Weber State football: Wildcats overcome adversity to have solid season

OGDEN — If you had told the Weber State Wildcats before the 2009 season began that they would finish the year with a 7-5 record and lose in the first round of the FCS playoffs, they probably would have been disappointed.

But their reaction may have been a little different had they known what kind of adversity they would have to deal with in 2009.

All football teams have to deal with injuries, but Weber State's season was severely hampered by them. The Wildcats lost one of their top weapons on offense, tight end Cody Nakamura, in their conference opener and it limited their firepower the rest of the season. Other key players such as center Kyle Mutcher, tackle Jared Wilcox and defensive lineman Ryan Eastman missed playing time because of injuries.

Running back Trevyn Smith also missed the team's win over Northern Colorado because he was suspended for a half, and wasn't used when he was available after halftime. The Wildcats also faced a daunting schedule, as they played back-to-back FBS opponents Wyoming and Colorado State to open the season, and then jumped right into conference play with a rivalry game against Idaho State.

Still, the Wildcats managed to take second place in the Big Sky and qualify for the FCS playoffs for the second straight year. It was the first time in school history Weber State reached the postseason in back-to-back years.

"I don't think that you're ever satisfied," said Weber State coach Ron McBride. "I'm happy with how the team handled adversity. They responded really well."

Some of the adversity the Wildcats faced was self-inflicted. They dropped winnable games at Colorado State and at home against Montana State. Weber State lost to Colorado State when it was in field goal range in the final minute before it lost a fumble on a botched snap exchange. The Wildcats lost to Montana State 26-21 after scoring just one touchdown in seven red-zone appearances.

"We're obviously disappointed because there were games we should have won," McBride said.

The Wildcats rebounded from those frustrating losses and were somewhat of a surprise entry into the FCS playoffs. Weber State was thought to be eliminated from postseason after suffering its fourth defeat of the season at Montana. The Wildcats finished the season strong, with a quality win over Northern Arizona in the snow and a blowout victory over Cal Poly. Weber State also got some help on the final day of the regular season, as teams on the playoff bubble such as Montana State, Liberty, Lafayette and Northern Iowa all lost.