Weber State football relied on several unexpected players to secure a 30-29 victory over Northern Colorado on Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, according to a Standard-Examiner report. The win, which brings the Wildcats to a 1-0 record, was secured by a blocked extra point from freshman linebacker Zach Smith with three seconds remaining in the game.
The game featured significant injury challenges for the Wildcats. Quarterback Devin Brown exited in the third quarter after suffering a dislocated right pinky finger. Other players were also sidelined due to injuries or leg cramps, including linebacker Raimoana Tinirauarii and Tate Kjar, who appeared to twist his right ankle.
Freshman quarterback Nate Dahle, a Cache County native, stepped in to lead the offense, completing four of four passes for 49 yards. Dahle orchestrated a drive that resulted in a one-yard touchdown plunge by Mapa Vaenuku to give Weber State a 30-20 lead with 9:04 remaining.
Kicker David Dellenbach, a Park City native, contributed to the scoring with a 34-yard field goal in the first quarter and two additional field goals of 42 and 39 yards in the third quarter.
Northern Colorado attempted a late comeback led by quarterback Kenny Lueth, who recorded 226 passing yards and 90 rushing yards. Lueth connected with Trey Olsen for a touchdown in the final seconds to bring the score to 30-29. However, Zach Smith's blocked PAT prevented a potential tie, allowing Dahle to kneel out the clock.
Devin Brown finished the first half with 175 yards passing and two touchdown connections to receiver Noah Kjar, who recorded 114 yards on six catches.
The victory marks the beginning of the Eric Kjar era for Weber State. The Wildcats are scheduled for a nonconference road game against Southern Utah on Sept. 5.
