Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
5-0 , 5-0
Idaho State
2-4 , 2-4
Wildcats rally to win fourth straight Big Sky title
4/10/2021 6:38:00 PM | Football
For the third-straight game, No. 2 ranked Weber State overcame a fourth quarter deficit and beat Idaho State 20-15 Saturday afternoon to clinch a fourth straight conference trophy.
Weber State became just the second school to ever win four straight Big Sky titles. It's the eighth all-time conference title for the Wildcats and the first ever outright conference championship.
The win was also the 11th-straight home victory for the Wildcats, a new school record for consecutive home wins.
The Wildcats trailed to start the fourth quarter before Bronson Barron connected with Justin Malone for a 35-yard touchdown that gave the Wildcats a 14-6 lead. Idaho State responded with a 78-yard drive for a touchdown to make it 14-12 Weber State. After stopping the Wildcats, ISU took the lead at 15-14 on a 23-yard field goal with 5:25 remaining.
Barron led Weber State on a seven play, 76-yard drive that culminated in a six-yard touchdown run by Daniel Wright, Jr. to give the Wildcats the lead.
Marque Collins intercepted an ISU pass on the final possession to clinch the win.
Weber State totaled 387 yards of offense, compared to 381 for Idaho State.
Barron finished the day 15 of 24 passing for 258 yards and one touchdown. Ty MacPherson had four catches for 108 yards, including a 60-yard catch that set up a WSU touchdown. Dontae McMillan had 21 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown and Wright had 10 carries for 37 yards. WSU played without junior All-American running back Josh Davis who missed the game with an ankle injury.
On defense, Conner Mortensen led the way with 11 tackles, including nine solo tackles, and had 2.5 tackles for loss.
"This one means as much as any of them," said WSU head coach Jay Hill. "To extend our home winning streak and win a fourth conference title. There was so much riding on it and we made it interesting. I thought the defense was outstanding and we got the stop when we needed it. This team has done what they've needed to do, now we have to find a way to take it to the next level for the playoffs."
Weber State finishes the regular season at 5-0 and also clinches the Big Sky's automatic berth into the FCS Playoffs. WSU has a bye week before the playoffs begin.
The selection show for the 16-team FCS Playoffs will be on Sunday, April 18 at 9:30 a.m. on ESPNU and the playoffs will begin on April 24.
This sounds even better when you're the Champs ??#PurpleReign #WeAreWeber #BigSkyFB pic.twitter.com/ubY5oqpepG
— Weber State Football ?? (@weberstatefb) April 10, 2021
4?? STRAIGHT!
— Weber State Football ?? (@weberstatefb) April 11, 2021
????????#PurpleReign #WeAreWeber #BigSkyFB pic.twitter.com/oKodXTmR3t
Highlights from the 4??th straight #BigSkyFB title ??
— Weber State Football ?? (@weberstatefb) April 11, 2021
????????#PurpleReign #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/zZezRCpdlg
Team Stats
ISU 3, WSU 0
ISU - Ryan, Kevin 35 yd field goal 4 plays, 4 yards, TOP 0:51
ISU 3, WSU 7
WSU - MCMILLAN, D. 2 yd run (THOMPSON, Kyle kick), 5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:23
ISU 6, WSU 7
ISU - Ryan, Kevin 28 yd field goal 12 plays, 65 yards, TOP 5:09
ISU 6, WSU 14
WSU - MALONE, Justin 35 yd pass from BARRON, Bronson (THOMPSON, Kyle kick) 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 3:25
ISU 12, WSU 14
ISU - Fredrickson, Ch 10 yd pass from Vander Waal, Ty (Vander Waal, Ty passfailed) 7 plays, 78 yards, TOP 3:19
ISU 15, WSU 14
ISU - Ryan, Kevin 23 yd field goal 11 plays, 85 yards, TOP 3:00
ISU 15, WSU 20
WSU - WRIGHT, Daniel 6 yd run (BARRON, Bronson passfailed), 7 plays, 76 yards, TOP 3:20
