Weber State Stuns North Dakota Late, Other Big Sky Recaps
Portland State, Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado and Southern Utah also winners
Jon Oglesby, Football Communications Director
OGDEN, UTAH (October 17, 2015)- Weber State’s mascot may be the Wildcats, but the football team may consider changing it to the “Cardiac Cats,” after this week.
A week after beating Montana in overtime, Weber State came from behind to beat North Dakota, 25-24, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.
North Dakota held a 24-10 lead with 14:53 left in the game, before Weber State scored 15 straight points to earn the win.
It started with a Josh Kealamakia field goal from 43 yards. Then, Wildcats quarterback Jadrian Clark hit Tui Satuala on a 38-yard touchdown to trail 24-19. Then, as North Dakota quarterback Ryan Bartels was trying to evade a tackle on the following UND drive, Emmett Tela forced a Bartles fumble, which Weber recovered. The Wildcats responded with a game-winning score, as Cody Eyolfson caught a five-yard pass from Clark.
Clark completed 21-of-35 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns.
North Dakota running back John Santiago rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown.
PORTLAND STATE 59, MONTANA STATE 42- Portland State running back David Jones rushed for a career-high 285 yards and three touchdowns, as the Vikings earned a home victory over nationally-ranked Montana State.
Montana State quarterback Dakota Prukop scored 81 seconds into the game, and then Portland State responded with a 79-yard touchdown run by Jones to tie the score at 7-7 with 13:21 to go in the first quarter.
While the two teams were tied at 14-14 going into the second quarter, Portland State went on a 21-7 run in the second quarter. Vikings quarterback Alex Kuresa threw a touchdown, and then rushed for a touchdown to give Portland State a 35-21 halftime lead.
Portland State finished with 682 yards, and Montana State finished with 440 yards.
Montana State quarterback Dakota Prukop finished with three rushing touchdowns.
NORTHERN COLORADO 56, UC DAVIS 27- Northern Colorado held a 42-3 lead, on the way to a big home win over UC Davis.
Jacob Knipp ran for three touchdowns and threw for another, as the Bears held a 56-13 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Northern Colorado’s Brandon Cartagena rushed for three touchdowns, and finished with 112 yards.
EASTERN WASHINGTON 45, IDAHO STATE 28- Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp had a record-breaking day, as the Eagles overcame an early deficit to earn a road win in Pocatello.
Kupp finished the game with 14 catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns, breaking the Eastern Washington career catches record that was previously held by Eric Kimble, who finished his career with 253 catches.
Kupp also threw a touchdown, completing a 24-yard throw to quarterback Jordan West for Eastern Washington’s first touchdown of the day.
Idaho State held a 7-0 first quarter, as Bengals quarterback Michael Sanders found Madison Mangum for a two-yard touchdown. Sanders threw two touchdown passes on the day.
Jordan West completed 29-of-46 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns.
SOUTHERN UTAH 44, SACRAMENTO STATE 0- Southern Utah scored 21 points in the first quarter, and led wire-to-wire in a win over Sacramento State.
Thunderbirds quarterback Ammon Olsen completed threw two touchdown passes to Mike Sharp in the first quarter, and completed two touchdown passes to Justin Brown- including a 48-yard strike in the third quarter.
Sacramento State had a chance to score at the end of the third quarter, but Southern Utah kept the shutout streak alive as defensive end James Cowser blocked a 32-yard yard field goal.
Olsen tied a school-record five touchdown passes, and completed 27-of-40 passes for 421 yards. Southern Utah finished with 570 offensive yards.