Beach, Bobcats Top Weber
10/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Montana State cornerback Michael Beach intercepted an Ian Pizarro pass and raced 51 yards for a touchdown with just under five minutes to play to give Montana State a thrilling 24-18 come-from-behind win over Weber State.
Beach's pick-six turned the fortunes of what Bobcat coach Mike Kramer called a "migraine game." MSU led 10-0 midway through the second quarter, watched Weber score 18 straight points to take command of the game into the fourth quarter, then won the game with two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
"Those guys are very good," Bobcat coach Mike Kramer said of Weber. "Give Weber State credit. The distance between winning and losing in this conference is exceedingly thin."
The line between winning and losing was blurry at best in Bobcat Stadium on Saturday. Weber State amassed 19 first downs to MSU's 11, and gained 295 to the Bobcats' 216. The biggest statistical difference, however, came in turnovers, with Beach's interception the game's only giveaway.
"That was the difference in the game," said Weber State coach Ron McBride. "That, and the fake punt. The fake punt was the turning point."
That turning point came on a fourth-and-one play midway through the fourth quarter with Weber leading 18-16. With the Wildcats in deep punt formation, personal protector Tyler DeBry rolled to the line of scrimmage, took the snap, and rumbled 12 yards. The Wildcats were whistled for a false start, however, and Josh Lewis returned the ensuing punt 33 yards to the previous line of scrimmage.
While Montana State failed to score on that drive, Beach made his season-changing interception on the next drive. "Give them credit," McBride said. "They made the plays down the stretch."
None were bigger, in Saturday's game or the 2006 season, than Beach's play. "It was a man coverage call," the junior transfer from Arizona said. "At halftime the coaches toled the players to play a little tighter, and I just read the route and jumped it. I saw the end zone and got going. I figured it was a short distance to a first down (for Weber), and I expected something pretty quick."
Saturday's win raises Montana State's record to 6-3 overall, 5-1 in the Big Sky with next week's contest with Northern Colorado looming. Weber falls to 2-6 overall, 1-4 in the league.
Beach's pick-six turned the fortunes of what Bobcat coach Mike Kramer called a "migraine game." MSU led 10-0 midway through the second quarter, watched Weber score 18 straight points to take command of the game into the fourth quarter, then won the game with two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
"Those guys are very good," Bobcat coach Mike Kramer said of Weber. "Give Weber State credit. The distance between winning and losing in this conference is exceedingly thin."
The line between winning and losing was blurry at best in Bobcat Stadium on Saturday. Weber State amassed 19 first downs to MSU's 11, and gained 295 to the Bobcats' 216. The biggest statistical difference, however, came in turnovers, with Beach's interception the game's only giveaway.
"That was the difference in the game," said Weber State coach Ron McBride. "That, and the fake punt. The fake punt was the turning point."
That turning point came on a fourth-and-one play midway through the fourth quarter with Weber leading 18-16. With the Wildcats in deep punt formation, personal protector Tyler DeBry rolled to the line of scrimmage, took the snap, and rumbled 12 yards. The Wildcats were whistled for a false start, however, and Josh Lewis returned the ensuing punt 33 yards to the previous line of scrimmage.
While Montana State failed to score on that drive, Beach made his season-changing interception on the next drive. "Give them credit," McBride said. "They made the plays down the stretch."
None were bigger, in Saturday's game or the 2006 season, than Beach's play. "It was a man coverage call," the junior transfer from Arizona said. "At halftime the coaches toled the players to play a little tighter, and I just read the route and jumped it. I saw the end zone and got going. I figured it was a short distance to a first down (for Weber), and I expected something pretty quick."
Saturday's win raises Montana State's record to 6-3 overall, 5-1 in the Big Sky with next week's contest with Northern Colorado looming. Weber falls to 2-6 overall, 1-4 in the league.
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