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WEBER STATE RUNS PAST FOOTBALL IN BIG SKY OPENER
9/17/2011
OGDEN, Utah — Weber State amassed 522 yards of total offense and scored in nearly every fashion in a 49-17 win over No. 20 Sacramento State, Saturday evening at Elizabeth Dee Shaw Stewart Stadium.
The loss dropped the Hornets to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big Sky Conference. The Wildcats (1-2, 1-0) earned the first win of the season after losses to Wyoming and Utah State and continued their domination of Sacramento State at home (8-0).
Weber State never trailed in the game, taking advantage of a 12-yard pass from Mike Hoke to Shaydon Kehano with 5:49 left in the first quarter. A 32-yard field goal from Jason Diniz put the Hornets on the board late in the second quarter but WSU answered with a 17-yard TD pass from Hoke to Austin Raught with 23 seconds left in the period.
The Wildcats stretched their lead early in the second half behind a 3-yard run from Hoke and a 30-yard pass to Kehano.
Sacramento State snapped its touchdown draught, which dated back to the first half at Southern Utah, when Bryan Hilliard ran around the left side of the line for a 4-yard TD to make the score 28-10 at the end of three quarters.
Weber State dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Hornets 21-7. The Wildcats had a 25-yard run from Tanner Hines before David James intercepted Fleming and returned it 75 yards down the sideline. The final touchdown was on a 35-yard run from Josh Booker.
Sacramento State's lone score of the period came with 9:57 left when Fleming connected with Chase Deadder for a 4-yard touchdown pass in the middle of the end zone.
The Wildcats punished the Hornets on the ground, rushing for 324 yards. Hicks led the way with 104 and was added by 86 from Booker, 70 from Barrington Collins and 58 from C.J. Tuckett.
Sacramento State also had a successful rushing game with 204 team yards. Hilliard gained 73 to raise his career total of 2,999 yards.
For the second consecutive week, the Hornets struggled to find rhythm through the air. Fleming finished 17-of-39 for 230 yards but was intercepted a career-high three times. While the senior had trouble early on hitting his receivers, there were several balls that were dropped or tipped by his intended targets in the second half.
Morris Norisse was officially credited with six receptions for 91 yards. Five other Sacramento State players caught passes in the game, including four from running back Sam McCowan and the first two career grabs from freshman DeAndre Carter.
After playing its first three games on the road, Sacramento State will have its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 24, against Montana. The game will begin at 6:05 p.m. from Hornet Stadium.
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