OGDEN — It’s been hard to miss the surge of offense for Weber State football so far in the 2022 season.

Explosive throws to multiple receivers and runs from multiple running backs, quick-strike scoring drives — it very much seems to be a new era under offensive coordinator Mickey Mental.

Through six games, WSU’s offense is averaging 90 more yards per game (from 366 last season to 456 currently) and the Wildcats rank 14th nationally in scoring at 37.3 points per game.

“I’m proud of the direction the offense is heading. They’re dynamic, putting up a bunch of yards and putting up a lot of points. There are so many good things,” head coach Jay Hill said.

A lot of that good has its foundations in the offensive line, playing a core group of Noah Atagi, Ethan Atagi, George Barrera, Jordan Lutui, Jake Eichorn and Meleke Tauteoli. It’s come from both on-field improvement and significantly better health.

Through six games, Weber State is rushing for 4.7 yards per carry, up a full yard from last year’s 3.7 per-carry average.

And WSU quarterbacks — with Bronson Barron’s presence also helping himself in this area — have been sacked just five times in six games, or 0.83 times per game. WSU gave up 25 sacks in 11 games last season, or 2.3 per game.

A lot has been going well.

It’s going so well, in fact, that one of the most glaring problems is also with the offensive line, as the Wildcats have seen several promising drives halted by penalties or bad snaps. In penalties alone, WSU is averaging three false starts or illegal snaps per game this season. Other drives have taken big losses on shotgun snaps Barron is unable to salvage.

So far, it’s only been the difference between big wins and even bigger wins. But as the Wildcats are set for three consecutive games against teams currently in the national top 10, it’s a prime focus, for sure.

In a moment of pure coincidence, starting center Ethan Atagi was engaged in a series of rapid-fire, snap-and-move reps with Barron just yards away as Hill spoke about the subject after Wednesday’s practice.

Hill said they’re looking at the technique of each snap and, for false-start issues, try to put the linemen under stress in practice, with crowd noise, up-tempo reps, changing tempo and more.

“In practice and through the week, through film study, we try to find what’s leading to that stuff and address it in practice, which is occurring,” Hill said.

There’s give and take for the times what WSU is doing causes snap or false-start struggles, Hill says.

“A lot of what we’re doing with some of our offsides is creating a lot of offsides and indecision in the defense, too,” he said. “When we clean them up, the sky’s the limit right now.”

And, as he preaches for any occasion, winning football games usually comes down to how you respond to mistakes and sudden change.

“Stay the course and don’t freak out. If something bad happens, you overcome it by finding a way to get a first down,” he said.

INJURY UPDATES

While the official diagnosis for junior slot receiver and punt return Haze Hadley was still out Wednesday evening, as Hadley was undergoing more scans and checks, Hill said the injuries to Hadley’s left leg suffered last week are expected to keep him out for the remainder of the season.

Hadley was twisted down awkwardly when tackled during a punt return in the win at Portland State and was helped off the field. The Fremont High alum seemed to suffer possible knee and ankle injuries during the play.

Hadley totaled 21 receptions for 160 yards and one touchdown this season, with 23 punt returns for 289 yards.

Sophomore receiver Hudson Schenck is now listed as the starter at slot receiver and backup at punt returner. The Weber High alum has six catches for 52 yards this season and fielded punts in three games back in 2019.

“He’s been here a long time and we fully trust him,” Hill said of Schenck.

Senior running back Josh Davis missed last week’s game with an ankle sprain suffered against Eastern Washington but is breaking back into practice this week. He’s currently listed as the starter at punt returner, something he did well in 2018 with 14 returns for 224 yards and one touchdown.

Davis is also 67 yards away from passing Tim Toone for fifth on WSU’s career all-purpose yards leaderboard.

In other injury news, sophomore offensive lineman Cormac Boyer announced Wednesday on Twitter that he is retiring from football after an injury suffered leading up to this season. Boyer, a Roy High alum, transferred to WSU from Snow College and redshirted the 2021 season as the protege at center to Ben Bos — but his expected takeover at the center position was disrupted by the injury.

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