Bobcat History Lesson: MSU Upsets Nationally-Ranked Weber in '98
10/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
“You iced our snapper.”
With those words, Weber State's legendary Sports Information Director Brad Larsen boiled down one of Montana State's most notable games of the 1990s against the Wildcats. Ten years ago yesterday, the Bobcats swiped a memorable 10-7 contest against Weber State in Ogden.
In the long history between these Big Sky Conference charter members, the 1998 meeting stands out. The Bobcats hadn't won in Ogden in the six previous tries, and hadn't really come close. MSU entered the game with a 3-1 record, and the Bobcats faced a purple-clad Wildcat squad that had climbed to ninth in The Sports Network national poll. The Bobcats had lost its previous three meetings against a nationally-ranked Weber State team.
Jerry Graybeal's first Wildcat team was powerful, and the game stood to be a hard-fought defensive struggle. That sentiment proved prescient on the first possession, when Montana State cornerback Noel Kulbeck intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown. That score stood as Montana State's only touchdown of the day, and when Carson Souter drilled a 24-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, the Bobcats held a second-half lead in Stewart Stadium for the first time since 1984.
But the Wildcats were anything but finished. When Chris Wallace tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter, Weber State had pulled within 10-7. After holding the Bobcats, Weber drove to the MSU 11-yard line, but Shon Flores picked off a Wallace pass in the end zone. After the Bobcats melted a couple of minutes off the clock and punted, the home team had one final chance.
Weber State drove to the Bobcat 19, and after a five-yard gain on a draw play called a time out. As the Wildcats lined up for a game-tying field goal by All-America safety and kicker Scott Shields, the Bobcats called time out. After the break, Weber State rolled the snap back to holder John Fassell, who rolled out and lofted a pass to Santos Carillo for a gain of nine and a first down, but the play ended short of the end zone and the clock expired. MSU had upset nationally-ranked Weber State.
The Bobcats lost at home to Portland State a week later, but after winning back-to-back games saw their Big Sky title hopes fade in the Eastern Washington dusk with a 31-24 road loss to the Eagles. That Weber State win arguably stands as the high-water mark of Cliff Hysell's tenure as Bobcat head coach.
This weekend's game with Weber State also brings to mind an MSU-Wildcat clash from a couple of years earlier, with less-than-happy results for MSU fans. The Bobcats hosted Weber State on October 21, 1995, and as the morning unfolded it became obvious that bad weather was coming. Snow began falling in the first quarter, and the second quarter was played in blizzard conditions. Three inches had fallen by halftime, but the weather began to clear when the third quarter began with a 7-7 tie. On a third-and-one near midfield early in the second half, Bobcat quarterback Jeff Tuss was sacked, and on the play injured his wrist. Weber State didn't score, but pinned MSU at its own three to start the next possession. On second down, Todd Buchanan fumbled the snap, and Weber State recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
The Bobcats threatened a couple more times, but an interception and a fumble by Tuss ended each drive and the Wildcats held on for a 14-7 win.
With those words, Weber State's legendary Sports Information Director Brad Larsen boiled down one of Montana State's most notable games of the 1990s against the Wildcats. Ten years ago yesterday, the Bobcats swiped a memorable 10-7 contest against Weber State in Ogden.
In the long history between these Big Sky Conference charter members, the 1998 meeting stands out. The Bobcats hadn't won in Ogden in the six previous tries, and hadn't really come close. MSU entered the game with a 3-1 record, and the Bobcats faced a purple-clad Wildcat squad that had climbed to ninth in The Sports Network national poll. The Bobcats had lost its previous three meetings against a nationally-ranked Weber State team.
Jerry Graybeal's first Wildcat team was powerful, and the game stood to be a hard-fought defensive struggle. That sentiment proved prescient on the first possession, when Montana State cornerback Noel Kulbeck intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown. That score stood as Montana State's only touchdown of the day, and when Carson Souter drilled a 24-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, the Bobcats held a second-half lead in Stewart Stadium for the first time since 1984.
But the Wildcats were anything but finished. When Chris Wallace tossed an 11-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter, Weber State had pulled within 10-7. After holding the Bobcats, Weber drove to the MSU 11-yard line, but Shon Flores picked off a Wallace pass in the end zone. After the Bobcats melted a couple of minutes off the clock and punted, the home team had one final chance.
Weber State drove to the Bobcat 19, and after a five-yard gain on a draw play called a time out. As the Wildcats lined up for a game-tying field goal by All-America safety and kicker Scott Shields, the Bobcats called time out. After the break, Weber State rolled the snap back to holder John Fassell, who rolled out and lofted a pass to Santos Carillo for a gain of nine and a first down, but the play ended short of the end zone and the clock expired. MSU had upset nationally-ranked Weber State.
The Bobcats lost at home to Portland State a week later, but after winning back-to-back games saw their Big Sky title hopes fade in the Eastern Washington dusk with a 31-24 road loss to the Eagles. That Weber State win arguably stands as the high-water mark of Cliff Hysell's tenure as Bobcat head coach.
This weekend's game with Weber State also brings to mind an MSU-Wildcat clash from a couple of years earlier, with less-than-happy results for MSU fans. The Bobcats hosted Weber State on October 21, 1995, and as the morning unfolded it became obvious that bad weather was coming. Snow began falling in the first quarter, and the second quarter was played in blizzard conditions. Three inches had fallen by halftime, but the weather began to clear when the third quarter began with a 7-7 tie. On a third-and-one near midfield early in the second half, Bobcat quarterback Jeff Tuss was sacked, and on the play injured his wrist. Weber State didn't score, but pinned MSU at its own three to start the next possession. On second down, Todd Buchanan fumbled the snap, and Weber State recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
The Bobcats threatened a couple more times, but an interception and a fumble by Tuss ended each drive and the Wildcats held on for a 14-7 win.
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