AT 
Game Time: 3:00 PM Central, 11/25/2017
Location: Stewart Stadium, Ogden, Utah Map
Weather:
TV: ESPN3/WatchESPN.com
Radio: Announcers (Scott Kornberg, Dr. Tom Cody) - Beardstown - WRMS (94.3 FM); Macomb - WJEQ (102.7 FM); Galesburg - WAIK (1590 AM); Quincy - WPWQ (106.7 FM); Clinton, Iowa - (KCLN 1390 AM)
Internet: wrmsfm.com or Tune-In Radio App (Google store and iTunes)
Live Stats: Weber State Live Stats Page
Game Notes: Not posted yet
A bit about Weber State
First up...it's pronounced like "Wee-bur" rather than "Weh-bur" (it's named after Weber County, where it's located). Located in beautiful Ogden, UT, just north of Salt Lake City, Weber State sits in the shadow of 9,579 ft high Mt. Ogden (~3.8k ft prominence), part of the northern Wasach Range. Ogden also lies on the banks of the Great Salt Lake, and for anyone who might be headed out to the game who hasn't ever been out there before...if you have some extra time, I highly recommend heading down I-15 to Salt Lake City, then west on I-80 to the Bonneville Salt Flats (stop at the westbound "rest stop"). It is equal parts beautiful and incredibly odd (it's about 2 hours from Weber State to the Bonneville Salt Flats by car) and is worth seeing at least once. Head just a little further west to Wendover, UT (site of the training base for WWII bomber pilots including the crew of the Enola Gay) and West Wendover, NV (site of casinos...it's Nevada). Turn around there and head back across the Salt Flats to Salt Lake City and north to Ogden. Probably would make a good afternoon excursion the day before the game if you're out there early enough.
Ok, enough "travel guide"...the Weber State Wildcats kicked off the season with a crushing of NAIA Montana Western, then turned around and played very well at Cal, being up by a FG after 3 quarters, but ultimately going down by 13 to the PAC 12 Golden Bears. They continued on the road taking on (eventual 7-4) Sacramento State in what was technically a non-conference Big Sky matchup where the Wildcats won 31-24. I believe the deal with that is that the official conference schedule had WSU not playing Sac State or NAU, but they scheduled an OOC game with Sac State anyway, that doesn't actually count for conference standings and stuff. A 41-3 defeat of 5-6 UC Davis was actually their Big Sky opener and then a 25-17 win at Montana State had the Wildcats at 4-1. They then welcomed Southern Utah (9-2, Big Sky Champions) to Ogden, but suffered their second loss, 32-16. A 17-3 win at Cal Poly (1-10), 41-27 over Montana (7-4), 28-20 win on the Inferno of Eastern Washington (7-4), 63-17 demolishing of Portland State (the Indiana State of the Big Sky who finished at 0-11) out on the coast, and a 35-7 home win over Idaho State (4-7) to close out the season gave Weber State a 9-2 overall record, 7-1 in the Big Sky, and 8-2 against DI opponents.
On offense, the Wildcats gain 408.5 ypg total (37th in the FCS) with 196.5 ypg of that on the ground (25th) and 212 ypg through the air (57th) and put up points at a rate of 35.7 ppg (12th). On defense, they allow 338.2 ypg (37th in the FCS) with 117.3 ypg on the ground (23rd) and 220.9 ypg in the passing game (67th) and are allowing 16.6 ppg (11th). They have a very stingy red zone defense, allowing the 4th fewest scores from that area in the FCS and have intercepted 16 passes this season, good for 7th in the FCS. They also have the #2 TOP in the FCS, averaging 34:17 with the ball. Weaknesses include losing fumbles (8 total, 55th in FCS) and penalty yards (57.27 per game, 51st in FCS).
Just doing a quick comparison of stats with our MVFC bretheren, Weber State is most like:
Passing Offense - Illinois State
Rushing Offense - Illinois State
Passing Defense - Southern Illinois
Rushing Defense - Western Illinois
Scoring Offense - Western Illinois
Scoring Defense - midway between NDSU and YSU
So, in many ways, they're very similar to both us and Illinois State, although they get really tough defensively once you get into the red zone.
WSU Players to Watch:
- QB Stephan Cantwell - averages 205 ypg and 18 TDs through the air with 5 INTs and runs for ~36 ypg with 6 rushing TDs.
- KR/WR Rashid Shaheed - averages 31.71 yards per kickoff return (3rd in FCS) with 2 return TDs. Also catches 45.3 ypg at WR.
- KR Xequille Harry - averages 18.81 yards per punt return (2nd in the FCS behind our own Steve McShane) with 1 TD.
- RB Treshawn Garrett - leads the team in rushing with 61 ypg with 6 TDs
- TE Andrew Vollert - leads the team in receiving yards with 50.64 per game and 3 TDs
- LB Toia Legrand - tops the Wildcats with 61 total tackles including 8 for loss (5 sacks), 2 pass breakups, 3 qb hurries, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery
- DT McKay Murphy - has 32 tackles, but 13 of them were for loss including 3 sacks
- DB Jordan Preator - 33 tackles w/ 1 sack, but leads the team with 4 INTs
The Leathernecks and Wildcats have faced off twice in their histories. The first was a 19-10 Leatherneck victory at Weber State in 1975 and the second a 21-19 WIU win in Macomb in 1976.
Predictions
Massey - 24-23, WIU Victory
Compughterratings.com - 25-24, WSU win
Sagarin (calculation, doesn't round) - 22.60 to 22.16, WIU win
Average margin: dead even
Rankings
Sagarin (out of all 254 DI teams) - WIU 78, WSU 95
Massey Composite - WIU 7, WSU 6
STATS Top 25 - WIU 9, WSU - 11
AGS Poll - WIU 11, WSU 10
Common Opponents
None. You'd have to go to a second level deep on that (WIU vs NAU, NAU vs most of the Big Sky, most of the Big Sky vs WSU)...and it's really rather pointless when you go that far with it.
My Take
Wow are we pretty evenly matched. I think we have the advantage through the air for the most part, especially when we're on offense, but defensively, they have a little bit of the edge, especially against the run. They have dangerous return guys who can really turn a game around for them as well as a fairly mobile QB.
I think Weber State is actually a very similar team to us in terms of where and who they are. Both are teams from powerhouse conferences (MVFC and Big Sky), both conferences have a couple of "big flashy" teams that everyone knows...NDSU & YSU...EWU & Montana, but we're both generally just a bit behind the top of the conference. We're both really good teams, but don't often seem to win the conference championship or get close to playing for the FCS championship. Just strong, "workhorse" teams that get out there and get the job done.
Prediction:
I think that most of the predictors out there...Sagarin...Massey, etc. generally factor in a few points (3-4) for a home field advantage. The thing is...we don't do "home field advantage". There's one thing I've really noticed about our team, having gone to two away games (that we won both of)...our guys really thrive on taking a nice loud opposing crowd and completely shutting them up. I think they would much rather do that than play at home in front of our own...sometimes not so enthusiastic or large...crowd. Playing well on the road is our identity...our guys are "road dogs"...so I think you can probably kick that "home field advantage" out the window. Since most predictors have the game essentially "dead even" (one has us winning by 1 point, the other has them winning by 1 point), I think we'll come away with a close, low scoring, 3-point win. I probably won't have any fingernails when it's over...but it'll be a win.
Scott Lawson - Board Admin
