Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OGDEN — After last week’s debacle in California, Weber State is eager to try some home cooking once again this week against Montana State.
The Wildcats are now 1-6, with a record of 0-5 on the road. Weber is also 0-3 in the Big Sky. However, WSU is 1-1 at home, and the ‘Cats are thinking the friendly confines will be good to them on Saturday as they take on the fifth-ranked team in the country.
“Obviously, (Montana State) is a very, very veteran, well-coached, tough, strong, physical football team,” Weber State coach Jody Sears said. “They’ve got the returning MVP, and that whole offense. They’ve got it going on, and they’re clicking.”
In the weekly Big Sky conference call, Sears maintained Weber State continues to focus on self-improvement.
“The challenge for us is to continue to grow, and to continue to press forward and get better,” Sears said. “Score-wise and record-wise, it’s hard to say we are improving, but you turn the film on and you have a bunch of young guys out there fighting and scratching.”
Sears was asked about the strength of schedule, and said he still believes the tough schedule will benefit the Wildcats eventually.
“We’ve played a lot of really good football teams, and we’ve had just a couple of injuries that have really magnified the problem,” he said.
Despite the injuries and the losses, Montana State and its coaching staff is expecting a full effort from the Wildcats this weekend.
“We’re very weary of Weber State,” Montana State coach Rob Ash said. “We understand what Weber can do, and we’re very respectful of the challenge we have in front of us.
The teams have had one common opponent — Stephen F. Austin — and while the Wildcats beat SFA 50-40, the Bobcats lost 52-38, a fact which hasn’t escaped Ash.
“That game against Stephen F. Austin is lurking big in our mind, because we know they’re a good team,” he said. “They played very well against us, beat us, and we’re watching Weber handle them in that game.
“That one’s been on the projectors a lot this week.”
The Bobcats are coming off a bye week and hoping the rest will prepare them for the stretch run.
“We got some injuries taken care of by doctors, and (they) came at a perfect time for us,” Ash said. “We were pretty beat up coming out of the first six games.”
On an injury update for the Wildcats, Sears said linebacker Anthony Morales is still listed as questionable for the game.
Saturday’s game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. at Stewart Stadium. The game will be televised on Root Sports.
