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Show Monday, September 18, 2006 Page 7 Sports The Signpost Offense propels 'Cats to win Defense turns in another stellar performace as discipline pays off By Jon McBride sports editor I The Signpost The Weber State University football team, aided by the contribution of a new starting quarterback and surprise freshman running back, picked up its first win of the season Saturday night as it beat the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds 24-13. The Wildcats finally scored a touchdown after being held to only two field goals in their first two games of the season. The offense erupted for 438 total yards of offense. Senior quarterback Shawn Woods was 18-31 for 186 total passing yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 17 yards. Freshman running back Trevyn Smith led the Wildcat backfield with 186 yards on 16 carries. He had an astounding average of 11.6 yards per carry. His untouched 37yard touchdown run early in the third quarter gave the Wildcats a 17-7 lead in which they never looked back. "You're talking about pretty much a domination on the offensive side of the ball," said WSU head coach Ron McBride after a game in which he saw his team gain more offensive yards See Football page 8 PHOTOS BY MATT CLASS | IHf StCNI'OSJ Weber State University freshman running back Trevyn Smith (right) turns the corner on one of his 16 carries Saturday night, averaging 11.6 yards per carry. WSU sophomore linebacker Max Moala (above) prevents Southern Utah University quarterback Wes Marshall from crossing the goal line Saturday night at Stewart Stadium in the Wildcats' 24-13 win. Volleyball win denied again By Jeremy Tyler sr. sports reporter I The Signpost Weber State University Volleyball's Middle blocker Brittney Bisaillon, #9, makes a lunging dig as teammate Kristi Lindley looks on in a game earlier this season. The 'Cats lost again Saturday night in their nailbiting game against Sacramento State University with a score of 30-27. provide momentum in the fourth match. That momentum didn't last for the Wildcats, and they quickly fell behind a very aggressive Viking team, losing 30-21. "I think the game was still won on the outside," said WSU Head Coach Al Givens. "I thought we blocked well, they out-dug us by 13 and they had 16 more kills and the difference in the match was the number of kills they had." PSU senior outside hitter Jessica Brodie had 30 kills on the night with 70 attempts and making 14 digs, hitting 27.1 percent. During the first match of the night, Portland State came out strong, taking the lead and never , looking back. During the first It was a questions fun game about after Standing Out to watch the last WeberStatc University Women's Saturday game. Volleyball team continued it's By Jon McBride night. I'll point loosing streak Thursday evening sports editor | The Signpost against the Vikings from Portland Now that out two State University. The loss to the the offense exceptional Vikings is the sixth-straight loss has clicked for the Wildcats, passes that "Stand Out" in my for the Wildcats, leaving them things are looking up for purple mind as game-changing plays with a 4-11 and white fans, way up. Saturday night. record on the Senior quarterback Shawn The first would have to season and 0-1 Woods made his first career start be Woods' 44-yard bomb to in conference in Saturday's game - from what freshman wide receiver Tim play. he showed in the game, perhaps Toone down the sideline with The'Cats lost we should have seen this guy four seconds remaining in the the first match 30-24, and dropped start a whole lot earlier. first half. The pass was perfectly the second match 30-23. After The composure he showed placed, directly over Toone's coming out of the locker room, right from the Wildcats' opening shoulder, far enough in front of the Wildcats appeared to be a drive was very impressive. It him so as to be out of the reach different team than in the previous was hard to tell this was really of the Thunderbird defender. matches. WSU defeated PSU in the his first start. He stepped right Toone made a heck of a play third match 30-27, forcing a fourth in and did what had to be done. himself to bend over backwards match. The team was hoping the That composure is such a key and spot the ball. The throw win in the third match would See Volleyball page 9 for a quarterback as his actions set up a field goal that put the and attitude have such a direct Wildcats up by three points impact on his teammates. heading into halftime. Woods is a humble guy. It The other play was early in could be easy to sit back and the third quarter. It was third take at least a little bit of credit and long as the Wildcats were to be competitive this year. The team With all the excitement of getting for leading a team to a very in their own defensive end. The is used to a high level of competitive their home field back and being able important win, but he didn't. Thunderbird defenders blitzed soccer. The players said they know to play at WSU, the team should have Woods pointed to his offensive Woods, and as the pressure was their opponents and plan to play a strong start to the season. Prior each game to win. to their first home line's ability to protect him in the on, passed the ball to perhaps Within the region, rival game of the season, pocket as a key to his success. the only place on the field that "VVeVe got to Utah State University the Wildcats will He also pointed to freshman was catchable - directly into will provide a good get the rookies host a tournament running back Trevyn Smith - the hands of WSU wide receiver match forWSU. at the Weber County actually he turned to him in the Marky Filipe (by the way, Fairgrounds this post game press conference with congrats to Marky on beating The team will be mixed in with weekend. This will a big smile and patted hit on the the team he used to play for playing on new grass give them some leg. Obviously Smith's success - that always feels good). A this year at WSU. They the veterans/' time to play together took a lot of pressure off of the millisecond after Filipe caught have been practicing and get to know WSU passing game. at Mt. Ogden Park, and the ball for the first down, - Eric Toomey, each other in a few are looking forward Perhaps it's Woods' bloodline three Thunderbird defenders soccer team competitive games that also contributed to his converged into him for a massto their first home before they play Sept. game at WSU. The member 23 at home. This will overall composure. Having tackle. The play showed Woods' field, which many of Weber State University football precision, guts and ability to be a good game and legend Sark Arslanian as a handle pressure. the players had been accustomed to, was torn up to put full of excitement. Come support the grandfather has got to contribute The future looks good for in a new irrigation system. Now die men's soccer team in their attempt to his ability to perform under the Wildcats and their new stat irrigation system is in, the team can to win nationals this year. the pressure. senior? have their field back. The future looks good, You can leave a message for importer "We're excited to get our new Brian Stratford by calling 626- 7983. things are starting to click for You can reach reporter Jon McBride facility," Toomey said. this offense that so many had by calling 626-7983. Men's Soccer shooting for nationals By Brian Stratford correspondent I The Signpost The Weber State University men's soccer team is playing to win. Coming away from a tough game with a win has been normal for the team in the past. The team won the national championship in 2002 after beating Brigham Young University 20. Last year, the team made it to the semifinals. "We lost 2-1 to Vanderbilt," said Souli Phongsavath, a succesfull WSU senior starter on last year's team, "and Vanderbilt lost to Colorado in an overtime period of the final match. We placed third in the nation." With all its past success, the team has a lot to live up to this season. The men's soccer team is ranked among the top-five teams in the nation and said they expect to win the national championship this year. "We wanna win nationals," said WSU junior soccer player Eric Toomey. "We expect to win, so winning regionals is a must for us. Weber State, Colorado, UC Santa Barbara, Michigan and Vanderbilt are the topfiveteams in the nation." Phongsavath added to Toomey's statement and said, "We are always in the top five." In his fourth year for the team, WSU forward Matt Bain will lead the attack. Toomey and WSU junior Nate Bringhurst will command the midfield, with junior Mike Hickman will direct the defense. "We're a young team this year," Bain said. With half the team playing as veterans, the other half of the team are rookies. "We've got to get the rookies mixed in with the veterans," Toomey said. Although it wiJJ be a tough job for Head Coach Will Rader to guide his team to a national championship, he has a good squad and said he plans That's one extremely composed quarterback |
