"Our guys made plays," McBride said. "The guys hit hard. We kept hitting and banging and when that happens the ball gets on the ground, you get the ball back, you get some picks."

The biggest defensive play of the game was turned in by cornerback Josh Morris. With the Wildcats ahead 28-21 late in the second quarter, Morris ended a Cal Poly drive with an interception on Weber State's own 2-yard line. The game had been going back and forth until that point, and the play seemed to give the Wildcats the momentum for good.

Morris was matched up one-on-one with star Cal Poly receiver Ramses Barden throughout the game. He gave up some plays, but he limited Barden to less than half the yards he gained on Weber State when the two teams played in 2007.

"I felt like I could hold my own," Morris said. "He is a really good receiver, but I knew I had to get the job done."

Smith and reserve running back Justin White iced the game late in the fourth quarter. After Barden scored on a 5-yard pass from quarterback Jonathan Dally with 3:08 left, Smith had a 23-yard rush to earn a first down and seemingly put the game away. But on the next play, White scored on a 21-yard run to give Weber State some insurance points and a 49-35 advantage.

"Justin looked like he was shot out of a cannon on that play," McBride said.

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