SOUTH OGDEN, Utah (Interstat) — In a high-scoring affair that defied pregame projections, the Weber State Wildcats erupted for 34 unanswered points after an early deficit to defeat the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks 48 to 28 on Saturday at Stewart Stadium.

The game, played on November 22, 2025, was a tale of two halves, with Northern Arizona’s explosive start ultimately undone by Weber State’s relentless offensive attack and key defensive stops.

The Lumberjacks came out swinging, matching the Wildcats score for score in a frantic first quarter. Weber State struck first, with running back Colter May capping the opening drive with a 24-yard touchdown run. Northern Arizona answered immediately, as quarterback Ty Pennington engineered a drive culminating in a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Isaiah Eastman.

After a 50-yard touchdown run by Weber State’s Spencer Ferguson tied the game, Pennington connected with receiver Kolbe Katsis on a spectacular 74-yard touchdown pass to put the Lumberjacks back in front, ending a wild first quarter with Northern Arizona leading 21 to 14.

The second quarter saw Weber State begin its methodical takeover. Wildcats quarterback Kingston Tisdell found Ferguson for a 16-yard touchdown pass, and after a Northern Arizona punt, Sloan Calder nailed a 27-yard field goal to give Weber State its first lead at 24 to 21. Just before halftime, the Lumberjacks’ Mikale Greer provided a massive momentum swing, intercepting a Tisdell pass and returning it 42 yards for a touchdown, sending Northern Arizona into the locker room with a 28 to 24 advantage.

That pick-six, however, would be the Lumberjacks’ final points until late in the fourth quarter. The second half belonged entirely to the Wildcats. Weber State’s defense stiffened, repeatedly pressuring Pennington and forcing a series of punts.

Tisdell and the Wildcats’ offense found its rhythm after the break. Midway through the third quarter, Tisdell unleashed a deep 61-yard touchdown strike to Marvin Session, reclaiming the lead for Weber State. Later in the quarter, Calder connected on his second field goal, this time from 26 yards, to extend the lead to 34 to 28.

The Wildcats put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. May, who was a force all afternoon, broke free for his second rushing touchdown, a 28-yard dash that made it 41 to 28. After another defensive stand, Weber State put the final exclamation point on the victory with an 8-yard touchdown run by Bird Butler.

Northern Arizona managed a late consolation score when Pennington hit Eastman for a 7-yard touchdown pass, but the outcome was already decided.

Statistically, the game was a showcase for the Weber State offense. Tisdell, the quarterback from Los Angeles, was efficient, completing 26 of 38 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. The ground game was dominant, led by Spencer Ferguson of Kaysville, Utah, who rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries, while also catching six passes for 63 yards and another score. Colter May complemented him perfectly, rushing for 87 yards and two touchdowns and adding 46 receiving yards.

For Northern Arizona, Ty Pennington of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, completed 21 of 39 passes for 250 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. His primary target was Kolbe Katsis, who had a standout performance with eight receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown.

The loss drops Northern Arizona to 7-5 on the season, while Weber State improves to 4-8. The result was a stark contrast to the pregame analytics from Interstat, whose ELO system had given Northern Arizona a 65.6 percent probability to win, and whose game simulator had projected a much closer 40-33 victory for Weber State. Instead, the Wildcats delivered a comprehensive 20-point victory, controlling the game for the final three quarters after an initial shootout.