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Weber State begins FCS title run against Southeast Missouri State on Saturday in Ogden

No. 2-seeded Wildcats face one of the top defenses in FCS in the Redhawks

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Weber players celebrate a turnover as the University of Utah Utes host the Weber State Wildcats, Thursday Aug. 30, 2018 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

  | Nov. 30, 2018, 8:54 p.m.

These resilient Weber State Wildcats are ready to roll.

The No. 2 overall seed in the 2018 FCS postseason tournament opens its hopeful march deep into the playoffs Saturday afternoon as the Wildcats host the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks at Stewart Stadium. Kickoff of the second-round playoff game is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3. Weber State, which ended the 2018 regular season as back-to-back Big Sky Conference champions, was awarded the No. 2 seed in the playoffs after going 9-2.

This postseason is the first time the program has ever been seeded in the FCS playoff bracket.

The Wildcats have won six straight games heading into Saturday’s playoff opener. Weber State has overcome a slew of injuries to several key positions on the offensive side of the ball as several former backups have stepped into the spotlight and helped lead the way. None more so perhaps than redshirt freshman running back Josh Davis, who was named Big Sky freshman of the year and a first team all-conference player after setting a freshman program record 1,288 yards and nine touchdowns in just 10 games.

Davis, who attended Alta High, helped spur the offense on as senior Treshawn Garrett has dealt with several injuries his final year in Ogden.

Sophomore quarterback Jake Constantine has risen to the occasion, too, in the wake of injuries to the most key position on the field. When Kaden Jenks suffered a season-ending injury earlier this year, Constantine, the sophomore, stepped in to help the Wildcats continue their march toward another conference crown. Constantine, the former Boise State QB, has thrown for 12 touchdowns and 1,734 yards in 10 games this season.

FCS PLAYOFFS

WEBER STATE VS. S.E. MISSIOURI

At Stewart Stadium, Ogden


When • Saturday, 2 p.m.

Streaming • ESPN3

The Weber offense has a tall task this weekend. Southeast Missouri State (9-3) is ranked No. 1 nationally in turnovers forced. The Redhawks have 35 turnovers (23 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries) in 12 games. They defeated Stony Brook 28-14 last weekend in the first round of the FCS playoffs to earn a trip to Ogden. That averages out to three per outing. The Wildcats have their own dominant defense, though.

The Weber defense was ranked first in the Big Sky in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense in 2018.

If the Wildcats win Saturday afternoon, they’ll move on to host either No. 7-ranked Maine (8-3) or Jacksonville State (9-3) on December 7 or 8 at Stewart Stadium.