Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
McNeese
Game 5: Wildcats return home to host McNeese Saturday
9/24/2024 6:17:00 PM | Football
Weber State is ranked 25th in the nation in this week's national poll.
• After two games in the south, it's back home for Weber State as the Wildcats return to Stewart Stadium to host the McNeese Cowboys on Saturday night at 6 p.m.
• Weber State is coming off a dominating 39-0 shutout win at Northwestern State last Saturday night in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
• WSU senior Kemari Munier-Bailey was named the National Defensive Player of the Week after his performance in Saturday's win.
• The Wildcats are 2-2 on the season and coming off a 17-16 loss at Lamar last Saturday in Beaumont, Texas.
• Weber State is ranked 25th in the nation in this week's Stats Perform FCS poll.
• McNeese is 3-2 on the season and coming off two straight wins heading into Saturday's game.
• This will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two schools and the first in 11 years.
Media coverage
Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Tony Parks and Riley Jensen will call the action on the TV broadcast.
Weber State radio broadcast will be on 103.1 FM "The Wave" with Carl Arky and former WSU head coach and athletic director Jerry Graybeal calling the action.
Live stats available at WeberStateSports.com and the Weber State Wildcats app.
Wildcats shutout Demons 39-0
Weber State shutout the Northwestern State Demons 39-0 in a dominant performance Saturday night in Louisiana. The Wildcats totaled 433 yards of offense and held the Demons to just 157. The 'Cats threw for 327 yards and the WSU defense totaled 17 tackles for loss with four sacks.
'Cats back in polls after win
After Saturday's win at Northwestern State, Weber State has moved back into the national polls and is ranked 25th in the Stats Perform FCS poll, one of six teams from the Big Sky in the top 25.
Kemari Munier-Bailey named National Defensive Player of the Week
After leading the Wildcat defense in a shutout victory, Weber State senior Kemari Munier-Bailey has been named the Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week. He was also honored as the Co-Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week.
He led the team with eight total tackles, including seven solo tackles. He had six tackles for loss with three sacks. The losses accounted for 25 yards and the three sacks accounted for 22 yards. The six tackles for loss is the second most in a game of any player in the country so far this season.
Munier-Bailey, a native of Birmingham, England, currently is third in the country in tackles for loss at 2.5 per game. He is also eighth in the nation in sacks with five this season. He is a transfer from Idaho and Fresno State.
Defensive Domination
Munier-Bailey was part of a dominant performance by the Weber State defense in the win. The defense posted WSU's first shutout in three seasons and held the Demons to just 157 total yards, the fewest yards allowed by the Wildcats in two years.
Weber State had 17 tackles for loss and four sacks. Brayden Wilson was also credited with one sack and Bronson Childs had three tackles for loss. Garrett Beck forced a fumble which Trevian Tribble recovered.
Through four games, the Wildcat defense ranks ninth in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 17 points per game. WSU is also 12th in tackles for loss and 13th in passing defense. The 'Cats are 21st in the country in total defense, allowing 316 yards per game.
Richie Muñoz posts season-high passing yards
Weber State sophomore quarterback Richie Muñoz had one of his top games as a Wildcat as he threw for a season-high 327 yards and three touchdowns. He threw touchdowns of 35 yards, 17 yards and 33 yards. It was his second career game passing for more than 300 yards.
On the year, Muñoz is third in the Big Sky in passing at 207 yards per game. He has thrown for 828 yards and five touchdowns with just one interception. He is also fourth in the conference in total offense at 222.5 yards per game.
National rankings
In addition to the defensive ranks, the Wildcats are also high in the nation in several other categories. WSU ranks fourth in the country in net punting and is 11th in turnovers lost with just one interception and one fumble through four games. The 'Cats are also 19th in punt return defense and 27th in rushing offense.
Individually, sophomore Oscar Doyle ranks fifth in the country in punting, averaging 46.4 yards per punt and Kyle Thompson is seventh in field goals per game. Damon Bankston ranks 19th in the country in rushing yards at 94.3 per game.
