When it came to crunch time Saturday, the Big Sky's best offense proved superior to the league's best defense as Weber State held on for a 35-32 win over Boise State.
Saturday's win coupled with a victory next week over Idaho State, should be enough to get Weber State into the NCAA I-AA playoffs.Weber State sandwiched scoring drives of 98 yards and 65 yards around a Boise State touchdown in the fourth quarter to pull out a heart stopping victory as time ran out on the Broncos at the Weber State 7 yard line.
"It was pleasing in crunch time with the best offense against the best defense to see the kids come through," said Weber coach Dave Arslanian. "This was the best defense we have played against this year."
Early on it was Boise State's conference-leading defense that dominated the game. The Bronco's Marcell King blocked a Weber State punt on the opening drive to give Boise State its first possession at the Wildcat 7 yard line. Three plays later and a 2 point conversion, it was BSU 8, WSU 0.
After exchanging punts, the Boise defense stripped the ball from Weber's Dwight Richards to take over at the Wildcat 19. Three plays later Bronco quarterback Jeff Mladenich found Dave Tingstad in the corner of the enzone on a 7 yard scoring toss. With the kick, it was 15-0 for Boise.
Weber's offense continued to sputter under the Bronco pressure as Boise punched another touchdown over five plays into the second quarter to make it 22-0.
It took a Boise turnover, an interception by Weber's Dave Costantino at the Bronco 9 yard line, to turn the tide. Weber's All American quarterback Jamie Martin found tight end Alfred Pupunu over the middle for a 3 yard touchdown pass. A try for two on the conversion failed and Weber went into halftime down 22-6.
A Bronco field goal opened the second half but after that it was showtime for the Weber offense. Martin suddenly found his passing touch and the Wildcats went on the attack marching 84 yards in 17 plays capped by an 11 yard touchdown pass to running back Geoff Mitchell on a delay out of the backfield. The kick made it 25-13.
On its next possession, Martin led the Wildcats on an 87 yard drive with Mitchell getting his second touchdown of the game on 7 yard sweep around left end. Suddenly it was 25-20.
Weber took its first lead of the game at the 8:09 mark of the fourth quarter as Martin hit wide receiver Del Stilson with an 11 yard scoring toss capping a 98-yard drive. The Wildcats went for two on the conversion with Martin hitting Jon Fuller to make it 28-25.
Boise State grabbed the lead back following an exchange of punts as running back Chris Thomas, who had 153 yards rushing on the day, ripped the Wildcats including an 18 yard scamper for the touchdown. The Broncos were up 32-28 with 2:08 remaining.
Martin again went to work picking apart the Bronco secondary capping a 65 yard drive with a 4-yard toss to Dave Hall in the corner of the end zone and a 35-32 lead.