Big Sky Champions

POCATELLO, Idaho - The Weber State University Football Team has finally achieved what hasn't been done in almost 40 years. On Saturday, the Wildcats throttled the Idaho State University Bengals 59-27, winning at least a share of the Big Sky Conference Championship for the first time since 1968. The win also, clinches the Wildcats an FCS playoff birth for the first time since 1991. WSU tied the University of Idaho in 1987 with a 7-1 conference record, but the Big Sky Conference did not acknowledge all tied teams as co-champions at that time. Idaho beat WSU that year and was recognized as the lone champion. WSU has a chance to win the title outright with a win at home against Eastern Washington University on Nov. 22. "It's been a long haul," said WSU defensive coordinator Kevin Clune. "You could see from the first year, second year, third year, that these teams were getting tougher. These kids were starting to take more and more responsibility with the things they were doing, and this year it dawned on them that we've got the talent, and we've just got to get it done. And they've done it." WSU Head Coach Ron McBride was unavailable for comment after the game. He was carted off the field for medical issues during the second half. "He was chewing someone out pretty bad and he got out of breath on the thing and kind of went down," Clune said. "He's a tough old man. He's probably one of the toughest old men I've ever met." McBride's son Dan made the announcement after the game that 'Mac' was doing fine and resting comfortably. The coach had been feeling under the weather previous to the game. Both squads started relatively slow in the first quarter of the game, with neither team making much progress on offense. As the second quarter started, with the score tied 3-3, WSU cornerback Josh Morris lit a fire under the tails of the Wildcats with his first of three interceptions on the day. "I was just trying to play the ball," Morris said. "I try to bait the receivers every time, but sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. That time it worked." The WSU offense responded from the big defensive play by going on to score touchdowns on seven consecutive possessions. Wildcat running back Trevyn Smith led the way, piling up 143 rushing yards, 86 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Smith's 41-yard touchdown run in the third quarter moved him past former Wildcat Nick Chournos' mark of 3,593 career rushing yards, making him WSU's all-time leading rusher. Smith, a junior, now has 3,616 yards on the ground in his career with one game left to play on the season. "It's awesome that all the work paid off," Smith said. "It feels good, but it's just one more step." Smith wasn't the only Wildcat to ink the record books Saturday. WSU receiver Tim Toone caught his 18th career touchdown, a 65-yard touchdown bomb from quarterback Cameron Higgins shortly after Morris' first interception. The score ties Toone with former Wildcat Wade Orton for most career touchdown catches in WSU history. "I don't know how to describe this," Toone said. "We're just living in the moment right now." Higgins finished with 369 yards through the air, and three passing touchdowns. Toone hauled in five catches for 179 yards and one touchdown. WSU running back Justin White finished with 115 rushing yards after coming in for Smith in the fourth quarter, boasting an 80-yard touchdown run. Receiver Mike Phillips, and tight end Cody Nakamura each had one touchdown reception, and backup quarterback Brendon Doyle pumped in a rushing touchdown as well. WSU racked up 666 total yards on offense, accompanied by four forced turnovers from the Wildcat defense and special teams. The Wildcats' 59-point effort is the squad's highest since their opener on Aug. 28, when they beat the University of Montana - Western 62-6. "It felt great when they put up a bunch of extra points," Clune said. "They came to play. The difference between this Weber State team and others is that guys like Cameron, Trevyn and Tim Toone have come to play every single game and put us in position to win."