'Cats look to finish in fashion vs. ISU

POCATELLO, Idaho — No matter how hard a season Weber State might be going through, Wildcat fans have always been able to point to the rivalry game against Idaho State with confidence.

After all, even in WSU's miserable 1-10 season of 2004, it was the Bengals that provided the brief feeling of victory in Ogden.

"I'm 3-0 against Idaho State," Weber State quarterback Ian Pizarro said. "I'd like to keep it that way."

Pizarro was a redshirt freshman the last time the Bengals beat the Wildcats. And that 34-0 loss in 2002 was one of only two defeats WSU has suffered to Idaho State since 1984 — a remarkable stretch which includes 19 wins.

The 2006 clash between these rivals isn't exactly titanic, however. With a combined five wins between them and only three victories in the Big Sky, both teams are simply hoping to end the season on a positive note.

"Hopefully we can go up there and get a win," Weber State senior linebacker Tyler DeBry said. "Of course, every senior wants to go out and win their last game."

To get that win — and subsequently deny the Idaho State seniors of accomplishing the same thing — the Wildcats will need their offense to have an upswing ending to its roller-coaster season and for the defense to stop the Big Sky's top runner.

Josh Barnett averages 99.7 yards per game on the ground and has more 100-yard games than any other Big Sky rusher. Weber State counters with the second-best running back in the conference in Trevyn Smith. The freshman averages 91.8 yards per game.

Idaho State also has a big-armed quarterback in Matt Gutierrez. The Michigan transfer is throwing for only 196.6 yards per outing but has impressed plenty of people around the Big Sky.

The biggest problem for ISU, though, has been its defense. The Bengals give up 30 points and 377 yards per game.

Weber State's defense is still among the best in I-AA football and is led by DeBry and all-American candidate Bo Smith who has shut down the top two receivers in the conference the last two weeks — limiting them to a combined six catches for 70 yards.

"People try once against him and he knocks it down," WSU coach Ron McBride said. "Then they never seem to go back at him. He takes that side of the field out of the game."

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