Big Sky: Weber State turns 5 turnovers into a 41-27 win over Montana
Stefan Cantwell threw for two touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass in the first quarter, and the Weber State defense forced five turnovers in a 41-27 victory over Montana on Saturday in Ogden, Utah.
Cantell hit Tui Satuala for 3-yards and Drew Batchelor for 6 and then caught an 8-yard pass from tight end Andrew Vollert off a double reverse. The Wildcats (6-2, 4-1 Big Sky Conference) made it 31-0 in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Treshawn Garrett.
Montana (5-3, 3-2), which had a three-game winning streak snapped, closed within 34-20 on a pair of touchdown passes by Gresch Jensen but Jordan Preator returned his second interception 23 yards for a TD. Jensen, who was 21 of 42 for 347 yards and three interceptions, connected with Louie-McGee for a 38-yard touchdown before getting hurt. Jensen also ran for a touchdown in the first half.
Northern Arizona 37, Sacramento State 17: Case Cookus threw for 407 yards and a score and the Lumberjacks (6-2, 5-0 Big Sky) had two interception returns for touchdowns to defeat the Hornets (4-4, 3-2) in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Southern Utah 27, Northern Colorado 14: Patrick Tyler threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and the Thunderbirds defeated the Bears in Greeley, Colorado.
Tyler was 21-of-31 passing for 294 yards with an interception for the Thunderbirds (6-2, 4-1 Big Sky), who won their fourth straight. He ran 31 yards for the game’s first score and Jay Green rushed 2 yards for a 13-0 lead, both drives beginning after Bears (2-5, 1-4) fumbles.
Montana State 28, Idaho State 14: Chris Murray threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, Mac Bignell had a pick-six, and the Bobcats defeated the Bengals, in Pocatello.
Montana State (4-4, 4-2 Big Sky) jumped to a 14-0 first-quarter lead on Murray’s 1-yard TD toss to Mitchell Herbert on the opening drive and on Murray’s 28-yard scoring run. But the Bengals (4-5, 2-4) snapped back with a pair of second-quarter touchdowns, including James Madison’s 4-yard run to cap a 96-yard drive, to tie it at halftime.
North Dakota 48, Portland State 21: John Santiago broke tackle after tackle after fielding a Portland State punt, returning it 64 yards for a touchdown to help lead the Fighting Hawks (3-6, 2-4 Big Sky) to their first road victory, defeating the Vikings (0-8, 0-5) in Portland.
UC Davis 31, Cal Poly 28: The Aggies (4-4, 2-3 Big Sky) rode a big first quarter by Jake Maier to take a 21-point lead then held on to defeat the Mustangs (0-8, 0-5) in Davis, California.