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Show MyWeberMedia.com | December 7, 2018 | 3 INSIDE THE NUMBERS: FCS QUARTERFINALS By JOE TRAUB Assistant Sports Editor For the second straight year, the Weber State University football team will compete in the FCS Quarterfinals. Last season, the Wildcats traveled to Virginia for an epic battle with James Madison University. This year, WSU will play at home. PASSING Having received the second seed in the QB: JAKE CONSTANTINE #8 playoffs, Weber State will take on the UniverCOMPLETED 184 OF 289 FOR 1,933 sity of Maine Black Bears at Stewart Stadium YARDS AND 16 TDS Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. “The second seed was so important to us,” head coach Jay Hill said after practice on Dec. RUSHING 4. “We have home field advantage throughRB: JOSH DAVIS #28 out, and we have to keep taking advantage of 239 CARRIES FOR 1,398 it.” YARDS AND 9 TDS Both teams have played in the cold the last few weeks, but Ogden is 4,000 feet higher RB: TRESHAWN GARRETT #26 than Orono, Maine, in elevation. 78 CARRIES FOR 353 The Wildcats opened their playoff run YARDS AND 3 TDS against Southeast Missouri State in the second round last week after a first-round bye. RECEIVING WSU showed no signs of postseason nerves WR: RASHID SHAHEED #22 as they cruised to a 48–23 victory over the Redhawks. 36 RECEPTIONS FOR 423 Weber State enters the the Friday night YARDS AND 5 TDS matchup having won their last seven games WR: DARRYL DENBY #3 and the last nine contests at Stewart Stadium. 31 RECEPTIONS FOR 387 The Black Bears are also coming into OgYARDS AND 6 TDS den on a hot streak, having won five straight games after a dominant 55–27 win over JackKICKING sonville State in their second round match-up. Maine competes in the Colonial Athletic AsK: TREY TUTTLE #47 sociation and finished 7–1 in conference play, 17 OF 26 FIELD GOALS AND 9–3 overall. It was their first conference title 37 OF 37 PATS since 2013 and the first time James Madison P: DOUG LLOYD #60 didn’t win the CAA title since 2015. AVG. 40 YARDS PER PUNT “They are very good,” Hill said, “winner AND 24 INSIDE THE of the Colonial Conference, which is one of 20 YARD LINE the better conferences in the country. They 1 TD are solid on both sides of the ball and really thrive defensively.” The two teams have never met before, but DEFENSE the Wildcats are looking for their first win over 17 INTERCEPTIONS a CAA team. They lost to JMU in the quarterfiALLOWING 322 YARDS nals last year, and were routed by William and PER GAME Mary in the 2009 playoffs. Maine is led by sophomore quarterback Chris Ferguson, who was named FCS Performer of the Week for the second round of the playoffs. Ferguson leads a balanced offensive attack, throwing for 1,877 yards and 19 touchdowns, but has thrown eight interceptions on the year. PASSING Freshman running back Ramon Jefferson QB: CHRIS FERGUSON #14 leads the Black Bears rushing attack, averCOMPLETED 166 OF 227 FOR 1,877 aging 88.4 yards per game, and has seven YARDS AND 19 TDS touchdowns on the year. “They got a good quarterback and good RUSHING offensive line,” senior linebacker LeGrand Toia said. “Their receivers are a force to be RB: RAMON JEFFERSON #8 reckoned with, but our defense should hold 156 CARRIES FOR 941 strong.” YARDS AND 7 TDS Like the Wildcats, the Black Bears’ defense RB: JOE FITZPATRICK #27 is where they excel. Maine holds opponents’ 108 CARRIES FOR 470 rushing attack to just 74.5 yards a game. With YARDS AND 3 TDS the Wildcats averaging 152 yards per game, it is sure to be a battle in the trenches. Sophomore quarterback Jake Constantine RECEIVING will to keep the offense rolling after their best WR: EARNEST showing this season. EDWARDS #81 “There is nothing better,” Constantine said. 46 RECEPTIONS FOR 722 “The expectations are high, and this is what YARDS AND 9 TDS you look forward to as an athlete, these big games you get to play in, and it’s what we WR: JAQUAN train for in the offseason.” EDWARDS #11 Freshman running back Josh Davis has 37 RECEPTIONS FOR 492 racked up 1,350 yards on the ground for the YARDS AND 9 TDS Wildcats this season, and senior Treshawn Garrett returned to pick up some of the slack KICKING against SEMO. Garrett led the Wildcats last week rushK: KENNY DOAK #31 ing for 137 yards and was the 10th ’Cat to 19 OF 15 FIELD GOALS enter the 2,000 yard club. Garrett is currentP: DAVID GELB #19 ly ninth in Weber State history with 2,123 AVG. 36 YARDS PER PUNT career yards. AND 10 INSIDE THE “When you’re the team that travels, you 20 YARD LINE have one less day to prepare,” Toia said. “It all comes down to how you prepare, and we are DEFENSE happy we are the home team and have one extra day.” 7 INTERCEPTIONS Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com ALLOWING 295 YARDS PER GAME |