The Weber State football team has experienced several ups and downs on the way to its current 5-4 (2-3) record.
The wins, especially the Big Sky victories against Eastern Washington and Idaho State, came because WSU executed the game plan. In the losses, the Wildcats have slumped into some of the same old habits that led them to back-to-back 3-8 seasons in 2001 and 2002. Habits like slow starts in the first quarter, untimely penalties, poor special teams execution, frequent turnovers, missed assignments and breakdowns have all been common occurrences that have produced disappointing results for the Wildcats.
But through it all, Jerry Graybeal, Weber's head coach, has said that two rocks have maintained a model of consistency. Team captains Nick Chournos and Matt McFadden have never ceased to perform for WSU all season.
"Nick and Matt play hard start to finish," Graybeal said. "They are always solid. But they can't do everything."
Chournos, a 6-foot, 215-pound junior running back who played at Bear River High School, is currently the second leading rusher in the Big Sky with 124 yards a game. For the season, he has carried the ball 204 times for 1,122 yards and six touchdowns. In his career at Weber State, Chournos has 384 carries for 2,114 yards and 16 scores, good enough for sixth place on the WSU career rushing charts. Nick admitted he had no idea how far he had run.
"I didn't even know about (being in the top 10)," Chournos said. "I have to credit the other 10 guys for the run blocking."
In the win over Idaho State, Chournos eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season and 2,000 for his career, not to mention posting the seventh best single game rushing mark at 227 yards. In the game at Eastern Washington, Chournos and the Wildcat offensive line rode the Eagles into the ground, with the junior running back gaining 176 of his total 194 yards in the second half. Not bad for a guy who has had to constantly prove himself worthy of the starting spot.
Since the graduation of Johnnie Gray III in 2001, Graybeal has allowed several running backs the opportunity to take over the starting job, but Chournos has remained firm and immovable. As a sophomore in 2002, Chournos ran for more than 900 yards. Some of that success might be attributed to Nick's supreme confidence in his abilities.
"You have to have an attitude that you can compete at every level," Chournos said. "Sometimes you may not know how you'll do something, but you still have to have the confidence that you can do it."
This season, Utah State transfer James Samuel has been Chournos' running mate in the backfield. While minor injuries have limited Samuel's game time and production, there has been little doubt about who would fill the spot in when it mattered most. Offensive lineman Jon Newman thought it appropriate that Nick was selected as a team captain.
"He's a mature player," Newman said. "He provides strength, voices his opinion and shows how good he is with his actions on the field and not his mouth. He's a North-South runner that breaks tackles and is hard to bring down. That's the kind of running back that lineman like to block for."
Middle linebacker Matt McFadden has also proven to be a reliable player for the Wildcats.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder from Kanab is the closest thing the Wildcats have to a well-oiled tackling machine. McFadden has had at least 10 tackles in every game except one this season. In the last three games, McFadden has had 18 tackles against Northern Arizona, 18 at Montana and 16 two weeks ago vs. Montana State. He averages about 13 tackles per game and has 114 total tackles on the year. He's the kind of player his teammates like to go into battle with.
"He's been a big leader for us the last few years," Newman said. "Players really respect him for the way he leads on the field."
Newman, also a team captain, hopes that more players can follow Chournos and McFadden's examples and play well enough that Weber State can finish the season strong. If nothing else, for coach Graybeal, whose contract is up at the end of the season.
"The other seniors need to step it up," Newman said. "These last four games could decide his future. We need to play our butts off for him and hopefully things will turn out positive."
E-mail: ttoone@desnews.com