Weber State football: Wildcats have point to make
The defeat forced Weber State to play on the road tonight against a high-scoring and tough Cal Poly team, rather than host a Football Championship Subdivision playoff game at Elizabeth Dee Shaw Stewart Stadium. It also meant the Wildcats had to share the Big Sky championship with Montana, and it snapped their six-game winning streak.
Those consequences were certainly disappointing, but McBride said there's no time to dwell on them.
"There are two types of teams one is where you bury your head in a hole and feel sorry for yourself," McBride told his players. "The other is pissed off and is going to do something about it."
McBride is expecting the latter when 12th-ranked Weber State plays at third-ranked Cal Poly tonight. Kickoff is at 7:05 p.m. MST.
The Wildcats will play in their first FCS playoff game since 1991 against the Mustangs, the highest-scoring team in the nation. And rather than stew about its blown opportunity against Eastern Washington, Weber State is looking at tonight's game as a shot at redemption.
No Weber State player is wanting redemption from last week's defeat as much as Higgins. He threw four interceptions against the Eagles, and one of them was returned for a touchdown. The timing was terrible for Higgins, the Big Sky's offensive MVP this season, to have his worst game of the year. But he's ready to rebound against a Cal Poly team the Wildcats will have little margin for error against.
"We're going to have to put up some points to stay in the game," Higgins said. "Defensively they're pretty confusing. We just got to stay focused. We can't have any three-and-outs. Every possession counts."
Higgins isn't kidding. Cal Poly has scored more than 40 points in seven of its 10 games this season. The Mustangs average 45.3 points and rush for 300.8 yards per game in their option-running attack. They will try and control the tempo and keep the Wildcats' high-powered offense off the field.
Weber State is the nation's ninth-highest scoring team and ranks eighth in total offense. No FCS defense has really slowed the Wildcats this season, and they believe they'll enjoy some success against the Mustangs.
"I think we got some good stuff that will exploit their defense," Higgins said. "We got to strike fast."
Recent comments
Congrats Wildcats. Great game, great coaching, Poly could not...
CalPolyAlum | Nov. 29, 2008 at 11:03 p.m.
Great win, Weber State. Good luck in the next round. Beat Montana...
Mike Johnson Fallon NV | Nov. 29, 2008 at 10:38 p.m.
The SL Trib scooped the Des News. But hey, at least the DN got the...
PS | Nov. 29, 2008 at 10:19 p.m.
- Senators want food tax restored 1:27 a.m.
- Utah women lag in higher education 1:16 a.m.
- Hatch empathizes with Muslims 1:14 a.m.
- Matheson gets no thanks from GOP 1:13 a.m.
- Mitchell seeks to block witnesses 1:12 a.m.
- Party insiders may take on Bennett 1:11 a.m.
- Input sought on nondiscrimination 1:11 a.m.
- Am. Fork band hopes for nationals 1:10 a.m.
- Healthy Toews leads Blackhawks 1:04 a.m.
- Sandy may give $10K to bowl game 12:45 a.m.
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Hope for single moms
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated
- Soccer MVPs know how to win
- Utah Jazz Extra: Whose hot/not
- Matheson gets no thanks from GOP
- Newhouse Hotel, an explosive end
- House passes health care bill
228 - TCU showdown has big implications
183 - Lobo suspended
182 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
154 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
118 - Thousands protest health bill
114 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
97 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89
Sounds like a good option if you can't or won't switch to AT&T for the...
I worked with and around Bill Sederburg for 5 years while he was at...
hand. He needs to work on his moves to the basket and rebounding. Lateral...
play Fez or Koufos tonight. He went with a smaller line up and Boozer, Okur...
I've met Bennett before and he is a nice man. He also knows the Constitution...
That's never been a secret. Everyone will pay for it except those that don't...
I agree with NonMormon. I am active LDS, and I enjoy Ash's articles, and I...
I kept saying don't resign Milsap, especially after Portland offered that...
BYU is the slowest team that has ever been in the top 25. Utah will put up a...
i think u have the cowboys ranked too low! at least an A- LOL nice work!
