After a hard-fought game at Stewart Stadium, Weber State University’s football team fell to McNeese State University 28–26 on Sept. 28, marking the Wildcats’ second close non-conference loss of the season. Weber State couldn’t convert in key moments and dropped their overall record to 2–3 on the season as they shifted back to Big Sky Conference play.
The game started with McNeese jumping ahead 7–0 with a 25-yard run from Joshon Barbie. Both teams then traded defensive stops until late in the second quarter when Weber State quarterback Richie Muñoz connected with Marcus Chretien for a 10-yard touchdown. However, a failed 2-point conversion left the Wildcats trailing 7–6 at halftime.
The third quarter turned into a back-and-forth scoring affair. Weber State struck first with a Muñoz pass to freshman tight end Dahlyn Jones, giving the Wildcats their first lead at 13–7.
McNeese quickly responded, reclaiming the lead with a touchdown to go up 14–13. Damon Bankston powered Weber back with a 9-yard touchdown run, pushing the Wildcats ahead 20–14. McNeese answered again in the final minute of the quarter, making it 21–20.
The Cowboys extended their lead to 28–20 early in the fourth, courtesy of Barbie’s third rushing touchdown. Bankston then led a Weber State response, scoring his second touchdown of the night, but another failed conversion attempt left the Wildcats trailing by 2 with 8:15 left in the game.
Weber State’s defense managed to stop McNeese in the final minutes, setting up one last chance for the Wildcats to pull ahead. A dropped pass from Jayleen Record on third and 12 and a missed targeting call from the officials dashed those hopes, leaving the Wildcats just short of victory.
“I mean, everything matters, right?” head coach Mickey Mental said. “We’ve got a play to make, you know — make the play. I’m not just singling out. I see the pass and the drop … throughout the game, there’s moments where we have to be better.”
McNeese outgained Weber State by a slim margin, 423 total game yards to the Wildcats’ 416. Bankston had another dominant game for the Wildcats, rushing for 140 yards on 21 carries and scoring two touchdowns.
Freshman running back Davion Godley also contributed 75 yards on 10 carries.
Muñoz completed 16 of 30 passes for 129 yards, two touchdowns and added 45 rushing yards.
Defensively, linebacker Garrett Beck led Weber State with nine tackles, while safety EJ Evett added eight.
With a conference record of 1–0 and an overall record of 2–3, Weber State looks to bounce back as they shift their focus to Missoula for a Big Sky Conference game against the University of Montana on Oct. 5.
