OGDEN — Going from a 17-16, mistake-filled road loss at Lamar to a 39-0 blowout of a lesser Northwestern State squad, Weber State’s football team hopes they’ve acquired the lessons needed to find success for the rest of the 2024 season.

“They refocused on the details. Win or lose, you’ve got to show up ready to go on Monday with a new intent to get better,” head coach Mickey Mental said. “You win the games Monday through Friday and I thought we did a good job of that, the intent was a lot better than the previous week.

“We’ve been growing each week and I like where their heads are at.”

That intent will be tested this week with McNeese (3-2) coming to Ogden to finish Weber State’s (2-2) three-week string of games against teams from the Southland Conference.

“These last two practices have been real hard and fast,” senior receiver Jacob Sharp said. “We’re young, everybody’s getting experience. People who haven’t played are getting the rust off and getting a lot of reps.”

EARNING REPS

Freshman receiver Noah Kjar made his first big mark on the offense after getting himself on the depth chart two weeks ago. (There are no changes to WSU’s depth chart this week.)

Entering the trip to Northwestern State with three catches for a total of 16 yards, Kjar added three more receptions against the Demons totaling 71 yards.

“It’s just daily maturation for him. He’s a hard worker, so it was just a matter of time for that to come,” Mental said. “Now he’s got to take that next step and be consistent day in and day out, and on Saturdays. And that only comes with opportunity and experience. I thought he took a really good step.”

Northwestern State was committed to stopping the run, but freshman back Davion Godley again had a productive possession and finished as WSU’s most productive rusher at 5.9 yards per carry. He’s appeared in two games as the fourth running back, totaling 11 carries for 76 yards (6.9 per carry).

Mental said who gets game reps is based on effort and performance in practices.

Freshman cornerback Frankie Edwards got his opportunity; junior Jalon Rock got banged up, leading Edwards to play most of the game. Edwards totaled four tackles, including one for loss, and one pass breakup.

“Frankie stepped up, man. He got his number called. He practices really hard, puts himself in a good position so the moment wasn’t too big on game day,” Mental said.

Mental says Rock’s injury “shouldn’t be anything major” and that hopefully he’s good to go this week.

In other injury news, former starting offensive guard Vae Soifua remains out with a leg injury he suffered in Week 1, and the timeline seems indefinite for now.

RED-ZONE PROCESS

Though Weber State scored 39 points against the Demons, the Wildcats did kick two field goals on goal-to-go situations, something that directly resulted in the loss at Lamar. Mental says it’s an ongoing process.

“I always go back to, it’s me, it’s putting them in good situations to be successful and then them making the one-on-one plays when the opportunity presents,” Mental said. “At the end of the day, we’re not where we need to be in the red zone right now. We’re going to keep straining to get better at that during practices so it shows up more during games.”

One red-zone success came when Sharp erased his own touchdown on a long pass play with a premature celebration. Sharp says he was trying to “hype up” his teammates but quickly realized it was a selfish decision, and that he “owes my guys a touchdown.”

Mental said he called out Sharp in front of the team Monday, which wasn’t a surprise to anybody.

“He knows better. Don’t take points off the board, those are hard to come by. Don’t jeopardize a touchdown,” Mental said. “Great release, great play, hand the ball to the official and celebrate with your teammates.”

Instead of points, the result put Weber State in a first-and-10 at the Northwestern State 16. Even overcoming a second-down sack to Richie Muñoz, the Wildcats got 11 yards on a pass to Damon Bankston on third down and gave him the ball on fourth-and-1 from the Demons’ 7-yard line.

The offensive line blocked gaping holes to the right side and Bankston rolled into the end zone.

“You’ve got to put your hand back down and go to work, make sure you get seven regardless of the outcome of any situation,” Mental said. “It’s always a next-play mentality. That play’s over with, how do we get the ball in the end zone again?”