MOSCOW, Idaho-Saturday, No. 4 Weber State continues its successful football season by visiting the Kibbie Dome to face the Idaho Vandals in the Big Sky Conference season opener for the Wildcats.
The 2-2 Wildcats are coming off a 29-17 rout of Northern Iowa as both Weber State and the Panthers were ranked in the Top 10 at the time of this tilt at Stewart Stadium.
The Wildcats have bested both of their fellow FCS opponents this season as they defeated Cal Poly 41-24 September 7 at Ogden. In close losses to San Diego State (0-6) and Nevada (13-16) of the Mountain West Conference, the Wildcats only lost to the Aztecs and Wolf Pack by a collective 9 points.
In entering their Big Sky Conference opener, the Wildcats have won 19 of their last 21 games against Big Sky schools.
In his sixth season at the helm at Weber State, Jay Hill is 38-28 and 27-13 (.675) in Big Sky games.
The Wildcats are tied for 92nd nationally in scoring offense (20.8 points per game) with Western Carolina.
Junior quarterback Jake Constantine completes 70.4 percent of his passes on the season (38-54) for 256 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
He suffered a knee injury against Cal Poly and sophomore understudy Kade Jenks has thrived in his absence, completing 52.6 percent of his passes (30 of 57) for 321 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Jenks completed 19 of 29 passes for 219 yards and a score in last Saturday’s win against Northern Iowa.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Hill had not determined whether Jenks or Constantine will get the nod at Idaho.
In receiving, the Wildcats are paced by junior receiver Rashid Shaheed (13 rec, 163 yards, 3 TD’s) and sophomore wide-out Devon Cooley (12 rec, 157 yards).
In the backfield, rising star sophomore tailback Josh Davis (41 car, 180 yards, 2 TD’s) and junior back Kevin Smith Jr. (43 car, 172 yards) lead the way thus far.
The Wildcats’ defense, which has not given up more than 24 points in a game this season, ranks 10th nationally with 16.5 points per game surrendered.
Weber State has posted 10 sacks on the season with 3 apiece having come from senior defensive end Jonah Williams and sophomore defensive end McKade Mitton. Senior defensive end Adam Rodriguez has added 2.5 more sacks for the Wildcats.
Freshman defensive back Maxwell Anderson, sophomore safety Brady Burke and junior safety Preston Smith all have an interception apiece for the Wildcats.
The Vandals come into this game at 2-3 and 0-1 in Big Sky Conference play. They began the season being crushed 79-7 by Big Ten power Penn State. They then defeated Division II Central Washington 41-31 and fell to FBS foe Wyoming 21-16 after which they upset Eastern Washington 35-27.
They then fell to Northern Colorado 27-24 at Greeley, Colo. in their Big Sky season-opener.
They are coached by seventh-year head coach Paul Petrino who is 23-49 at the helm at Moscow, Idaho (.319).
The Vandals are tied for 73rd nationally in scoring offense (24.6 points per game) with William & Mary.
Idaho’s offense is paced by Petrino’s son, senior signal-caller Mason Petrino who has completed 62.5 percent of his passes (90-144) for 7 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
Redshirt freshman tailback Aundre Carter (63 car, 290 yards, 4 TD’s) is the Vandals’ leading rusher while redshirt sophomore back Roshaun Johnson (51 car, 241 yards, 2 TD’s) has also been solid for Idaho.
Redshirt senior receiver Jeff Cotton (44 rec, 519 yards, 3 TD’s) is the Vandals’ leading receiver, while redshirt sophomore receiver Cutrell Haywood (22 rec, 208 yards, 3 TD’s) has also been productive.
Idaho’s scoring defense has surrendered 37 points per contest, ranking it tied for 101st with Incarnate Word nationally.
Junior defensive lineman Jonah Kim leads the Vandals with 2 sacks. Redshirt junior linebacker Charles Akanno has forced two fumbles to lead the team and junior linebacker Christian Elliss has the only interception for Idaho.
The Vandals lead the Wildcats 18-13-1 all-time, with both schools representing the Big Sky Conference as charter members of the Ogden-based conference.
