Weber State University vs. The University of Utah
Weber State faced another test on the road this last weekend, facing off against the University of Utah. The Utes are ranked No. 12 in FBS rankings heading into this matchup. The Wildcats fell to the Utes with a score of 31–7.
The Utes controlled most of this game while having a possession time of 40:05 compared to Weber State’s 19:55. Utah had a total of 23 first downs and had a total of 231 (NET) rushing yards, Weber State had a total of five first downs throughout this game and had a total of 61 (NET) rushing yards.
In the quarterback battle, Weber State quarterback Kylan Weisser went 11 for 23 with one interception. Weisser had a total of 66 yards with his longest being 12 yards, he was also sacked twice. Utah’s quarterback Nate Johnson went 13 for 21 with no interceptions. Johnson threw a total of 193 yards with his longest being 49, Johnson was also sacked once by Wildcat Cameren Cope.
The Wildcats’ only points came from a 2-yard rush from Kris Jackson. On the previous play, Damon Bankson marched down the field for a 47-yard run to put the Wildcats in the Red Zone.
“Obviously credit to Utah. I thought they played extremely well today on all three phases but I love how our kids competed today and hung in there and didn’t break at the end. I’m very proud of our guys and I look forward to obviously taking that next step next week,” head coach Mickey Mental said.
After a tough loss to the Utes, the Wildcats will bounce back with a home game on Sept. 23 against Montana State University.
This home game will be the re-opening of the entire stadium after off-season construction.
Two Wildcats named Big Sky Player of the Week
Weber State football embarked on a challenging matchup against the University of Utah following their triumphant victory over the University of Northern Iowa, where two Wildcats delivered perfect performances and earned Big Sky Conference Player of the Week.
Junior running back Damon Bankston received recognition as the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week, while sophomore linebacker Jack Kelly was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week.
In the matchup against UNI, Bankston showcased his prowess by rushing for an impressive season-high of 144 yards, accompanied by three rushing touchdowns. Bankston carried the ball 22 times, averaging an impressive 6.5 yards per carry, his highlight of the game was a 56-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.
“It’s pretty much the same thing every week for me, work hard, practice hard and expect to get better every week,” Bankston said.
Jack Kelly played a pivotal role in the Wildcats dominating defensive performance, tallying two sacks, including a crucial strip sack, forcing two fumbles, and recovering one during the UNI victory. Weber’s defense collectively forced six turnovers, comprising three fumbles and three interceptions.
“It means a lot, hopefully this is just the beginning but I’m thankful for all of the coaches and my teammates for believing in me and putting me in the right spots in order to succeed,” Kelly said.
