By Mick Holien
The Weber State football team put up 31 points and scored on its first half dozen possessions before they welcomed members of a fabled Wildcat team of three decades before at halftime and despite a somewhat spirited second half Montana charge to remain a factor in the Big Sky Conference race.
Under sunny skies and warm temps and before an usually large crowd of nearly 9000 the Wildcats made it two straight over their charter league rival and beat the Griz for the fourth time in the last 10 games.
The Weber two TD victory, their fourth against a single league loss, came despite arguably the leagues’ best defense, allowing a season high 503 yards.
Montana now with a 3-2 circuit record falls back into the outskirts of the league race with league leading and currently race undefeated Northern Arizona next on the agenda.
Starting QB1 Gresch Jensen competed half of 42 attempts for a robust 347 yards and three scores but was picked three times before being knocked out of the contest late in the fourth. His medical evaluation will determine whether he is eligible to play next week.
With safety Justin Strong suspended for a second game the Griz for a time in the first half against NAU will be without Tucker Schey and Korey Alexander who were ejected for the play de jour, targeting.
Montana finally got into their pace and developed some momentum after the intermission but with backup Caleb Hill at the helm the Wildcats pick six interception stifled the late comeback and Weber held on 41-27.
Montana also was suspect in the Weber’s league leading red zone netting just two of five tallies while the wildcats converted all five times offensively and after a quartet of sacks last week picked up another five against the Grizzlies with a variety of defensive sets.
Previously ranked near the bottom of the top 25 now just 5 and 3 overall Montana is close to elimination from the playoff field while the Wildcats will leap frog into the top 20.
Interestingly while Montana with 89 ran 18 more plays but trailed in time of possession by more than seven minutes.
After sitting out last week with a concussion Wildcat qb Stefan Cantwell was a careful 17 of 31 but for just south of 200 yards.
Back to Missoula Saturday for a mid fternoon matchup with Northern Arizona.
