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OGDEN — It doesn’t matter how well you do on assignments or labs, a report card never looks good if you underperform on tests.
Weber State football understands this problem. The Wildcats have good practices week-after-week, have several units perform well, and are undone late by a mistake of some kind.
Until there is a solid, consistent effort across the board, Weber’s game-day report card will continue to suffer the consequences.
Yes, Weber passed for 313 yards; no, the Wildcats didn’t win. The lack of consistent rushing ability from Weber has consistently reared its ugly head, and this 30-17 loss to Portland State reflects how badly Weber needs to run the ball better.
On top of the rushing struggles, the Wildcats also turned the ball over three times. Football is a game of inches, and giving up a turnover is like throwing an opponent a yardstick.
First off, when an offense is on the field for 40-plus minutes of a 60-minute game, breakdowns and exhaustion are to be expected. The Wildcats’ defense again gave the team a chance to win the game late in the fourth quarter, and it did it on the back of a bend-not-break attack. Weber forced Vikings punter Kyle Loomis to punt six times.
However, giving up 303 yards of rushing is a tough pill to swallow. The grade may seem high, but it reflects how the defense did its job — ensure the offense has a chance to win the game.
Let’s get to the bright spots first. Kicker Josh Kealamakia made every kick he attempted, including a 38-yard field goal. Also, Bo Bolen continued his strong work as a kick returner, getting 73 yards on three returns.
However, Weber has to figure out how to get production on punt returns. Shaydon Kehano, while having a breakout season receiving, has struggled returning punts, and got only two return yards in his one return Saturday.
As usual, Weber State did enough positive things to contend late in the football game versus Portland State. However, the Wildcats also did enough negative things to give away a good chance at victory. Once again, a lack of consistency between all three units of the team sunk the chances at victory.
