Against the Hornets — now the nation’s seventh-best rushing offense — and with a driving rainstorm all but forcing the two teams to stay on the ground in the first half, Weber State had good pursuits early and missed tackles. But as the game wore on, WSU gave up more gashing runs and continued to miss tackles.

Sac State totaled three 100-yard rushers, ran for 242 yards in the first half alone and 397 for the game.

“Tackling is a want-to, and that falls on my shoulders,” said third-year head coach Mickey Mental. “I’ve got to be better during the week, attention to details. They’re going to do what we coach them to do, so it’s self-reflection … and making sure we’re dialed in throughout the week so that doesn’t happen again.”

Defensive coordinator Joe Dale said he thought his team’s preparation was where it needed to be but there was a disconnect coming off a bye that left his defense chasing shadows.

Paul Grua, Weber State Athletics

“Embarrassed, disappointed in our performance because we felt like we prepared. But at the end of the day, we didn’t execute the fundamentals so this week, that’s our focus: getting back to the little things,” Dale said. “It doesn’t matter what we call, or the Xs and Os, if we miss tackles, so the focus is on fundamentals this week.”

Weber State (2-4, 0-2 Big Sky) also surrendered a 99-yard kickoff return and gave the Hornets a 14-yard field on a botched punt; even without those, a 41-27 score with rushing dominance was decisive.

Dale put it best when evaluating the whole of the effort.

“A little bit of everything: poor angles, overpursuit, lack of pursuit, not bringing our feet, not keeping our head up, all the little things it takes to tackle on every rep,” Dale said. “You let one small thing slip on any given rep against a good ball carrier, you’re probably going to miss that tackle.

“Missed assignments, our defense is built to stop the run, a gap-based defense, and you’ve got to do your one-eleventh. … It goes back to us executing our assignments and playing with great fundamentals and technique. … We understood the importance going in and we just let our fundamentals and focus slip on Saturday. It won’t happen again.”

The team had a “good closed-door meeting” on Monday and got on the same page “as a program,” Mental said. “There’s got to be a greater sense of urgency throughout the program to make sure we’re taking care of business, making sure our craft is right. All that stems back to me.”

But there are six games yet ahead of the Wildcats.

“Players and coaches were embarrassed,” Dale said. “It’s definitely a wake-up call that any given Saturday, you get away from the small details, it can get out of hand quick. We’re not proud of it, but it’s one game and we’re lucky we get the opportunity to go do something about it.”

That opportunity comes against winless Portland State, a side surely motivated to find a victory against an opponent seemingly sliding. PSU is at home, coming off a bye week, and likely hungry after a 35-27 loss to Eastern Washington that was a one-point game midway through the third quarter.

NEXT MAN UP FOR OFFENSE

Mental said like last week, he plans to play both junior Dijon Jennings and freshman Kingston Tisdell at quarterback at Portland State. With the extreme weather against Sac State, Mental said putting Tisdell in during “a freaking monsoon” wouldn’t be a fair setting for him to make his collegiate debut.

And, after the rain let up at halftime, Jennings was 12 of 17 for 136 yards in the second half. Jennings also did not commit any turnovers. That part of the overall game was fairly far down the list on WSU’s problems.

“Dijon played well in the second half, so I wanted to ride with him on that,” Mental said. “But Kingston should get in this week,” Mental said. “I’ve never really played two (QBs) so it’s a little challenging but … I have a good idea on when and how I want to do it.”

It seems likely WSU plays without starting running back Davion Godley this week due to concussion symptoms. But redshirt freshman Chauncey “Boogie” Sylvester appears ready for a greater role after how his more limited reps have looked this season.

Sylvester was a spark against Sacramento State, rushing 17 times for 83 yards while catching four passes for 54 yards.

“Chauncey, and Zach (Hrbacek), and Bird (Butler) is coming back, so we should have a good stable of guys to step up like Boogie’s done, and now he’s got to tote it a little bit more,” Mental said.

Though defense and special teams need the most improvement, Mental said his team has to run for more yards per carry to play better complementary football.

“We had (3.5) yards per carry, and we just need to reset the line of scrimmage. We’re doing a lot of things at the line of scrimmage and we need to displace people up front instead of just be in front of them, get after it … being on schedule so you’re always in a good box situation to block and run the football.”