Geoff Mitchell rushed a career high 29 times for 135 yards, scoring five touchdowns and a two-point conversion, leading Weber State to a 36-25 Big Sky Conference win over Montana State on Saturday. The victory lifted Weber State to a 4-1-0 record overall, and also left the Wildcats all alone atop the Big Sky Conference standings with a 3-0-0 mark, a half-game ahead of Nevada (2-0-0).
Mitchell, the leading scorer in the Big Sky Conference, and second leading scorer in Division 1-AA, capped an outstanding afternoon by breaking loose for a 57-yard touchdown run with 4:29 left in the game, giving Weber State its final 11 point cushion. The five touchdown runs by Mitchell is a career high and just one shy of the WSU and Big Sky record set in 1987 by Sean Sanders vs. Idaho."The hole just opened up," said Mitchell. "I looked around and there were two defensive backs closing in on me, so I just decided to run straight ahead and fortunately, I was able to get some momentum. I really didn't think I was going to make it."
Montana State, which entered the game with a 1-4 record overall and an 0-2 mark in Big Sky play, struck quickly. On the second play of the game, Bobcat running back, Si Ryan, broke loose for a 74-yard touchdown run, giving MSU a quick 7-0 lead. Two years ago in Bozeman, Ryan rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns against the Wildcats in MSU's 31-27 victory. Ryan rushed for 119 yards in the first half, but the Wildcat defense held him to just 38 yards in the second half.
Actually, Weber State's defense may have been as big a story as Mitchell's five touchdowns. The Wildcats halted four Montana State scoring drives by intercepting four passes. Fredrick X, WSU's leading intercepter a year ago with four, picked off three passes. His first one halted an MSU drive deep in Wildcat territory. From there, the Wildcats drove 93 yards, setting up Mitchell's three yard run. X's two other picks came in third and fourth quarters, one at the goal line stopping another score. After giving up 279 total offense yards in the first half, the defense settled down and allowed just six points and 197 yards in the second half.
The Wildcat defense allowed MSU inside its own 35 yard line, seven times over the course of the game, without giving up a single point.
"Our defense basically kept us in the game," said Arslanian. "They gave up a couple of big plays, but the second half effort was the best defense half we have played all season. The secondary did a good job of keeping the ball in front of them. Fredrick had the type of game we know he is capable of playing. We need to build from this game and keep improving."
Arslanian was also impressed with Montana State's defensive effort as well, calling the Bobcats " . . . the best defensive team we've played against all season, including Air Force."
The Bobcats sacked All-American quarterback, five times in the game for a minus 41 yards. Martin had been sack only five times all season coming into this game.
"They have quick defensive line," said WSU offensive guard, Todd Casey. "Corey Widmer is the fastest and strongest player I have ever played against, and their whole line was good. I didn't have a good game and I know I can play better, but give them credit."
The Wildcats now return home for an expected aerial showdown with the University of Idaho next Saturday at 6:05 in Wildcat Stadium in Weber's 1991 Homecoming game.