Road warriors

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - With the entire season on the line, the Weber State University Football Team continued its road dominance Saturday. On the road in San Luis Obispo, Calif., the No. 12 Wildcats defeated No. 3 California Polytechnic State University 49-35 in the opening round of the FCS playoffs. "This is probably the finest win we've had," said WSU Head Coach Ron McBride. "It's special because every player gave everything they had." The win marks the first time WSU has won a playoff game since 1987 when the Wildcats topped the University of Idaho 51-23 on the road. The Wildcats now move on to face arch-rival University of Montana in the quarterfinals in Missoula, Mont., this upcoming weekend. WSU beat Montana 45-28 at home earlier this season but were forced to share the Big Sky Conference Title with the Grizzlies after losing to Eastern Washington University in the Wildcats' regular season finale. The game was a shootout from the start of the first quarter, when Cal Poly took advantage of a quick WSU three-and-out and drove down the field for a quick strike, a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jonathan Dally to All-American receiver Ramses Barden, putting Cal Poly up 7-0 early. However, the Wildcats responded with a vengeance, piling up 564 yards of total offense and forcing five turnovers en route to their 49 points. "The guys played their tails off," McBride said. "Turnovers are very uncharacteristic of their (Cal Poly) team, but our guys made plays. They kept hitting and banging and it paid." WSU running back Trevyn Smith scored the Wildcats' first three touchdowns, highlighted by an impressive series of jukes on a 29-yard go-ahead touchdown run in the first quarter, giving WSU a 14-7 lead. That lead never faltered for through the remainder of the night. "In my opinion Cal Poly is the best team we've played this year," Smith said. "On offense it was a great effort as a unit. (Tim) Toone was incredible, and we're a real duel threat because of guys like him and Mike (Phillips)." Toone and Phillips both had stellar nights. The wide-receiver duo put on a show highlighted by several long catches. Phillips snagged an impressive circus-act catch for 40 yards early in the game, and hauled in a 50-yard catch and run, which he fumbled away after getting sandwiched between two defenders at the Mustang five yard line. McBride said he thought Phillips' knee was down on the controversial call. "They said he juggled the ball and it came out," McBride said. "I'll have to look at the film to know. But honestly, I'm just amazed the guy had the speed to catch him, because Mike's a fast guy." Toone caught 10 passes for a season-high 199 yards and one touchdown, a 15-yard strike from quarterback Cameron Higgins right before halftime. Higgins quietly tossed 399 yards and two touchdown passes, accompanied with a one-yard touchdown run. The Wildcat defense also stole the show in Saturday night's scoring onslaught. WSU managed to do just enough to hold the powerful option attack of Cal Poly's high-octane offense. Cal Poly's Dally had thrown only one interception in the entire season coming into the matchup, but the Wildcat secondary snatched four interceptions, holding Barden at bay much of the night. "I felt like I could hold my own," said WSU cornerback Josh Morris, who had one interception and two pass breakups. "I know he's (Barden) one of the top receivers I've played in my career, but I was confident enough to make plays." McBride also had praise for Morris' performance. "Josh was man-to-man on Barden all night, with no help," McBride said. "He stepped up big today." As the game wore on, with Cal Poly constantly knocking at the door to retake the lead, it was the Wildcat depth that stepped up as well. Backup quarterback Brendan Doyle hooked up with tight end Cody Nakamura for a nine-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter, and backup running back Justin White pumped in a 21-yard touchdown run in the game's closing minutes. "I tell you what, old Justin White looked like he was shot out cannon on that last run," McBride said. "I wish he would have fallen down on about the one-half yard line so we could run out the clock though." WSU now moves on to the FCS quarterfinals, and would love to beat the Griz for bragging rights in the conference, and a chance to move on to the semifinals. "We've still got something to prove," Morris said with a grin on his face. "They've got a comforting atmosphere for away teams up there, just like Cal Poly does, so let's see what happens." Game notes: At the start of the third quarter, WSU nose guard Bryce Scanlon forced and recovered a fumble as Cal Poly was driving into Wildcat territory … On the Mustangs final possession of the third quarter, with first and goal on tap, the WSU defense dug in and stopped Cal Poly on a fourth-and-goal attempt … Wildcat cornerback Terrell Cloud tackled Mustang Tredale Tolver just short on a Dally shovel-pass, saving a touchdown.