Hopefully they stuck around.
When it was over, the teams had combined on an NCAA record 141 points, 20 touchdowns and piled up 1,189 yards of offense while the Wildcats held off PSU for a 73-68 Big Sky Conference win.
Good question.
McBride's Wildcats punted once in the game, while Vikings quarterback Drew Hubel threw nine touchdown passes and completed 35 of 56 passes for 485 yards in his first college start.
It was good enough for the 6-foot-5 freshman from Corvallis, Ore., to tie the Division I FCS record for touchdowns in a game while breaking the conference record (7) and the school mark (8) shared by Neil Lomax and John Charles.
It was not, however, good enough to beat Weber.
“Everybody wants to win,” said Hubel, who settled down after Portland State went three-and-out on its first two possessions. “You don't play to lose. So it was exciting, but ...”
Hubel completed passes to five different receivers. Four of his touchdown passes went to Tremayne Kirkland and four went to David Lewis. Kenneth Mackins caught one TD.
True to form, PSU's run-and-shoot offense got a whopping 17 yards on the ground and the Vikings' third straight loss assured them of finishing with a losing record for only the third time in nine seasons.
Hubel's effort was ultimately overshadowed by Wildcats' freshman Cameron Higgins, who threw four touchdown passes and rushed for three others while going 22-of-36 for 334 yards and two interceptions. He also had 106 yards on the ground.
“I hate it when you've got no control over the game,” McBride said. “When you can't stop them defensively, if you don't score, you're going to lose. That's definitely not Weber State's style.”
The Wildcats host Idaho State next week. Portland State is on the road at Montana.
Poly passes past Bengals
The heralded option attack of Cal Poly took a back seat to the passing game as the Mustangs thwarted Idaho State 48-28 in Pocatello.
Quarterback Jonathan Dally threw for 453 yards and tied a school record with five touchdowns, two each in the first half to Ramses Barden and Tredale Tolver.
Barden recorded the second-best receiving game in school history with 10 catches for 268 yards. Tolver hauled in four balls for 154 yards.
So, uh, how about that running game?
“It didn't have to be there,” Dally told the Idaho State Journal. “‘They gave us the pass, we stuck with the pass, and when they took away the pass it allowed us to run the ball.”
The Bengals had some highlights too, with Josh Barnett eclipsing the century mark for the 14th time in his career with 117 yards on 22 carries. It was good enough to boost Barnett past Alfredo Anderson for the school's all-time record.
Barnett now needs 177 yards in three games to pass Anderson on ISU's all-time rushing list.
Sac storms back ... almost
After taking a 21-point lead into the third quarter, Eastern Washington needed a goal-line stand and a fumble recovery in the final period to hold off Sacramento State 38-30 at Hornet Stadium.
The Eagles led 31-10 before the Hornets got two touchdowns from receiver Tony Washington - one of them a 50-yard bomb from quarterback Jason Smith - and a 62-yard touchdown run by Ryan Coogler.
With the deficit cut to eight points, the Hornets recovered a fourth-quarter fumble, but the Eagles defense held them scoreless for the final 8:51 to secure the win.
“It feels good to come out of here with a victory,” said Eastern coach Paul Wulff in a release from the school. “I said all along that I would take a win here by one point. The unfortunate thing is that we had so many times to take control and we couldn't do it.”
Super sophomore Matt Nichols continued to shine to Eastern, completing 20-of-29 passes for 328 yards with no interceptions and three touchdowns.
Two of those were matching 46-yard strikes to Aaron Boyce, who recorded his fifth-straight 100-yard receiving performance and sixth of the year.
Jacks waiting until next year
Northern Arizona quarterback Lance Kriesien admitted he thought this would be the year. The year he finally beat Montana.
“The setup of the game was perfect,” Kriesien said to the Arizona Daily Sun, after the Lumberjacks fell short 21-16 against the No. 3 Grizzlies. “It was like a Hollywood story. It's (too bad) we couldn't come through. We just didn't make enough plays.”
They made their share.
For the third time this season, Montana fans watched as a Big Sky Conference opponent outgained the Grizzlies on offense.
But for the eighth time this year and the 10th consecutive year against Northern Arizona, Montana left the game with a win.
“I suppose my epitaph will be ‘died trying,' ” said former UM assistant and NAU head coach Jerome Souers, who's also never beaten the Griz. “I'm not going to give up.”
Despite their 70-plus yard advantage on offense, the Jacks managed just one touchdown on six trips inside the red zone.
Players of the week
Offense: Drew Hubel, Portland State, and Cameron Higgins, Weber State. Hubel, a true freshman, set team and league records and tied a FCS record by throwing nine touchdown passes in his team's 73-68 loss to Weber State. Higgins, also a freshman, accounted for seven touchdowns - four passing and three rushing - and amassed 440 yards of total offense. Defense: Quincy Wofford, Northern Colorado. The cornerback tallied a career-high 10 tackles, intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble in UNC's 16-13 upset of then-No. 19 Montana State. Special teams: Zak Bigelow, Northern Colorado, and Bryant Eteuati, Weber State. Bigelow kicked three field goals, including the game-winner with four seconds left in the Bears' win. Eteuati tallied 341 all-purpose yards in Weber State's win over Portland State, including 308 in the return game. Eteuati returned a punt 77 yards for a touchdown.
Quote of the week
‘That's what this offense is built to do - move the ball and put up lots of points.'
- Portland State QB Drew Hubel, after the record-setting 73-68 loss to Weber State
Game to watch
Portland State at Montana: The Flying Glanvilles come to Missoula, possibly to pose the last, best threat to an undefeated regular season for the Grizzlies. PSU lost in the shootout-to-end-all-shootouts against Weber State last week. Montana is 8-0, with a two-game lead headed into the last three weeks of Big Sky play.
Rankings
1 Montana (8-0): Passed test at NAU. Up next: Upredictable PSU.
2 E. Wash (5-3): Young Eagles will win Big Sky someday. Believe it.
3 N. Arizona (5-4): Jacks still best of six BSC teams that lost this week.
4 Montana St. (5-3): We're not mad at the Cats, just really disappointed in them.
5 Weber St. (3-5): After 73 points against PSU, we'll have whatever they're having.
6 Portland St. (2-6): Make up your mind Vikings. Are you a good team or not?
7 Idaho St. (3-5): It's not easy being Josh Barnett, we bet.
8 N. Colorado (1-7): Take a picture Bears, this rankings bump may not last.
9 Sac State (1-7): Probably not worst, but it ain't everyday UNC gets chance not to be last.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)