Pocatello, Idaho • Rashid Shaheed had a touchdown catch and returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score, and Weber State beat Idaho State 40-17 on Saturday.
Jayden Dawson’s pick-6 pulled Idaho State to 20-17 with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter before Shaheed scored on the ensuing kickoff. Kris Jackson ran into the end zone from the 1 and Winston Reid scored on a punt return for Weber State in the fourth.
Weber State (3-4, 2-2 Big Sky Conference), ranked 23rd in the FCS Coaches Poll, has won three of its last four that includes a 35-34 road victory against then-No. 2 Eastern Washington.
Shaheed finished with four receptions for 88 yards. Bronson Barron was 14-of-24 passing for 204 yards for the Wildcats. The pair connected for a 36-yard TD in the first quarter.
Hunter Hayes completed 10 of 15 passes for 121 yards and threw a touchdown pass for Idaho State (1-4, 1-6). Tanner Conner had seven catches for 110 yards.
Montana holds off Southern Utah 20-19
Missoula, Mont. • Marcus Welknel blocked a field goal attempt with 3:06 to play, Justin Ford returned an interception for a touchdown and Montana escaped with a 20-19 win over Southern Utah on Saturday.
The underdog Thunderbirds led most of the way, answering quickly each time the Grizzlies grabbed a lead after a missed extra point put Southern Utah’s early lead at 9-0.
Montana (6-2, 3-2 Big Sky Conference), ranked No. 11 in the FCS coaches poll, capped the scoring with a 30-yard Kevin Macias field goal early in the fourth quarter. This time Southern Utah (1-8, 0-6) didn’t answer, even though the Grizzlies gave the Thunderbirds chances with an interception and fumble.
Ford’s pick-6, his sixth straight game with an interception, gave Montana a 10-9 lead but a 60-yard connection from Justin Miller to Brandon Schenks made it 16-10 for the Thunderbirds at the half.
In the third quarter, the Griz scored on a 24-yard pass from Kris Brown to Cole Grossman but Southern Utah responded with a long drive and a 30-yard field goal.
Montana had four turnovers and 12 penalties for 125 yards. Veteran quarterback Cam Humphrey, who missed the last three games with an ankle injury, returned on the third UM possession and finished out the first half. He did not not play in the second half after reinjuring the ankle.