Unofficial members of the Southland Conference
Weber State is a charter member of the Big Sky Conference and joined the league when it was formed in 1963. The Wildcats aren't looking to leave the Big Sky but have unofficially had a new home for a few weeks.
Saturday's game will be the final of three straight games against teams from the Southland Conference. The 'Cats lost at Lamar and then beat Northwestern State before this week's game against McNeese.
Seven seniors on the Wildcat team
Weber State begins the 2024 season with just seven seniors on the roster. The seven seniors are linebacker Garrett Beck, defensive tackle Zeke Birch, defensive tackle Steven Bryant, defensive end Kemari Munier-Bailey, long snapper Grant Sands, wide receiver Jacob Sharp, and kicker Kyle Thompson. Sharp is the only senior on the current depth chart on offense.
Seven seniors is the fewest of any school in the Big Sky Conference.
Head coach Mickey Mental returns for second season as head coach
Mickey Mental is in his second season as head coach at Weber State and his third season as the offensive coordinator with the Wildcats. Prior to coming to Weber State in 2022, Mental was the head coach at Notre Dame College in Ohio for two seasons where he posted a 16-2 overall record and a 13-1 record in conference play. In the spring 2021 season, he led the Falcons to a conference championship.
A native of Olmstead Falls, Ohio, Mental came to WSU for the 2022 season as the offensive coordinator under Jay Hill and helped lead the Wildcats to a 10-3 overall record and a trip to the second round of the FCS Playoffs.
Team captains
As selected by their teammates, Weber State has named five captains for the 2024 season. The five captains are junior running back Damon Bankston, senior linebacker Garrett Beck, senior defensive end Steven Bryant, junior wide receiver Jayleen Record, and junior cornerback Jalon Rock.
About McNeese
The McNeese Cowboys enter Saturday's game in Ogden with a 3-2 overall record. McNeese started the season in Week 0 with a 26-23 loss at #21 Tarleton State. They then defeated Southern at home before a 52-10 loss at Texas A&M. The Cowboys have won their last two games heading into this week, a 28-24 win over Stephen F. Austin and a 42-14 win over Alcorn, both at home.
Through four games, the Cowboys are 12th in the country in turnovers gained at eight and rank 10th in red zone defense and 21st in red zone offense. They are also 15th in net punting and 12th in passing yards per completion.
Senior quarterback Clifton McDowell is third in the country in pass yards per completion, sixth in pass efficiency. He is also has five rushing touchdowns, the second most of any quarterback in the country. McDowell is a transfer from Montana and was named the 2023 Big Sky Newcomer of the Year last year. He threw for over 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns with the Grizzlies. He was 11-1 as a starter and led Montana to the FCS National Championship game. He also played one season at Central Arkansas.
McNeese is located in Lake Charles, Louisiana and is a member of the Southland Conference. The Cowboys were 0-10 last year and 0-6 in conference play. They were picked sixth in the Southland preseason poll. McNeese returns 14 starters off last year's team and added 21 FBS transfers and six FCS transfers to the team.
The Cowboys are coached by Gary Goff who is in his third season as head coach.
Series history
This will the fifth all-time meeting between Weber State and McNeese with the Cowboys holding a 3-1 series lead.
The two teams first played in 1990 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, a 27-7 Wildcat win. The Cowboys then won 23-22 in Ogden in November 2022.
The teams played again in 2012 in Ogden and 2013 in Lake Charles, both wins for the Cowboys.
Quick hits
Weber State improved to 8-1 under coach Mental when leading in rushing yards. The 'Cats are 0-6 when trailing in rushing yards...WSU is also 8-1 under Mental when scoring 20 or more points in a game and 0-6 when scoring less than 20...Weber State is also 5-0 when leading in turnover margin in the two seasons under coach Mental.
Looking ahead
After Saturday, Weber State will leave the Southland Conference and return to Big Sky Conference play. WSU will be back on the road at longtime rival Montana on Saturday, October 5 at 1 p.m. in Missoula, Montana.
