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Show Friday, September 19, 2008 SPORTS ,r THE SIGNPOST Let the Big Sky games begin I 'Cats head to I Sacramento I>State for a | tough task in ; conference I<opener • Standing Out By Jon McBride sports editor The Signpost Happening at WSU this weekend: i • Saturday, 7 p.m.; WSU Volleyball vs. Portland State University; StrombergGym. • Saturday, 8:15 p.m.; * WSU Hockey vs. Utah State University; Weber County Ice Sheet. What to catch up on after the weekend: {See ; By Matt Gerrish ! asst. sports editor I The Signpost ' Big Sky Conference football has ! arrived. \ Coming off a big homecoming victory ! over Dixie State College last weekend, the ' Weber State University Football Team hits 1 the road this Saturday to take on Big Sky foe California State University, Sacramento. The 3 p.m. matchup is the first conference game of the year for the 2-1 Wildcats, who are hoping to compete for a conference championship. "It sets the mood for the rest of the season," said WSU wide receiver Tim Toone. "It (a win) puts us in position WSU vs. to win the Big Sky Sacramento State Conference." Saturday, 3 p.m. WSU takes on a Sacramento, Calif. 2-1 Sac State team who almost upset Division I-A Colorado State University in a close 23-20 loss two weekends ago. That same weekend, WSU lost to the University of Hawaii; a game in which the Wildcats led the Warriors well into the third quarter. After both teams let possible upsets slip through their fingers that week, either would love to start conference play with a win. "They're about as good as anybody in the league right now," said WSU Head Coach Ron McBride. "It seems like an evenly-matched game." Wildcat wide receiver Bryant Eteuati agreed and said it should be a great game. "They're 2-1 and we are 2-1, and we always play each other pretty good," Eteuati said. The Wildcat offense faces a tough challenge against the Hornets, who lead the Big Sky in total defense, allowing a conference-low 280 yards per game. Sac State boasts arguably one of the nation's most talented linebacker units, returning all three starters from last season. Two of See Big Sky page 7 The Signpost next week for full coverage) • Friday and Saturday, all day; WSU Men's Soccer at San Diego Tournament; San Diego, Calif. • Friday, 8 p.m.; WSU Women's Soccer at University of California, Irvine; Irvine, Calif. • Saturday, 3 p.m.; WSU Football at California State University, Sacramento; Sacramento, Calif. • Sunday, 1 p.m.; WSU Women's Soccer at California State University, Bakersfield; Bakersfield, Calif. What to keep on the radar: • Friday, Sept. 26; WSU Volleyball vs. Idaho State University; Stromberg Gym. • Saturday, Sept. 27; WSU Football at University of Utah; Rice-Eccles Stadium. • Saturday, Oct. 4; WSU Football vs. University of Montana; Stewart Stadium. PHOTO !1Y H U G H E. GENTRY I till ASSOCIATCD PfifSS Weber State University quarterback Cameron Higgins rolls out to find a receiver in the Wildcats' matchup in Hawaii earlier this season. A second-half collapse killed the 'Cats in that game, which was their first road game of the season. WSU will look for a fullgame effort in their second road game against California State University, Sacramento Saturday. Wildcat rugby team starts season 2-0 WSU psyched for upcoming season after intense home win By Kyle Gover correspondent I The Signpost The Weber State University Rugby Team pulled out a big win in a rough match last Saturday. With mistakes made by both teams, WSU was able to tough it out and come away with a convincing 28-5 win over Idaho State University. "It was a very sloppy game," said WSU player fared Jurkowski. "There were a lot of penalties, but as a whole, we played alright and ended up beating them." Jurkowski, a senior at WSU, is in his third year with the team. "We have a great team this year," he said. "We are 2-0 now, beating both Idaho State and Boise State, so we are off to a good start." With the 22-10 victory over Boise State University and the recent win against Idaho State, the 'Cats are looking at a perfect season. The Wildcats attribute their success to many new recruits, as well as their ability to retain most of their players What to watch at WSU from last season. New recruit, freshman John Francis, will make an impact for the 'Cats this season. "I am excited to be able to play at the college level," Franics said. Francis, who played rugby all through high school, is one of many new players WSU Head Coach Craun Fansler hopes will help his team continue their early success. Fansler took over as head coach last spring, and, since then, has boosted the roster from only 12 players last year to 22 this year. "We have a lot of new blood this year," Fansler said. "I want a mix of old and new. Old helps teach the new, new replaces old when old goes away." Although Fansler said he is excited about his team's upcoming season, he said he still feels there are areas that need work. "One of the big things on our See Rugby page 7 P H O T O BY C A T H E R I N E M O R T I M E R I Tilt f-.'GNPOS! A Weber State University rugby player runs with the ball as he's chased by a pack of Idaho State University players last Saturday on the lower quad at WSU. The Wildcats beat *he Bengals 28-5 in a game that saw a referee get punched and an Idaho State player taken to the hospital. • The Signpost Sports Editor Jon McBride's pick The biggest rivaly at WSU renews another season of fire on ice Saturday night at the Ice Sheet. In this spot each week, I pick what I think is the best event of the weekend for Wildcat fans to attend. Although that volleyball match which takes place on the same night should be a really good one, it just can't be better than this hockey game. So the hockey game is the one to see this weekend, but I would also argue it could be the sporting event of the year. If I could pick out one game that would be the most fun to watch in an entire athletic season of university sports, this would be the one to see. This game is rivalry at its finest. These two teams have a long history, going back to when they shared the Ice Sheet before there was a hockey arena in Logan. The Wildcat and Aggie fans would be split 50-50 in the Ice Sheet for their matchups during the season. The arena would be packed to capacity, with lines of fans coming out the doors. These teams hated each other. The intensity of the rivalry died down for a little while when WSU moved to Division I of the ACHA and Utah State stayed in Division II. The Wildcats dominated the rivalry during that span, until last season. The Aggies upset the Wildcats in a thrilling 3-2 victory to open last season. It was the first ever win by USU over WSU's DI team. After a lackluster season last year at DI, the Wildcats have moved back down to DII. The playing field is now even, and the games between the two teams mean a whole lot more. Be there Saturday night. If you Iiave a WSU-relatecl sporting event, worthy ofalerting Wildcat fans about, call Jon McBride at 626-7983. |