Weber State football remained at No. 12 in this week’s STATS FCS Top 25 after a 44-14 win over Utah Tech.

The Wildcats are one of five Big Sky schools in the top 15 as conference play begins.

Montana is tied for No. 2, receiving six first-place votes, after a 49-14 road win at Indiana State. Montana State is tied for No. 4 after losing 68-28 at Oregon State. Sacramento State moves up one spot to No. 7 after winning at Northern Iowa 37-21. And Eastern Washington moved down one spot to No. 15 after a bye week.

Montana State plays at Eastern Washington this week. Montana hosts Portland State, and Sacramento State travels to Colorado State for its final nonconference game. Weber State travels to UC Davis, which is receiving 82 points in the Top 25 poll.

BARRON BIG SKY NOD

Sophomore quarterback Bronson Barron was named Big Sky Conference offensive player of the week for his career night in beating Utah Tech. He threw 25 of 33 for 368 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in the win.

ELITE DEFENSIVE MARKS

Weber State’s defense added to its nation-leading interception total, picking off three passes against Utah Tech. That gives the Wildcats 10 interceptions in three games this season, which leads all four divisions/subdivisions of NCAA football. Youngstown State is second in FCS with seven.

Junior defensive back Maxwell Anderson has four of those interceptions, tied for first in both Division I subdivisions.

Weber State’s defense remains first in FCS in preventing third-down conversions. Opponents convert 16.3% of third downs against the Wildcats. Allowing 8.67 points per game, Weber State has the second-best scoring defense in FCS among teams that have played more than one game; Montana is first at seven points per game.

VOLLEYBALL IN-STATE SPLIT

Weber State volleyball finished nonconference play with a 6-5 record after an in-state split last week, winning at Utah Valley before losing at home to Utah State.

In front of 1,676 fans Thursday at UVU, WSU got down two sets to zero before storming back for a 26-28, 19-25, 25-10, 25-15, 16-14 victory over the Wolverines. Freshman Ashley Gneiting led with 16 kills, Makayla Sorensen had 14 and Saane Katoa 10. Katoa added four blocks. Dani Richins had 14 digs and Kate Standifird had 47 assists.

The Wildcats almost did it again Saturday against Utah State, going down two sets before forcing a fifth set. But the Aggies won 30-28, 25-20, 19-25, 19-25, 15-13. Baylee Bodily led with 18 kills, and Standifird added 49 assists and 19 digs.

Weber State begins the defense of its two-time Big Sky Conference title status by traveling to Portland State on Thursday before hosting Northern Arizona on Saturday. Weber State is 53-14 in the last four Big Sky campaigns.

SOCCER AT HOME

Weber State soccer finished its nonconference schedule with a 3-0 home loss Thursday to Gonzaga, giving the Wildcats a 1-7 mark during a tough slate.

The Wildcats host Idaho at 7 p.m. Thursday to open Big Sky play before traveling to face Eastern Washington on Sunday.

Newsletter