Weber State defense strong in loss to No. 5 Eastern Washington


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CHENEY, Wash. — The 14-13 final to Saturday's game will go into the books as a loss, but the game was another example of the major step forward Weber State football has taken this season.

Weber State held No. 5 Eastern Washington to only 14 points, their lowest total of the season. The Eagles came into the game as the No. 3 offense in the country, scoring 40-plus points in their previous three contests.

The Weber State defense brought the pressure all afternoon, never allowing the Eagles to get into a rhythm offensively. The secondary covered well, not allowing open space for receivers to make a play.

The Wildcat defense held Eastern Washington to only 189 yards in the game. The Eagles were averaging 547 yards per game coming into the contest.

Weber State opened the game strong, driving 87 yards on their opening drive and capping it off with a fake field goal run by Chad Leckington to take a 7-0 lead early in the first.

A field goal late in the quarter gave the Wildcats a 10-0 lead going into the second quarter. Eastern Washington struck back in the second quarter with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Eagle quarterback Jordan West.

Eastern Washington scored another touchdown in the third to go up 14-13. Weber State then drove the length of the field to set up a 29-yard field goal attempt for Josh Kealamakia. The wind severely altered the trajectory of the kick, carrying the ball wide left of the goal post.

The wind played a major factor in the final moments of the game and proved too much to overcome. Kealamakia had two more attempts to win the game in the fourth quarter, each carried wide right by the gusting wind.

Weber State quarterback Jadrian Clark continued his hot streak, throwing for 240 yards to go along with 52 yards rushing. His performance Saturday was his third-straight game throwing for 200-plus yards.

Clark was in sync with receivers throughout the game. Cam Livingston finished with 94 yards receiving on nine catches. Sophomore Darryl Denby added 71 yards on only four catches.

Sophomore wide receiver Drew Batchelor took a massive hit in the final seconds of the fourth quarter and was carted off the field on a stretcher. Batchelor was responsive as he was loaded into the ambulance.

The loss drops Weber State to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in Big Sky play. The loss also ends Weber State's playoff hopes. With the final road game of the season behind them, the Wildcats return to Stewart Stadium for the final two games of the season, beginning with UC Davis on Nov. 7.


Mark Douglas is a graduate of Weber State University and lives in Ogden, Utah. Contact him at markdouglasmail@gmail.com or on Twitter @ThePistolColumn.

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