Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
2-0 , 0-0
Northern Iowa
0-2 , 0-0
Weber State beats UNI 34-17 in top-25 showdown
9/9/2023 6:53:00 PM | Football
Wildcat defense forced six turnovers and shutout the Panthers in the second half for a big road win.
No. 9 ranked Weber State totaled 390 yards of offense and the WSU defense forced six turnovers to beat the No. 20 ranked Panthers. The Wildcat defense shutout the Panthers in the second half, the second-straight second half shutout for Weber State.
The Wildcats started the scoring with a bang. On the first WSU offensive play, Kylan Weisser connected with Jacob Sharp for 77-yards. Then Damon Bankston scored on a two-yard touchdown to give the 'Cats a 7-0 lead.
UNI added a field goal then scored on a 65-yard drive early in the second quarter to take a 10-7 lead.
Bankston scored his second touchdown of the day on a 26-yard score with 3:30 left in the second quarter to give the 'Cats a 14-10 lead.
After a UNI touchdown, Kyle Thompson added a 19-yard field goal at the end of the half to tie the game 17-17.
Early in the third quarter, LJ Anderson intercepted a UNI pass and returned it 15-yards, which set up a 9-yard touchdown from Weisser to Hayden Meacham to give the Wildcats a 24-17 lead.
Kyle Thompson added a 43-yard field goal to make it 27-17, then after a Naseme Colvin interception, Bankston broke off a 58-yard touchdown to clinch the win.
On offense, Bankston rushed for 144 yards on 22 carries with the three touchdowns. He also became the 33rd player in WSU history to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards.
Weisser finished the day 11 of 22 passing for 179 yards and a touchdown. Sharp led the receivers with two catches for 82 yards.
The Wildcat defense totaled six turnovers with three interceptions and three fumbles. LJ Anderson, Naseme Colvin, and Maxwell Anderson all had interceptions, all in the second half.
Jack Kelly had a career-day with two sacks, including one strip-sack. He forced two fumbles and had one fumble recovery. Easton Payne also forced a fumble.
The Wildcats will face another road test next Saturday play at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Kickoff against the Utes will be at 12 p.m. from Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Team Stats
WSU 7, UNI 0
WSU - Bankston,Damon 3 yd run (Thompson,Kyle kick), 2 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:50
WSU 7, UNI 3
UNI - Cook,Matthew 39 yd field goal 9 plays, 48 yards, TOP 03:02
WSU 7, UNI 10
UNI - Schnee,Sam 5 yd pass from Day,Theo (Cook,Matthew kick) 8 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:29
WSU 14, UNI 10
WSU - Bankston,Damon 26 yd run (Thompson,Kyle kick), 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 04:40
WSU 14, UNI 17
UNI - Edwards,Tye 1 yd run (Cook,Matthew kick), 7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 02:22
WSU 17, UNI 17
WSU - Thompson,Kyle 19 yd field goal 9 plays, 40 yards, TOP 00:47
WSU 24, UNI 17
WSU - Meacham,Hayden 9 yd pass from Weisser,Kylan (Thompson,Kyle kick) 2 plays, 10 yards, TOP 00:45
WSU 27, UNI 17
WSU - Thompson,Kyle 43 yd field goal 4 plays, -3 yards, TOP 02:00
WSU 34, UNI 17
WSU - Bankston,Damon 58 yd run (Thompson,Kyle kick), 3 plays, 62 yards, TOP 00:18
