Grizzlies double up the winless Wildcats

OGDEN — It's official. Weber State is now off to the worst start in 15 years.

The Wildcats fell to 0-5 (0-2) on the season after they were defeated by the Montana Grizzlies 42-21 on Saturday at Stewart Stadium. Weber State hasn't started a season 0-5 since 1989 under coach Dave Arslanian.

Despite the dismal record, no one can say the Wildcats didn't come out ready to play. The teams traded scores in the first quarter and with less than a minute to go Weber had third-and-goal on the Montana 3-yard line. That's when things went sour. Quarterback Ian Pizarro, in to replace injured starter Jeff Fowler, ran into blocking back B.A. Harrell and mishandled the handoff to Nick Chournos. The ball was recovered by Montana's Jimmy Wilson and Weber State was never the same.

"I made the call on there and we didn't execute," said coach Jerry Graybeal.

As the pattern so far this season, the mistakes snowballed after that.

More turnovers and injuries wore the Wildcats thin against the confident Grizzlies. Montana quarterback Craig Ochs threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns to lead the visiting team to its first Big Sky victory.

The Grizzlies piled up 385 yards and four second-half touchdowns to win in convincing fashion.

One bright note for the Wildcats was the play of Chournos, who ran 34 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

He needs 24 yards to become the No. 1 all-time rusher in school history. Receiver Mike Mathis also contributed four catches for 114 yards. Chournos could have reached the record late in the game — and he wanted to — but Graybeal decided to pull him out and save him for next week's game at Montana State.

"I'm trying to win the game," Graybeal said. "He'll still get the record."

The Grizzlies were OK with that.

"He's one heck of a runner. To be in a position to break any school record — I give him credit," said Montana linebacker Shane MacIntyre. "But I wanted to make sure it didn't happen against us."

If there is any consolation to the winless record, it's the fact that opponents know the Wildcats are better than their record indicates. "(Weber) is far better than its 0-5 record, I can say that without a doubt," said Ochs.

"It's the biggest surprise in the league," said Grizzlies' coach Bobby Hauck.

Graybeal realizes this too. The very thought makes him angry.

"I'm going to get up and watch film tomorrow and I'm going to be mad, because I know we have enough talent to play better than we are," Graybeal said. "We are practicing the same way we did last year at 8- 4."

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