Offense sputters in Weber St. loss

OGDEN — Ron McBride is running out of ways to describe his team's offense.

"We did some things on offense that poor teams do," the third-year Weber State coach said after seeing his team drop to 0-3 thanks to an ugly 21-5 loss to Montana State.

And, more than simply losing its homecoming game and Big Sky opener, Weber State has opened up a full-blown quarterback controversy.

Starting signal-caller Jimmy Barnes had about as bad an outing as a quarterback could imagine.

Completing just one pass in five attempts for 3 yards, Barnes was sent to the bench — for the second time in the game — after a second Bobcat defensive back returned one of his throws for a touchdown.

He was replaced the first time by redshirt freshman Cameron Higgins, who threw for 113 yards on 9-of-17 passing, before re-entering the game briefly at the end of the third quarter.

Junior college transfer Brendan Doyle was called on and played the final quarter.

Higgins, though, was the only WSU player to direct the team on a scoring drive — a 9-play, 63-yard drive late in the second quarter that ended with a 20-yard field goal from Mike Snoy.

Barnes threw a 26-yard interception return to MSU's Chase Gazzerro in the first quarter and a 12-yard pick-off return for points to Michael Beech in the third. He may have earned a permanent spot on the bench in the process.

Other than that, Weber State's offense was about as horrid as its defense was good.

"The defense played lights out," McBride said. "They improved on all the categories that they played on."

Offensively, however, there was no improvement.

In fact, McBride said the opposite appears to be true.

"When I came here to Weber State, I wanted to make this a first-class program," he said. "Right now, I'm taking some backward steps."

The Wildcats actually outgained the No. 18 Bobcats, 340-283. But repeated trips deep into MSU territory mostly resulted in punts on a short field, missed field goals or turnovers.

"We were 3-of-17 on third downs. That's a joke," McBride said. "That's grammar school stuff."