OGDEN — Montana State quarterback Travis Lulay has killed Weber State for the last three years, and after his performance in Saturday's 27-24 comeback win, his name will likely be a cursed by Wildcat fans for years to come.
Trailing 24-10 at the beginning of fourth quarter, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior calmly, yet aggressively orchestrated 17 unanswered points like the conductor of a symphony. With seconds remaining, the Bobcat quarterback found Tramaine Murray with a 19-yard pass to set up Jeff Hastings for a game-winning 39-yard field goal.
MSU coach Mike Kramer said the victory was sweet.
"This is a real fun game to be a part of if you're the winner. But if you're the loser, a real sour game to be a part of," Kramer said.
For three quarters Weber State (2-4, 1-2) contained the gritty gunslinger Lulay and built a two-touchdown lead in the process. Following a 31-yard touchdown run by Lulay early in the fourth quarter which cut the lead to seven, WSU quarterback Ian Pizarro was picked off by Andre Fuller, setting up a second TD run by Lulay a few plays later.
Lulay ran the Wildcat defense ragged in the fourth and finished the game with 283 yards passing and three interceptions and 142 yards rushing with two scores.
The win also marks the 10th second half come-from-behind victory in Lulay's career.
"Some quarterbacks are good in certain situations but other quarterbacks are great all the time," Kramer said. "He found ways to shake tacklers and run the ball and create first downs and led his team."
"He's Houdini," Murray said.
The Wildcat defenders will attest to that analysis. Despite all Weber State's efforts, WSU defensive lineman Shane Barkdull said Lulay broke loose in the fourth quarter.
"We couldn't get our hands on him," Barkdull said.
Even after giving up the 14-point lead, the Wildcats had their opportunities but couldn't cash in. In fact, things backfired. Weber State had the ball with just over a minute to go in the game, but struggled to decide whether to go for a winning score or run out the clock for overtime.
Pizarro had connected with Lynzell Jackson for two touchdowns in the first half, and after running the clock down to 27 seconds, coach Ron McBride hoped the two could hook up one more time for a big play.
"(With one-on-one coverage), I liked the odds with Lynzell," McBride said. "It turned out to be a horrible decision."
Pizarro's deep pass was intercepted by Toph Grenfell and returned to the WSU 41-yard line with 10 seconds to go. Then Lulay hit Murray set up the game-winning kick.
This is the second straight time MSU has beaten WSU with a field goal as time expired. E.J. Cochrane kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired in 2004 to give the Bobcats a 20-17 victory over the Wildcats.
This is also the fifth straight win over Weber State for Montana State. MSU has not lost in Ogden since 1996.
For the last two weeks, the Wildcats have been in a position to win the game and failed to do so. McBride said the loss was definitely a setback.
"This was absolutely a game we had to have and (the team) laid it on the line" McBride said. "(But we) have to play through this and go forward."
Zach Hall ran 35 times for 173 yards and one touchdown. Sione Havili saw his first significant action on the season as he rushed 12 times for 72 yards. Jackson caught three passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns.
The Wildcats will now prepare to host Sacramento State next Saturday.