After losing two straight games, the Weber State University football team won their first Big Sky Conference game of the season on the road against the Portland State University Vikings.
The Vikings started with the ball, but a three-and-out forced a punt, in which the Wildcats took the ball and drove down to the Portland State 29-yard line. After being stopped on third down, the Wildcats sent out senior kicker Sloan Calder, who hit a 48-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a 3–0 lead over the Vikings.
On the Vikings’ next drive, sophomore cornerback Ishaan Daniels intercepted PSU quarterback John-Keawe Sagapolutele and returned it for the Wildcats’ first touchdown of the day; however, Calder’s extra point attempt was blocked, making the game 9–0.
The Vikings then got the ball back, drove down the field, and made a 27-yard field goal to make it 9–3.
After the Wildcats were stopped on fourth down, the teams traded punts to end the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Vikings hit another field goal, this time from 36 yards out. The Wildcats were then stopped on downs again, and the teams traded punts again.
The Wildcats got good field position after a 14-yard punt return by senior running back Bird Butler, to give the Wildcats the ball at the Viking 32-yard line. However, after a four-yard rush by redshirt freshman running back Chauncey Sylvester, who was starting in place of the injured Davion Godley, junior quarterback Dijon Jennings threw his first career interception to Portland State safety Bryson Ross.
Fortunately for the Wildcats, they got the ball back after an interception by junior cornerback Montae Pate. Despite getting to the Viking 17-yard line, the Wildcats had to settle for another field goal from Calder, who hit from 34 yards out to make it 12–6 at the end of the half.
On the first drive of the second half, Weber drove down the field, finishing off with a one-yard rushing touchdown from Sylvester.
On Portland State’s first play from scrimmage on the following drive, Sagapolutele was intercepted by junior safety Kao Hansen.
After starting again in Portland State territory, the Wildcats’ drive stalled, leading to another Calder field goal, from 44 yards away, making the game 22–6.
On the next drive, Sagapolutele was sacked by freshman defensive end Chevy Robinson, who forced the fumble and then recovered the football, giving the Wildcats the ball at the Vikings’ 16-yard line.
The Wildcats capitalized with a five-yard rushing touchdown by senior running back Zach Hrbacek to make it 29–6 to end the quarter.
On the first drive of the fourth quarter, the Vikings brought in backup quarterback Tyrese Smith, who led the Vikings down the field, finishing with a 15-yard rushing touchdown from Smith to make it 29–13.
After a Wildcat punt, Hansen had his second interception of the day, picking off Smith and returning it to the PSU one-yard line.
In the following play, Hrbacek fumbled the ball at the goal line, but it was picked up by center Will Way, who scored the rare offensive lineman touchdown. His teammates mobbed him in celebration of the feat.
After another Portland State punt, Weber State put in their backups, which led to walk-on running back Spencer Ferguson scoring his first career touchdown on a 24-yard rush, making the game 43–13.
The Vikings scored two touchdowns to make the game closer at the end, but the Wildcats came out on top 43–27.
Jennings finished the day with 123 yards passing with zero touchdowns and one interception. Sylvester finished the day with 135 yards rushing and one touchdown.
The Wildcat defense had a day of their own, forcing five turnovers: four interceptions and one fumble.
“Really proud of the guys answering the bell this week,” Head Coach Mickey Mental said.
The Wildcats return to Ogden to take on the Eastern Washington University Eagles on Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.
