Southern Utah Boots Chance for Win, 33-32

Weber State’s Steve Buck threw four touchdown passes, but Southern Utah’s missed field-goal attempt in the final seconds preserved the Wildcats’ 33-32 nonconference victory Saturday in Ogden, Utah.

Southern Utah linebacker Clay Marshall had intercepted a Buck pass at the Weber 28-yard line with 3:26 left to set up Matt Rhea’s 37-yard boot with 34 seconds left.

Rhea’s kick was just wide to the right, and Weber State (2-0) ran out the clock while keeping its series record against the Thunderbirds (2-1) unblemished at 11-0.

Buck, a UCLA transfer, threw three touchdowns to Tyler Harlan, who had eight catches for 194 yards in the Wildcats’ come-from-behind win.

In other nonconference games involving Big Sky teams:

Montana 24, Stephen F. Austin 10--Backup quarterback Darren Rowell threw two third-quarter touchdown passes and Montana rallied past Stephen F. Austin in Missoula, Mont.

Rowell came off the bench after Grizzly starter Brian Ah Yat sprained his right knee with 5:21 remaining in the first quarter. Montana (1-0) took a 3-0 lead on the next play, a 44-yard field goal by Kris Heppner.

The Grizzlies, ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division I-AA, trailed No. 14 Stephen F. Austin (2-1), 10-3, at the half.

The turning point came when KaRon Coleman fumbled a third-quarter punt, and the Grizzlies scored on the next play.

Montana State 24, Chadron State 14--Rob Compson completed 22 of 34 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns for the Bobcats (1-0) in Boseman, Mont.

Chadron State (1-1), an NCAA Division II team from the Rocky Mountain Conference, led, 14-10, at halftime. Montana State scored twice in the third quarter and held the Eagles scoreless in the second half.

Idaho 43, Idaho St 0--Brian Brennan threw for 313 yards and five touchdowns as Idaho routed Idaho State in Pocatello.

The Division I-A Vandals (2-1) avenged their 26-21 loss to the Division I-AA Bengals (0-2) in 1995, the last time the teams met at Holt Arena.

Idaho led 16-0 after one quarter on Brennan’s TD passes to Antonio Wilson and Jerome Thomas.

Eastern Washington 38, Eastern Oregon 14--Senior wide receiver Jeff Odgen scored three touchdowns for the second consecutive week to lead Eastern Washington (2-0) over Eastern Oregon (0-1) in Cheney, Wash.