'Cats Top Weber on Saturday
10/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Travis Lulay threw for a career-high 324 yards and Montana State’s defense turned in a sterling effort when it was most desparately needed, as the Bobcats beat Weber State 26-3 in Ogden’s Stewart Stadium on Saturday.
“I’ve been coaching for 27 years and I played in this stadium 31 years ago, that’s how long I’ve been in the Big Sky Conference,” said MSU coach Mike Kramer. “I’ve never seen a team lose four offensive starters, move a tight end to tackle, move a defensive lineman to offense, and come out and win a game like this. This was a senior win, a spectacular day for the Bobcats.”
With three offensive line starters -- Mataio Toilolo, Lawrence Figureoa and Joe Hirst -- at home with injuries, the Bobcats moved tight end Blake Wolf to tackle and defensive lineman Brant Birkeland to guard this week. The move of Wolf to tackle forced former backup defensive end Nick Barbero to tight end, and Lulay found Barbero on a 62-yard pass play for a touchdown on the Bobcats’ opening drive.
Kramer said that play set the tone for the day. “That was a great job by Nick, a very good catch, and a nice read by Travis Lulay to get him the ball,” Kramer said. “That was a big play in this game.”
The Bobcats churned out 453 yards of total offense, and as good as Lulay was -- his 324 yards was a career high, and he threw for four touchdowns without an interception -- Kramer was quick to credit his patchwork offensive line. “Travis had time to throw, the offensive line did a great job giving him time,” Kramer said. “That allowed him to stand in there and find his timing.”
Senior receiver Scott Turnquist said he and his mates were somewhat more focused than usual on Saturday. “We had a little added pressure with the offensive line situation,” he said. All of a sudden it was put on our shoulder to make plays.”
After scoring on the first possession, the Bobcat offense was stalled until early in the second quarter when Joey Thomas -- who also played receiver Saturday -- picked off his first pass of the year. The ‘Cats were forced to punt, but Weber fumbled the punt and Jonathan Molock recovered. On the next play, Scott Turnquist caught a 21-yard pass from Lulay on the next play to give MSU a 12-0 lead.
“That was a very big play,” Kramer said. “He made a tough catch when we needed to keep the momentum going, and got us back into the end zone.”
On the next possession, Turnquist caught another TD pass, and Kahiam Hunter intercepted a pass on the next possession to quell a Weber State rally. The Wildcats got their only score on their first possession of the second half, but for all intents and purposes the game was over. The Bobcats added a Corey Smith touchdown catch of 20 yards early in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Montana State returns home 3-4 and 1-1 in the Big Sky to face league-leading Northern Arizona next Saturday.
“I’ve been coaching for 27 years and I played in this stadium 31 years ago, that’s how long I’ve been in the Big Sky Conference,” said MSU coach Mike Kramer. “I’ve never seen a team lose four offensive starters, move a tight end to tackle, move a defensive lineman to offense, and come out and win a game like this. This was a senior win, a spectacular day for the Bobcats.”
With three offensive line starters -- Mataio Toilolo, Lawrence Figureoa and Joe Hirst -- at home with injuries, the Bobcats moved tight end Blake Wolf to tackle and defensive lineman Brant Birkeland to guard this week. The move of Wolf to tackle forced former backup defensive end Nick Barbero to tight end, and Lulay found Barbero on a 62-yard pass play for a touchdown on the Bobcats’ opening drive.
Kramer said that play set the tone for the day. “That was a great job by Nick, a very good catch, and a nice read by Travis Lulay to get him the ball,” Kramer said. “That was a big play in this game.”
The Bobcats churned out 453 yards of total offense, and as good as Lulay was -- his 324 yards was a career high, and he threw for four touchdowns without an interception -- Kramer was quick to credit his patchwork offensive line. “Travis had time to throw, the offensive line did a great job giving him time,” Kramer said. “That allowed him to stand in there and find his timing.”
Senior receiver Scott Turnquist said he and his mates were somewhat more focused than usual on Saturday. “We had a little added pressure with the offensive line situation,” he said. All of a sudden it was put on our shoulder to make plays.”
After scoring on the first possession, the Bobcat offense was stalled until early in the second quarter when Joey Thomas -- who also played receiver Saturday -- picked off his first pass of the year. The ‘Cats were forced to punt, but Weber fumbled the punt and Jonathan Molock recovered. On the next play, Scott Turnquist caught a 21-yard pass from Lulay on the next play to give MSU a 12-0 lead.
“That was a very big play,” Kramer said. “He made a tough catch when we needed to keep the momentum going, and got us back into the end zone.”
On the next possession, Turnquist caught another TD pass, and Kahiam Hunter intercepted a pass on the next possession to quell a Weber State rally. The Wildcats got their only score on their first possession of the second half, but for all intents and purposes the game was over. The Bobcats added a Corey Smith touchdown catch of 20 yards early in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
Montana State returns home 3-4 and 1-1 in the Big Sky to face league-leading Northern Arizona next Saturday.
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