Weber State Ready For Maine In FCS Quarterfinals
Dec 6, 2018, 4:05 PM
Weber State Wildcats wide receiver Isiah Jackson (81) celebrates his touchdown against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks with Weber State Wildcats cornerback Marque Collins (13) in Ogden on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018. (Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
OGDEN, Utah – The No. 2 Weber State Wildcats will face the No. 7 Maine Black Bears at Stewart Stadium in Ogden, Utah with the winner advancing to the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs.
Weber State is 10-2 on the season with only one loss coming to an FCS opponent in Northern Arizona. Their other loss was to the University of Utah. They beat Southeast Missouri 48-23 in the second round at home.
Maine holds a 9-3 record with losses to Central Michigan, Yale and the College of William & Mary. They knocked off No. 8 Jacksonville State 55-27 in the second round to advance to the quarterfinals in Ogden.
The winner will face the winner of No. 3 Eastern Washington and No. 6 UC Davis in the semifinals. Weber State beat Eastern Washington but did not play UC Davis this season.
Weber State Running Game
The Wildcats pride themselves in running the football and it has shown with running back Josh Davis being named the Big Sky Freshman of the Year. He has 1,350 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground to go with a 5.6 yards per carry average.
#WhyWouldntYouWantToBeHere #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/mWb7b33eHd
— Weber State Football 🏈 (@weberstatefb) December 6, 2018
Davis wasn’t needed to beat Southeast Missouri in their previous game as he racked up just 62 yards and didn’t find the end zone. He rushed over 100 yards in seven games this season and two games over 200 yards on the ground.
The Alta High School product ranks No. 7 in FCS rushing yards.
Black Bears Defense
Maine relies heavily on their defense, allowing just 18.5 points allowed per game this season. Linebacker Deshawn Stevens leads the team in tackles with 103, including 47 solo. He has 14 and a half tackles-for-loss, 8 sacks, one interception, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.
As a team, the Black Bears have 13 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles, 13 fumble recoveries, two safeties and one blocked kick. They have been successful getting into the backfield as they have compiled 44 sacks and 98 tackles-for-loss.
Accountability. Belief. Together.
Maine at Weber State
12-7 | 8 EST/6 MST#BlackBearNation | #BearWitness | #FCSPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/PkjQ37bssK— Maine Football (@BlackBearsFB) December 5, 2018
Chris Ferguson leads the way at quarterback for Maine with 1,877 yards passing and 19 touchdowns. Redshirt freshman running back Ramon Jefferson has 884 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns to lead the ground game for the Black Bears.
The quarterfinal match up between Weber State and Maine will begin on Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
