanswered points. Weber State jumped out to a 31-3 lead in the first half and had highlight reel plays on each of their touchdowns.

So many highlights in that win! 18th ranked Wildcats 3-1 on the season. On to Montana State next Saturday. #WeAreWeber ?? pic.twitter.com/X5iNBsNxNX
— Weber State Football (@weberstatefb) September 24, 2017

Senior quarterback Stefan Cantwell found freshman wide receiver Rashid Shaheed for a 67-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-3.

Then history was made as junior running back Treshawn Garrett scored on a 98-yard touchdown run, the longest play from scrimmage in Weber State history. The 98-yard touchdown run also tied for the longest run in Big Sky history.

In the second quarter, senior Xequille Harry had an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown. It was Weber State's first punt return for a touchdown since Tim Toone in 2009 and ranks in a tie for the fourth longest punt return in WSU history.

Cantwell found senior tight end Andrew Vollert for a 17-yard touchdown pass to end the half. Trey Tuttle added a field goal, followed by another Vollert touchdown to ensure the 41-3 blowout.

Weber State totaled 430 yards of offense on just 49 total offensive plays, compared to 373 yards by UC Davis on 80 plays. The Wildcats had two interceptions and one fumble recovery. The 'Cats were 0-of-9 on third down conversions but finished a perfect 4-of-4 in red zone chances.

Cantwell was 7-of-11 passing for 205 yards and three touchdowns. Shaheed had three catches for 163 yards and one touchdown, an average of 54.3 yards per reception. Vollert had three catches for 40 yards with two touchdowns.

Garrett totaled 10 carries for 122 yards with the one record-setting touchdown.

Defensively, the Wildcats held UC Davis to just 13 yards rushing and recorded five sacks with 13 tackles for loss. Parker Preator led the way with nine tackles, three pass breakups and one tackle for loss. LeGrand Toia had a sack and a fumble recovery. Jonah Williams, Taron Johnson, Alema Key and Cardon Malan each recorded sacks.

Harry had three punt returns for 100 yards with the one touchdown.

.@CoachJayHill talks after the win in the @UtahEyeCenters Coach's Corner. #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/ApijYuPrjL
— Weber State Football (@weberstatefb) September 24, 2017

Weber State improves to 3-1 on the season for the first time since 2008.

The Wildcats head back on the road next week, continuing Big Sky play at Montana State next Saturday in Bozeman. The game will kickoff at 1:30 p.m. and will be televised on ROOT Sports and AT&T SportsNet.

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Team Stats

Stefan Cantwell

Justin Shaw

Players Mentioned

Stefan Cantwell

Treshawn Garrett

Xequille Harry

Taron Johnson

Alema Key

Cardon Malan

Parker Preator

Rashid Shaheed

Trey Tuttle

Andrew Vollert

Jonah Williams

Players Mentioned

Stefan Cantwell

Treshawn Garrett

Xequille Harry

Taron Johnson

Alema Key

Cardon Malan

Parker Preator

Rashid Shaheed

Trey Tuttle

Andrew Vollert

Jonah Williams

Weber State University Athletics