The University of Montana scored 28 unanswered second half points to ruin Weber State University's homecoming 35-20 Saturday.
Weber dominated the first half both defensively and offensively going up 17-0 midway through the second quarter before the Grizzlie passing game got untracked on an 80-yard scoring drive. The Wildcats added a 47-yard field goal just before the half to take a 20-7 lead into the locker room.The second half, however, belonged to 2nd-ranked Montana, which ran its season record to 7-0, 3-0 in Big Sky play.
"I thought the first half we played a real great game - as well as we could have," said Weber coach Dave Arslanian. "We knew we needed to limit penalties but we were unable to in the second half."
A holding penalty against the Wildcats just before the end of the third quarter may have been the difference.
With Montana leading 21-20 and time running down in the third quarter, Weber quarterback Bryan Martin scrambled on third down up the middle to the Montana six-yard line. But a holding penalty moved the ball back to the 49. Following an incomplete pass, the Wildcats were forced to punt.
"It was a critical, critical time," said a dejected Arslanian. "It not only took away a touchdown, it moved us out of field goal range. It was like a 50 yard penalty."
Although the Wildcat's lost on the field, Weber came out a winner in stands. 16,547 fans were on hand, the third largest crowd in Weber State history. The Wildcat's needed to average just under 15,200 for the final two games to average 14,000 in home attendance for the year to keep the football program intact. The news didn't evoke a smile from Arslanian, though.
"I'm tired of hearing about attendance - it will be nice when our young men can go back to being student-athletes. They shouldn't have to be reading about this all the time," Arslanian lamented.