Big Sky Roundup
Brandon Smith recovered a Montana State fumble in the end zone to give Weber State a 14-7 victory over the 23rd-ranked Bobcats in a snowstorm on Saturday in Bozeman, Mont.
Montana State had substituted freshman quarterback Todd Buchanan early in the third quarter when the Bobcats had the ball on their own 3-yard line. A center snap was fumbled by Buchanan and he tried to flip it to a back, but the ball squirted into the end zone, where Smith recovered it for the game-winner.
“(Buchanan) took a swipe at the ball to the running back. The running back didn’t get it. I saw the ball and then I was sitting in a pile of snow in the end zone,” Smith said.
MSU coach Cliff Hysell would not comment about the substitution, the only play Buchanan was in on.
“At that point in time everyone was just frustrated,” said MSU quarterback Jeff Tuss. “It was a difficult situation for Todd to be in. That’s the worst place for a turnover.”
All three scores came after turnovers as 4 inches of snow fell during the first half of the Big Sky Conference clash that left both teams 2-2 in the league.
Weber St. 14, Montana St. 7
Weber St. 0 7 7 0 - 14
Montana St. 0 7 0 0 - 7
MSUBragg 10 pass from Tuss (Groshelle kick) WSUPelagio-Williams 11 pass from Cook (Shields kick) WSUSmith fumble recovery in end zone (Shields kick)
A-4,407.
WSU MSU First downs 14 14 Rushes-yards 32-61 39-9 Passing 161 81 Return Yards 60 98 Comp-Att-Int 20-38-0 9-31-4 Punts 11-40 8-39 Fumbles-Lost 2-2 5-2 Penalties-Yards 15-153 11-105 Time of Possession 28:08 31:52
RUSHINGWeber St., Robinson 15-36, Santien, 14-42, Cook 2-(-6). Montana St., Engleking 25-73, Hopkins 1-4, Ephriam 1-4, Tuss 11-(-64).
PASSINGWeber St., Cook 20-38-0-161. Montana St., Tuss 9-31-4-81.
RECEIVINGWeber St., Eckford 7-55, Quayle 6-51, McGhee 3-27. Montana St., Harry 2-13, Hopkins 1-23, Bragg 1-10.
Boise St. 27, Idaho St. 17
Defensive back Rashid Gayle made two key interceptions, returning one 47 yards for a score, as the Broncos defeated the Bengals in Boise.
Gayle’s return came with 1:45 left in the second quarter and gave Boise State a 10-3 lead.
Idaho St. 03 00 07 07 - 17
Boise St. 00 10 14 03 - 27
ISUFarrell 22 fg BSUErickson 46 fg BSUGayle 47 interception return (Erickson kick) ISUAnderson 30 run (Farrell kick) BSUEdwards 3 run (Erickson kick) BSUHurley 1 run (Erickson kick) ISUAnderson 14 run (Farrell kick) BSUErickson 18 fg
A-23,621.
ISU BSU First downs 17 18 Rushes-yards 34-178 47-164 Passing 133 156 Return Yards 20 72 Comp-Att-Int 14-26-3 13-20-1 Punts 4-34 3-34 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 3-3 Penalties-Yards 7-59 4-32 Time of Possession 28:23 31:37
RUSHINGISU, Anderson 24-164, Joseph 7-22, Young 1-2; BSU Hurley 15-73, Graven 7-60, Edwards 12-37.
PASSINGISU Wetta 14-26-3 133; BSU Hilde 13-20-1 156.
RECEIVINGISU Waters 3-50, Felts 4-49, Young 2-19; BSU Hurley 3-80, Richmond 4-29, Ikebe 2-17.