Weber State football: 'Cats claim landmark win over Grizzlies

OGDEN — Weber State running back Trevyn Smith got the breakout game he was looking for, and on a much larger scale so did the Wildcats.

Weber State whipped Montana 45-28 at Elizabeth Dee Shaw Stewart Stadium on Saturday afternoon, ending the Grizzlies' Big Sky record 25-game, regular-season winning streak. The Wildcats also ended Montana's 16-game conference winning streak and nine-game road winning streak in front of a rain-soaked crowd of 3,753 fans.

"It means a lot," said Weber State safety Scotty Goodloe. "I can't even explain it right now. This win right now sets us up to be at the top of the conference. I'm not saying we've won it, but it's a stepping stone to keep going forward. We're building more confidence as we go along."

It was a landmark win for Weber State, signaling that the Wildcats are a true contender in the Big Sky and possibly the new favorite to win the conference. It was the Wildcats' first win over Montana in 10 years, and third in 21 years. The Grizzlies were ranked No. 2 in the FCS Coaches Association poll and No. 3 in the Sports Network writers/SIDs poll entering Saturday's game.

The Wildcats improved to 2-0 in Big Sky play for the first time in 10 years.

"For this program, it's a signature win because you beat a good team convincingly," said coach Ron McBride.

Smith and offensive linemen Paul Carpenter, Lawaia Naihe, Kyle Mutcher, J.C. Oram and Zac Carlson helped make the win happen, as they gashed Montana on Weber State's wet and soggy field. Smith rushed 22 times for

158 yards and scored a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 54 yards and another score. It was easily the best statistical game of the season for the two-time Big Sky rushing champion.

"The offensive line got the breakout game they were looking for," Smith said. "It was easy to run behind those guys."

Smith is just being modest. He ran around and through Montana defenders. He averaged 7.2 yards per carry and became the first player this season to rush for more than 100 yards in a game against the Grizzlies. Montana was allowing just 86.5 rushing yards per game before Saturday.

"Trevyn Smith was special today," said Montana coach Bobby Hauck. "He ran hard and he ran well. He was the best player in the football game on either side of the field."

"Trevyn Smith was unbelievable today," McBride said. "The piles were all going backwards. He broke tackles. He was a man possessed."