Weber State football: Montana State leery of struggling Wildcats

Odgen • Weber State has lost six straight games, none of them close.

Montana State is ranked fourth in the country among Football Championship Subdivision schools and owns a win over Oregon State of the Pac-12.

When the Wildcats and Bobcats meet Saturday at Stewart Stadium, Montana State is expected to have little trouble, although Bobcat coach Rob Ash is leery.

Why?

Weber State and Montana State have played one common opponent. In their opener, the Wildcats defeated Stephen F. Austin, 50-40. Stephen F. Austin stunned the Bobcats, 52-38 three weeks ago. Ash says those results have been "lurking in our mind" during preparations for Weber State. His players also have seen the video of how the Wildcats overpowered a team that did the same thing to the Bobcats. Unfortunately for Weber, it has not won since beating Stephen F. Austin, although Ash attributes the Wildcats' trouble to "an impossibly difficult schedule."

After consecutive losses to Utah and Utah State by a combined score of 140-13, Ash said, "It's been tough for them to get any kind of momentum."

Weber played 26 freshmen and redshirt freshmen in last week's 47-0 loss at Cal Poly, which out-gained the Wildcats 580 yards to 173.

"The challenge for us is to continue to grow, press forward, get better and stay committed to each other," Weber coach Jody Sears said. "You hope guys stay the course and get better week in and week out." —

Montana State at Weber State

O At Stewart Stadium, Ogden

Kickoff • Saturday, 3:30 p.m. TV • Root Sports

Radio • 1430-AM, 103.1-FM

Records • Weber State (1-6, 0-3), Montana State (4-2, 2-0)

Series • Montana State, 28-20-1

Last meeting • Montana State, 44-24 (2012)

About the Wildcats • They haven't beaten Montana State in Ogden since 1996. ... They come off a 47-0 loss at Cal Poly — their first shutout in a Big Sky game since 2002. ... LB Luke King (knee) won't play. LB Anthony Morales (hamstring) and S Chris Wheeler (concussion) are questionable.

About the Bobcats • They've won 10 of the last 11 games against Weber. ... Their two league wins have been over Northern Arizona (36-7) and North Dakota (63-20). ... Senior QB DeNarius McGhee needs 160 yards passing for 10,000 in his career. ... McGhee has won 33 games as their starter.