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Weber State lineman Jacob Edmonds, right, helps block Butler's Kwame Achampong (99) on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Weber State quarterback Jackson Gilkey (2) throws a pass against the pressure of Butler's Trey Alsbrooks (33) on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.

ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner

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Clear of FBS opponents, Weber State football’s offense took off in Week 3 against McNeese and Week 4 against Butler.

Well, some of the time.

With a new quarterback, somewhat unexpected new pieces on the offense line, and injuries causing change there and elsewhere, the Wildcats are still looking to play a full game when they have the ball.

“I don’t think we’ve played a complete game of offense yet,” senior left tackle Gavin Ortega said. “Which is is kind of fun to know that, that we haven’t put together a whole four quarters.”

For one, Weber State has struggled to cash in short fields. WSU did convert a touchdown at James Madison after forcing a fumble, but since then it’s been iffy.

The Wildcats opened the game at McNeese with a 40-yard field following an interception and scored zero points. Last week, WSU had four possessions start at the Butler 35 or better and scored just nine points in those four possessions.

And, in both games, the offense had the ball with chances to put the game away, either simply through possession and using time, or with a scoring drive.

Against McNeese, WSU’s offense got the ball with a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead, lost 3 yards and Jackson Gilkey threw an interception. Then with a seven-point lead, WSU converted one first down and punted, using 2:35 of clock but allowing McNeese 2:14 for its own drive; the Cowboys scored a TD but went for two and failed.

After Butler cut the score to 30-24 to open the fourth quarter, WSU gained 11 yards and Gilkey threw one interception over three possessions. The defense held, and the Wildcats busted through the wall on their fourth possession of the final quarter when Davion Godley broke a 52-yard run, setting up an insurance touchdown to make it 38-24 with 2:54 left.

“We’ll be on for a quarter, off for a quarter,” Ortega said. “So we could do some crazy things if we put on a whole game.”

To his point, WSU is averaging 40 points and 444 yards per game against its two FCS opponents, so it’s not as if the offense is inept. But turnovers or three-and-outs seem magnified when the Wildcats have opportunities to either dogpile in the first half or put a game away late.

Gilkey, the redshirt sophomore, is exactly four games into his college playing career. His nine interceptions are too many, but WSU likes the command he gives the offense and anticipates a smoothing, of sorts, coming soon.

“It’s bringing a lot more juice than we had last year,” Ortega said. “It’s a lot nicer to have a QB you can rally behind, who will go take hits for you and whatnot.”

Injuries have shaken things up, too. Vae Soifua and Zoom Esplin anchored the right side of the offensive line for most of last season, but Esplin was hurt in camp and Soifua took an injury Week 2 at Arizona.

Heading into Week 5’s Big Sky opener at UC Davis, Roy High alum and sophomore Cole Millward is listed as the starter at right guard, with Soifua as backup, while junior Nelson Arapa is the starting right tackle, backed up by sophomore Trevor Beck.

Ortega pointed to linemen getting in extra reps after practice while talking about the adjustment.

“The young guys have improved a lot over this time,” Ortega said. “I mean, how can you not when you’re on the scout team going against the best guys we have on the team for defense?”

WSU takes on the defense of No. 9 UC Davis trying to take that next step. The Aggies are good, but interesting.

Davis trailed Utah Tech 24-14 in the third quarter before scoring the game’s final 17 points for victory. The Aggies’ defense held UTU in the fourth quarter, stopping a fourth-and-3 at midfield and later intercepting quarterback Bronson Barben at the UC Davis 28-yard line to aid the rally.

Davis then gave up 70 points and 628 yards at Washington before getting in a 50-34 shootout with Southern Utah. That game was 29-27 early in the third quarter before the Aggies scored three unanswered touchdowns. SUU outgained UCD 549-519 in that game.

Weber State talks frequently of “complementary football,” however, and its defense will need to look the part even if WSU’s offense gets going against the Aggies. McNeese gashed Weber for 211 fourth-quarter yards, and Butler used penalties and two chunk plays in the second quarter to get back into a game WSU looked prime to run away with.

UC Davis rushed for 357 yards on 13.2 per carry against Southern Utah, with TD runs of 75, 47 and 23 yards.

WSU hopes better health will help. Starting defensive end Keahnist Thompson and starting weakside linebacker Sione Hala both missed the Butler game but are good to go this week — “probable, to use the NFL terms,” said head coach Mickey Mental. Junior linebacker Raimoana Tinirauarii is also “active” for the first time this season.