Foley kicks late FG to lift Weber State over Idaho State

POCATELLO — Conor Foley felt badly for Branden Jones. After all, he'd been in the same situation of having missed a field goal that might have been the difference in a win or a loss.

But the Weber State kicker's sympathy lasted only a few seconds after the Wildcats' 30-27 win over Idaho State on Saturday.

Foley, who has suffered through a miserable season kicking the ball, gave his Wildcats the lead with 1:42 left in the game after kicking a 40-yard field goal. And after clanking a 38-yard attempt off the right post in the third quarter, it was especially satisfying.

"After missing that one off the post," said Foley, who admitted to nearly throwing up on the sideline because of the pressure situation. "I was hoping I could redeem myself. So making that, with the game on the line, that's as good as it gets for a kicker."

Jones, Idaho State's kicker, felt the opposite emotions as his 37-yard kick hooked wide left with just two seconds remaining on the clock.

"I guess good fortune was on our side," Weber State coach Ron McBride said.

The win gives McBride's squad (4-7, 3-5 Big Sky) a big boost of sorely needed momentum heading into the offseason and caps a difficult season.

"This was a disappointing season," McBride said. "But I'm really not that disappointed because we're such a young team."

The Bengals cracked open the playbook to open things up and used a halfback pass from Ken Cornist to quarterback Matt Gutierrez for an 11-yard touchdown on the first drive of the game.

But Weber State had an answer. With no trick plays needed, the Wildcats quickly marched down the field as Trevyn Smith rambled for a 53-yard gain and then skipped into the end zone two plays later with a 2-yard score.

In the second quarter, Smith became the first Weber State freshman in school history to break the 1,000-yard plateau and ended the game with 211 yards, two touchdowns and a Big Sky rushing title after outdueling ISU's Josh Barnett for the crown.

"I had some goals today," Smith said. "I realized this running back had a few yards on me. But I knew it was something that was within reach."

Smith finished the season with 1,129 yards — a remarkable feat considering he had no rushing attempts in the first two games of the season as a third-string backup. Barnett finished with 1,117 yards.