Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
3-0 , 3-0
Northern Arizona
1-2 , 1-2
Wildcats move to 3-0 on Hail Mary touchdown
3/27/2021 6:27:00 PM | Football
NAU scored a touchdown with 17 seconds left to take a 23-22 lead.
After a kickoff and a 15-yard penalty on the Lumberjacks, the Wildcats were down to their last play with two seconds left on the clock.
That's when Randall Johnson connected with Justin Malone in the end zone for a 50-yard Hail Mary touchdown to give the Wildcats the unlikely win.
The Wildcats opened the game with two quick scores as Johnson found Rashid Shaheed for a 44-yard touchdown, then connected with Ty MacPherson who lateraled the ball to Noah Atagi for a five-yard touchdown that put the Wildcats up 14-0 midway through the first quarter.
NAU scored 10 points in the second quarter to make it 14-10 at halftime.
Shaheed returned the opening kickoff of the second half 100-yards for a touchdown, his school-record fifth career kickoff return for a touchdown.
Two more NAU field goals made it 22-16 before the late game finish.
"There were so many moments in that game that I thought we could put it away and we didn't, but in the end we found ways to make plays when we had to," said WSU head coach Jay Hill. "They fought and battled and found a way to get it done."
Johnson started in place of the injured Bronson Barron and threw for three touchdowns. He was 11 of 19 passing for 133 yards. He also rushed for 70 yards.
Shaheed finished with three receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown and Josh Davis had 16 carries for 141 yards rushing.
Preston Smith had two interceptions and Desmond Williams had another interception. Conner Mortensen led the team with 10 tackles.
The win moved the second-ranked Wildcats to 3-0 during the spring season. The win was also the 50th career win for Jay Hill at Weber State and tied the school record with 10-straight home wins.
The Wildcats will hit the road at in-state rival Southern Utah next Saturday at 2 p.m. in Cedar City.
RANDALL JOHNSON. JUSTIN MALONE. TOUCHDOWN.#PurpleReign #WeAreWeber #BigSkyFB #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/6Mku6z9UEb
— Weber State Football ?? (@weberstatefb) March 27, 2021
Team Stats
NAU 0, WSU 7
WSU - SHAHEED, Rashid 44 yd pass from JOHNSON,Randall (THOMPSON, Kyle kick) 5 plays, 79 yards, TOP 2:12
NAU 0, WSU 14
WSU - ATAGI, Noah 5 yd pass from JOHNSON,Randall (THOMPSON, Kyle kick) 5 plays, 57 yards, TOP 2:41
NAU 3, WSU 14
NAU - AGUILAR, Luis 28 yd field goal 12 plays, 59 yards, TOP 4:38
NAU 10, WSU 14
NAU - HALL, Draycen 49 yd run (AGUILAR, Luis kick), 4 plays, 60 yards, TOP 0:55
NAU 10, WSU 22
WSU - SHAHEED, Rashid 100 yd kickoff return (HADLEY, Haze rush)
NAU 13, WSU 22
NAU - AGUILAR, Luis 45 yd field goal 8 plays, 44 yards, TOP 3:18
NAU 16, WSU 22
NAU - AGUILAR, Luis 45 yd field goal 5 plays, 10 yards, TOP 1:20
NAU 23, WSU 22
NAU - WUDTEE, Keondre 1 yd run (AGUILAR, Luis kick), 14 plays, 95 yards, TOP 3:57
NAU 23, WSU 28
WSU - MALONE, Justin 50 yd pass from JOHNSON,Randall () 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 0:17
