Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
#12 UC Davis
Game notes: Big Sky opener Saturday against #12 UC Davis
9/21/2021 3:03:00 PM | Football
Two nationally ranked teams as Wildcats and Aggies kickoff Big Sky play Saturday at 6 p.m. at Stewart Stadium.
• It's conference time as Weber State football is right back home at Stewart Stadium for the Big Sky Conference opener this Saturday. In a matchup of two nationally ranked teams, the 14th ranked Wildcats host the 12th ranked UC Davis Aggies on Saturday at 6 p.m. The game will be televised throughout Utah on KJZZ TV and will be streamed online on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. WSU radio coverage will be on 103.1 FM "The Wave" with live stats at WeberStateSports.com.
Two nationally ranked teams at Stewart Stadium
For the second-straight week, two nationally ranked teams will play at Stewart Stadium. UC Davis enters this week's game with a perfect 3-0 record and the Aggies are ranked 12th in the nation in the Stats Perform poll and 10th in the AFCA Coaches poll. After last week's loss, Weber State is now 14th in the Stats poll and 15th in the coaches poll. WSU dropped out of the top 10 in the nation for the first time since October 2018.
UC Davis is making its second appearance in 2021 to Stewart Stadium. The two teams met on March 13, 2021 in the home opener of the spring season, an 18-13 Weber State win.
Wildcats look to bounce back after home loss to James Madison
In a battle of top-10 ranked teams, Weber State dropped its season opener 37-24 to No. 2 James Madison last Saturday night at Stewart Stadium. The Dukes jumped out to a 24-3 lead early in the third quarter before the Wildcats scored three touchdowns in the second half.
JMU had 359 yards of offense, compared to 312 yards for the Wildcats. Weber State rushed for 78 yards and threw for 234 yards but the Wildcats committed two turnovers.
Big Sky opener for both teams
Weber State is 28-30 all-time in Big Sky Conference openers and the Wildcats have won six straight conference openers. The 'Cats beat UC Davis in the conference opener in 2016 and 2017.
The Wildcats have lost their last two home games, after winning 11 straight. WSU fell to Southern Illinois in the first round of the FCS Playoffs in the spring and then lost to James Madison on Saturday.
However, WSU still has a streak going in Big Sky home games. Weber State has won 15 straight home games against Big Sky teams, dating back to October 2017. In the eight seasons under coach Hill, Weber State is 25-6 at home against Big Sky opponents.
Shaheed leads nation in kickoff returns; continues move up in the record books
Weber State senior Rashid Shaheed had another strong game on Saturday as he had three kickoff returns for 80 yards, including a 55-yard return to start the game. Shaheed continues to lead the nation in kickoff returns with seven returns for 289 yards and one touchdown, for an average of 41.3 yards per return. He also had five receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown on Saturday.
Shaheed is fifth in WSU history in career all-purpose yards with 4,460 yards. He is WSU's career leader in kickoff return average at 29.8 yards per return, which is the best career return average of any active player in all of Division I football. He is also now third in career kickoff return yards with 2,234 and fourth in punt returns. He has six career kickoff returns for touchdowns, which is tied for the FCS all-time record. Four of his returns are for 100 yard touchdowns.
Jay Hill approaching Weber State coaching record
Jay Hill has a career record of 53-33 in his eighth season as head coach of the Wildcats. The 53 wins is tied with Dave Arslanian for the most coaching victories in Weber State history, leaving him one win away from the all-time record. Arslanian was 53-47 in his nine seasons as head coach at Weber State from 1989-97.
Hill has transformed the Weber State program, leading the Wildcats to four straight Big Sky titles and five straight appearances in the FCS Playoffs. He was named the Big Sky Coach of the Year during the spring 2021 season and has been named the Region 5 Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association in each of the last two seasons.
Hill is second in WSU history in overall winning percentage (.616). He is 39-14 in Big Sky games and the .736 conference winning percentage is the best in WSU history.
