Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
1-1
California
2-0
Weber State comes up short 33-20 at Cal
9/9/2017 6:55:00 PM | Football
The Wildcats held a 20-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter before the Bears scored 10-straight points. Weber State couldn't convert on a fourth down attempt with less than three minutes to play, then Cal added a 73-yard rushing touchdown to seal the win.Â
Weber State totaled 571 yards of total offense and held the Pac-12 Bears to 431 yards. The Wildcats turned the ball over three times, all on fumbles.Â
"The turnover margin really hurt us and hurt our momentum," said WSU head coach Jay Hill. "I thought the play calling was very good and we moved the ball well. We have a tough team that really fought today. There are no moral victories and we very well could have pulled this one out but Cal made the plays when they needed to. We left a lot on the field and had chances to win, we didn't make the plays down the stretch."
Cal scored on its first possession just 2:29 into the game to take a quick 7-0 lead. The Wildcats responded with 10 straight points, a 37-yard field goal, then a nine-yard touchdown run by Stefan Cantwell, to take a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter.Â
The Bears went on 17-10 midway through the second quarter before Cantwell found freshman Rashid Shaheed for a 55-yard touchdown that tied the game at 17-17. The 'Cats added a 37-yard field goal at the end of the half to take a 20-17 lead at halftime.Â
After Call scored 10-straight to regain the lead, the Wildcats were driving with under 3:00 to play but could not convert on a fourth down inside Cal territory. Cal's Patrick Laird had his third touchdown of the day, a 73-yard touchdown run to make it 33-20 with 1:48 to play. The Wildcats drove back down the field to the five-yard line but could not convert.Â
Weber State had 24 first downs, compared to 19 for Cal.Â
Cantwell led the Wildcats with 492 yards of total offense in the game. He was 25-44 passing for 431 yards and a touchdown and had 20 rushing attempts for 61 yards and one more touchdown. The 492 yards of total offense ranks as the seventh most in a game in Weber State history. It is also the most ever for a Weber State player against an FBS opponent. The 431 passing yards is the 11th most in a game in WSU history. Â Â
Shaheed had four catches for 149 yards and one touchdown to lead the receivers. Senior tight end Andrew Vollert finished with seven catches for 84 yards. Kevin Smith added 41 rushing yards for the 'Cats.Â
Defensively, Keilan Benjamin had nine tackles, while McKay Murphy had six tackles and one sack.Â
The Wildcats will be back in northern California next Saturday night when they play at Sacramento State. The game with the Hornets will be a non-conference game and will not count in the Big Sky standings.Â
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Team Stats
WSU 0, CAL 7
CAL - Robertson, Deme 34 yd run (Anderson, Matt kick), 6 plays, 66 yards, TOP 2:29
WSU 3, CAL 7
WSU - TUTTLE, Trey 37 yd field goal 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 4:00
WSU 10, CAL 7
WSU - CANTWELL, S. 9 yd run (TUTTLE, Trey kick), 5 plays, 77 yards, TOP 2:02
WSU 10, CAL 10
CAL - Anderson, Matt 39 yd field goal 6 plays, 12 yards, TOP 2:34
WSU 10, CAL 17
CAL - Laird, Patrick 51 yd run (Anderson, Matt kick), 6 plays, 98 yards, TOP 1:55
WSU 17, CAL 17
WSU - SHAHEED, Rashid 55 yd pass from CANTWELL, S. (TUTTLE, Trey kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:22
WSU 20, CAL 17
WSU - TUTTLE, Trey 45 yd field goal 6 plays, 35 yards, TOP 0:51
WSU 20, CAL 20
CAL - Anderson, Matt 40 yd field goal 12 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:15
WSU 20, CAL 27
CAL - Laird, Patrick 1 yd run (Anderson, Matt kick), 7 plays, 46 yards, TOP 2:20
WSU 20, CAL 33
CAL - Laird, Patrick 73 yd run (Anderson, Matt kickblocked), 3 plays, 87 yards, TOP 0:54
