MISSOULA, Mont. -- The Wildcats have to be perfect the rest of the way to qualify for a playoff spot and any shot at the Big Sky title, and just like always, the Grizzlies are standing in the way.
Weber State (3-4, 3-1 Big Sky) starts the toughest stretch of its conference season today against No. 11 Montana. With No. 4 Montana State coming up next, but the Wildcats can take control of their destiny, but only if they escape what could be a cold, rainy contest in Missoula with a win.
Historically, that hasn't happened often. The Griz have won 12 straight over WSU at Washington-Grizzly Stadium and 11 of 13 overall, though Weber State won last year in Ogden.
Any path to the playoffs for Weber State will have to go through the Montana schools. Montana (6-2, 5-1) guaranteed it 26th consecutive winning season with its fourth straight win, including back-to-back second-half comebacks.
"They've been a good team for 30 years. It ain't no surprise that they are where they are because that's just who they are," Weber State coach Ron McBride said. The Griz have one league loss, the same as the Wildcats, but are two up in the win column.
No. 4 Montana State, 7-1 overall and an unbeaten 6-0 in conference, is the only team with any margin of error in the league race, McBride said.
"We're in good shape. We just have to win," he said.
Weber State may have to make up ground without the services of starting quarterback Mike Hoke. Hoke will be a game-time decision today, depending on the condition of his separated shoulder, with sophomore quarterback Adamczyk waiting in the wings.
Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Hoke has thrown for 1,653 yards and 17 touchdowns this season against only two touchdowns, while Adamczyk has only attempted three passes in mop-up time.
Sophomore running back Josh Booker has rushed for 499 yards this year and became the 26th Wildcat to pass the 2,000-yard career rushing yards mark.
Weber State players in a must-win situation, anxious to erase the sting of last week's loss to Southern Utah and find out where the Wildcats are headed this year, Booker says.
"After our loss to SUU, we had a team-meeting, just players only. We were basically asking each other what we really want. What we do this weekend is going to prove and show how much that meeting really helped us, how much we really care," Booker said.
A year ago in Ogden, the Wildcats rushed 68 times for 259 yards and held the ball for 40 minutes in a 30-21 win over the Grizzlies.
Montana coach Robin Pflugrad hasn't forgotten.
"We'll definitely utilize that (as motivation)," Pflugrad told the Missoulian newspaper. "On the physical part of the game, they probably won the battle. I think that upsets us; it should."
Weber State wants to remember the way it played that day as well, Booker said.
"We think that Montana identifies us as a team that came in and we smashed 'em in the mouth last year," Booker said. "We lost our reputation last week as a team that's been real physical. Our whole goal this week is to be physical in practice and go out there and be physical in the game. We need to go out there and reestablish our physical presence."
That didn't happen against SUU, he said.
"We're looking to regain that back, that identity, that you're in for a grudge match when you play us."
Today's grudge match could be between a Montana rushing attack that ranks 24th in the country (195.25 yards per game), led by freshman running back Jordan Canada, and Weber State's ground game, which ranks 17th at 203.0 ypg. The Wildcats are 12th in the FCS in total offense.
Montana has a dual threat in receiver/returner Jabin Sambrano, who leads the conference in all-purpose yards (148.6 ppg).
* WSU NOTES: Senior tight end Tyrell Francisco is done for the season and his collegiate career after spraining his MCL during the SUU game. Francisco, of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, was the 36th overall pick in the Canadian Football League draft, taken by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after a junior season despite missing all of 2010 with an ACL injury. ... Montana backup quarterback Gerald Kemp and cornerback Trumaine Johnson were arrested early Sunday morning and are accused of obstructing justice and resisting arrest. The two were tased during the incident. Montana coach Robin Pflugrad told the Missoulian on Wednesday he "could not say" if Kemp and Johnson will play against Weber State today. ... The Grizzlies lead the all-time series against Weber State 37-13.
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