OGDEN, Utah – Weber State turned a nine-point lead to begin the final quarter into a 27-point blowout, beating Portland State 43-16.
The Wildcats hosted the Portland State Vikings at Stewart Stadium in Ogden, Utah, on Saturday, September 7.
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Home and Big Sky dub!
Wildcats win! #WeberStateGreat pic.twitter.com/0VQY3Mpdqx
— Weber State Football 🏈 (@weberstatefb) September 8, 2024
Richie Munoz threw for 219 yards and a touchdown. Munos also found the endzone once on the ground. Damon Banstead led Weber State with 134 yards and two scores on 15 carries. Jacob Sharp caught five balls for 76 yards.
First Half
After both teams punted on their opening possession, Weber State got the ball rolling. Richie Munoz completed three passes on the drive, including a 28-yard scoring strike to Jacob Sharp to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first period.
TOUCHDOWN WILDCATS!
Muñoz ➡️ Sharp 28 yards!
Wildcats lead 7-0 pic.twitter.com/17fTgWhSXV
— Weber State Football 🏈 (@weberstatefb) September 8, 2024
Portland State responded with a scoring drive of its own. QB Dante Chachere and RB Quincy Craig spearheaded an eight-play, 71-yard drive that consumed nearly four minutes of game time and tied the score at seven.
The Wildcats grabbed a 10-7 lead when Kyle Thompson hit a 46-yard field goal with 8:33 left in the half. Portland State tied the game with a 42-yard field goal from Mathias Uribe.
Kyle Thompson with a 46-yard field goal and the Wildcats lead 10-7
8:33 | 2nd quarter pic.twitter.com/rw28tT4t8I
— Weber State Football 🏈 (@weberstatefb) September 8, 2024
Weber State needed just 2:20 to drive 77 yards on eight plays for its second TD of the half. Damon Bankston found the end zone on a one-yard plunge. The Wildcats led 16-10 at the half after a failed extra point.
Second Half
The lead grew to 19-10 when Thompson added a 41-yard FG early in the half.
Thompson’s third field goal gave Weber State a 12-point lead on the first play of the fourth quarter.
A Munoz nine-yard scramble to paydirt gave the Wildcats a nearly insurmountable advantage. The extra point made it 29-10 with 10:41 left.
𝔸𝕝𝕝 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕤 😤@Richieboyqb12 runs it in himself to extend the lead #ExperienceElevated pic.twitter.com/93zLYMByq9
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) September 8, 2024
After the Pilots got a touchdown back with 5:38 to play, Bankston put the nail in the coffin with a 75-yard TD run on the Wildcats’ next play from scrimmage.
Bankston takes it to the bank!
75-yard TD for @ThatBoy_Bank pic.twitter.com/mbYoihBRKO
— Weber State Football 🏈 (@weberstatefb) September 8, 2024
Three minutes later, the Wildcat’s third touchdown of the period gave Weber State a 43-16 lead with 2:26 left.
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Weber State will travel to Beaumont, Texas, on Saturday, September 14, to take on the Lamar Cardinals. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. MT.
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Brian Preece is a KSLsports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.