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Show Sports MONDAY OCTOBER 24 2011 'Cats fall to future Big Sky foe Southern Utah University knocks off WSU 35-28 By Nathan Davis sports editor I The Signpost After a strong start to the game, the Weber State University football team wasn't able to pull a win over Southern Utah University, losing 35-28 at Stewart Stadium on Saturday. Head Coach Ron McBride said the team was hurt in the second half by penalties and breaks that went against WSU. "That's football," McBride said. "They made the plays they had to make, and we gave some stuff away." The Thunderbirds scored the first points of the game early in the second quarter thanks to Colton Cook's field goal, giving SUU a 3-0 lead. Tanner Hinds tried to establish a strong running attack for WSU in the second quarter, but WSU was hampered by mental errors, committing multiple penalties during the first half. Late in the second quarter, WSU got its first points of the game. On a drive that featured Hinds, Tyrell Francisco set up the WSU score. Hoke snapped the ball and scrambled to the right, avoiding SUU pressure before finding Francisco, who took the ball to the one-yard line. Erik Walker gave WSU the lead on a five-yard pass from Hoke. Walker caught the ball in the corner of the end zone to put the Wildcats up 7-3 late in the second quarter. WSU tried to extend its lead before the half, embarking on a late drive. It started on its own 41-yard line after SUU failed to convert on fourth down and moved the ball down into SUU territory thanks to a scramble by Hoke. Two plays later, Hoke found Shaydon Kehano open on the left side of the field. Kehano took the ball down to the threeyard line, and on the next play, Hoke scrambled into the end zone to extend the WSU lead before the half. While the first half started out slowly, the second half began quickly, with each team scoring a touchdown in the first four minutes of the third quarter. SUU came out strong in the second half, driving down the field on its first possession of the half. Brad Sorenson connected with Fatu Mala on a 22-yard pass to take the ball to the WSU twoyard line. SUU would score on the next play to make it a 14-10 game. The Wildcats answered back on their first possession of the half. Booker broke a 42-yard run to get things started for WSU. He went through a hole in the middle of the line, cut to the right, eluded three would-be tacklers and took the ball into SUU territory. Hinds capped off the drive See Football page 7 • • PHOTO BY CRYSTAL CHARRIERE I THE SIGNPOST Weber State University running back Tanner Hinds takes a hand-off during Saturday's game against Southern Utah University. SUU pulled out a 35-28 win against the Wildcats. WSU ranked No. 1 in Big S Wildcats picked first in coaches' and media poll By Nathan Davis sports editor I The Signpost PHOTO BY BRYAN BUTTERFIELD I THE SIGNPOST Weber State University's Kyle Bullinger goes up for a jump shot in a game against Northern Colorado University last year. The Wildcats have currently been ranked No. 1 in the Big Sky Conference and will begin their season on Oct. 26 with the Purple and White Game. Texas Rangers have the right idea this year Team develops its minor league players to fit needs For the fourth-straight season, the Weber State University men's basketball team has been picked to finish atop the Big Sky Conference. The Wildcats were unanimously picked to win the conference in the coaches' poll, receiving eight first-place votes. The University of Montana came in second in the poll, and the University of Northern Colorado rounded out the top three. WSU shooting guard Scott Bamforth said the team isn't thinking too much about the preseason ranking, but focusing on the regular season instead. "Obviously it's something good to have," Bamforth said. "But the preseason doesn't really mean anything until you actually get out there and play and actually do it. Obviously, every one of us would love to finish first in the end rather than at first." The team has been practicing for a few weeks, and Bamforth said they are coming together well, although he said there are still things the team needs to work on. "At the start of the year, there's always things you've got to get better at," Bamforth said. "But we've been able to play hard every day and practice hard, and if we continue to do that every day, I think we'll come together quicker, and that's all we need to do." Head Coach Randy Rahe said he was happy his team was picked first and that no matter where the team is ranked, what matters is the performance on the court. "It's an honor for our team to be picked first," Rahe said. "Regardless of the polls, we have high expectations for our team. After today, the polls really don't mean anything because you have to prove it on the court." The Wildcats will have a strong team this season with the return of Damian Lillard. Lillard, who was the 2010 Big Sky Player of the Year and missed much of last season with an injury, will be back this season. Every morning, I wake up and check ESPN.com to find out whether or not there has been any news regarding the Red Sox's search for a new manager or an update on the compensation the Sox will be getting for sending Theo Epstein to the Chicago Cubs. The story is always at the top of the `headlines' list. While the majority of baseball fans are more worried about who their front office is going to hire or whether or not they can retain their team's free agents than they are about the World Series currently going on, one of the teams in the World Series has snuck under the radar with the secret formula. The big story around baseball is the Cubs' pursuit of Epstein. Meanwhile, the Red Sox sound like they are planning on promoting Ben Cherington to the position of general manager, and the Angels seem to be interested in up-and-corner Andrew Friedman from the Tampa Bay Rays. Everyone is looking for the secret young weapon in the front office; all the while, it is in its second World Series in as many years. Jon Daniels, the youngest general manager in all of baseball, has built a baseball powerhouse on the verge of becoming a dynasty. Daniels, the 2010 Major League Baseball Executive of the Year, overhauled his farm system and completely changed the focus of the struggling organization to player development and scouting. The Rangers let Cliff Lee go to free agency and have become an even better team than they were last year without him. They See Poll page 7 See Baseball page 7 By Trevor Amicone columnist I The Signpost |