PORTLAND ? Portland State true freshman quarterback Drew Hubel tied an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision single-game record with nine touchdown passes. However, Weber State freshman quarterback Cameron Higgins had 440 yards of total offense and accounted for seven touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a wild 73-68 win in front of 8,924 at PGE Park.
The 141 combined points set an FCS single-game record, breaking the old mark of 125 set in a 64-61 win by Sacramento State over Cal State Northridge on Nov. 4, 2000. It also broke the all-division record of 136 points scored on Oct. 14 of this year in Boise State's 69-67 overtime win against Nevada.
The Wildcats and Vikings also scored a combined 20 touchdowns to break an FCS single-game mark of 17, set three times previously, most recently by Grambling and Alcorn State in 1994, and the all-division record of 19 in the Boise State/Nevada game.
Hubel, making his first career start, completed 35-of-56 passes for 485 yards and nine TDs with no interceptions. Senior wide receivers Tremayne Kirkland and David Lewis both had four TD receptions, and senior wide receiver Kenneth Mackins also had one. Kirkland finished with 13 receptions for 177 yards. Remarkably, Hubel's 485 yards stands just fifth on the Vikings' single-game all-time list.
Higgins completed 22-of-36 passes for 334 yards with four scores and two interceptions. He also added 106 yards rushing on nine carries with three TDs, scoring on runs of two, 34, and four.
Sophomore running back Trevyn Smith rushed for 225 yards on 38 carries with one score to give the Wildcats a pair of 100-yard rushers. Weber State also had two 100-yard receivers, with senior Tim Toone catching eight passes for 135 yards, and freshman Mike Phillips recording eight receptions for 131 yards and two scores.
In total, the two teams combined for 1,189 yards of total offense, with Weber State holding a 687-502 advantage.
Portland State led 7-3 after the first quarter, before Weber State scored 35 points in the second to take a 38-27 lead at halftime. The two teams then scored 76 points in the second half.
Portland State scored 14 points on two offensive plays in the opening 1:58 of the second half to take a 41-38 lead. A 65-yard kickoff return by sophomore Mario D'Ambrosio to open the half gave the Vikings possession at the Weber State 22. Hubel then immediately went to the air and Lewis for a 22-yard touchdown.
On Weber State's ensuing possession, junior cornerback Stanley Jackson returned an interception 30 yards to the Wildcats' nine-yard line. Hubel again immediately went to the air and connected with Kirkland for a nine-yard score. Urrego's PAT gave the Vikings their first lead since 14-10 in the second quarter.
The Wildcats would then receive an 84-yard kickoff return junior Bryant Eteuati down to the Portland State eight and set-up a four-yard pass by Higgins to Phillips three plays later. Sophomore Mike Snoy added the PAT to put Weber State back up 45-41 with 11:30 left in the third quarter.
Portland State responded once again, this time with an eight-play, 74-yard march. Hubel capped the drive by finding Lewis for a seven-yard strike to Lewis. Urrego's PAT put the Vikings up 48-45.
Higgins put Weber State back in front for good, leading a 14-play, 79-yard drive over 5:41, capped by a four-yard pass to junior wide receiver Akamu Aki. Then after Portland State was forced to punt on its following possession, Eteuati fielded Urrego's kick at the Wildcats' 23 and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown. Snoy's PAT made it 59-48 with 34 seconds left in the third quarter.
Hubel would throw two TD passes in the fourth quarter, a 15-yard pass to Lewis and an eight-yard connection to Kirkland to record his eighth and ninth scoring strikes of the game.
Junior linebacker Andy Schantz capped the game's scoring with an 84-yard fumble recovery with 31 seconds left to make it 73-68. Weber State then recovered the ensuing onside kick to close out the victory.
NOTES: Weber State junior wide receiver Bryant Eteuati recorded 341 all-purpose yards on 16 touches, recording an average of 21.3 yards per touch ... ... The two teams combined for 1,252 kickoff return yards on 23 attempts ... This was the sixth time in Portland State history that a combined 100 or more points were scored, and the second time since joining the Big Sky ... The other 100-point game during the Vikings' Big Sky-era was 108 set in a 65-43 Portland State win over Weber State in 2001 at PGE Park ... The Vikings are now 5-1 in games in which two teams combined for 100 points... Hubel broke the Portland State record of eight touchdowns in a single game held by Neil Lomax and John Charles... Hubel now shares the touchdown record with Willie Totten of Mississippi Valley State. Totten established the record of nine in 1984.
