Weber State football: Wildcats' O-line will have to adjust

OGDEN — The last thing Weber State needed was another injury on offense prior to facing William & Mary in the first round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday.

The Tribe boasts the top run defense in the FCS, allowing just 1.8 yards per carry. Running on them will be extremely difficult and much tougher than usual because the Wildcats will be without center Kyle Mutcher. The three-year starter broke his leg against Cal Poly in Weber State's regular-season finale and is done for the season.

"He's the whole key to the offensive line," Wildcats coach Ron McBride said of Mutcher. "That's a huge hit for us."

When it comes to running the ball, Mutcher may have been the most indispensable player on Weber State's offense. The Wildcats will have to do without him, and they'll need players such as Tim Farabee and Tytan Timoteo to step up in his absence.

"It's huge (not having Mutcher)," said receiver Tim Toone. "An All-American center is not going to be playing. Some younger guys will have to step up. They can play, so they'll fill the role to help us."

The Wildcats could be hurting in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Ryan "The Beast" Eastman, a starter on the defensive line, has yet to return since injuring his knee against Montana, and he's questionable to play against William & Mary.

NAKAMURA UPDATE: Tight end Cody Nakamura is recovering nicely after tearing his MCL, PCL and meniscus earlier this season. His rehab is on target for his injuries — sort of.

"They (doctors) say I'm right where I want to be if I just had the MCL, just the meniscus, just the PCL, but altogether they don't know what the timeframe is for that," Nakamura said. "It doesn't hurt at all, it's just weak. They say I'm doing pretty good."

It's hard to say who will hurt more on Saturday — Nakamura because he can't play, or Weber State's offense because it won't have its standout tight end against a rugged defense.

"I'm happy for them," Nakamura said of his teammates. "I'm happy for the team. I just wish I could participate. Hopefully, Coach Mac will let me travel with them. I'll do what I can to help — pass out water or whatever the heck I gotta do."

Nakamura, a senior who hopes to get another year of eligibility approved by the NCAA, is impressed with William & Mary's defense, but he feels good about his offense's chances of moving the ball.

"I think they'll (the Wildcats) be fine," Nakamura said. "They've (the Tribe) got a good defense, but they haven't seen an offense like ours. It should be a good game. I'm excited — excited to watch."