The Wildcats' 35-12 victory over Montana State in blustery Bozeman gave WSU its first sweep of the Montana football teams since 1987, which also happened on back-to-back Saturdays.
“Twenty-one years, that's a long time,” Weber State coach Ron McBride told the Ogden Standard-Examiner. “But I guess that's the idea. That's what you're supposed to do.”
Sophomore quarterback Cameron Higgins was brilliant, completing 28 of 35 passes for 349 yards and four touchdowns. Trevyn Smith managed 73 yards rushing and a touchdown.
The biggest play of the game, according to the Bobcats, came midway through the second quarter.
Weber State's Mike Phillips caught a tipped pass that was originally intended for teammate Bryant Eteuati and took it to the end zone to complete the improbable 58-yard scoring strike.
The TD gave Weber a 14-9 lead with 7:33 to go in the second quarter it never relinquished.
“I think that was by far the biggest play in this football game,” Montana State coach Rob Ash told the Bozeman Chronicle. “It was a huge momentum changer considering our defense was playing a superb first half. We had them stopped and they were going against the wind. We had the play defended, we break it up, we think it's over, then all of a sudden it goes in another guy's hand and he takes it in all the way for a touchdown.
“I think it was in the back of everybody's mind. It was just a lucky fluke play. The guy made a great play to catch it, but it was just a huge turning point in the game.”
Luck had little to do with MSU's struggles on offense, however, as the Bobcats could manage just a field goal in the second half.
MSU (1-1, 3-3) hosts Eastern Washington on Saturday.
The Grizzlies moved up four spots to No. 8 in the Sports Network's poll released on Monday. Eastern Washington, which Montana beat 19-3 on Saturday, dropped out of the poll.
Northern Arizona moved up a spot to No. 17 after beating Portland State and Weber State jumped four spots from No. 22 to No. 18.
Big Sky standings
League Overall
W L W L PF PA
Weber State 3 0 5 2 256 153
N. Arizona 3 0 5 1 204 103
Montana 1 1 5 1 190 145
Montana State 1 1 3 3 174 181
N. Colorado 1 1 1 4 126 148
E. Washington 1 2 2 4 184 208
Portland State 1 2 2 4 159 214
Sacramento State 1 2 3 3 170 157
Idaho State 0 3 0 6 130 236
Saturday's games
Montana 19, Eastern Washington 3
N. Colorado 29, Idaho State 9
Weber State 35, Montana State 12
Northern Arizona 37, Portland State 17
Saturday, Oct. 18
Sacramento State at Montana, 1:05 p.m.
E. Washington at Montana State, 1:05 p.m.
N. Arizona at Idaho State, 6:35 p.m.
N. Colorado at Weber State, 1:05 p.m.
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