Night and day.

That was the difference, according to Weber State running back Trevyn Smith, between the Wildcats during Saturday’s loss at Colorado State and their loss a week earlier at Wyoming. Both losses were difficult to handle because WSU was in the game late in the fourth quarter, but the most recent was more heartwrenching since the Wildcats were a play away from attempting a 28-yard field goal in the final minute that would have given them the lead.

But quarterback Cameron Higgins mishandled the snap on third down when he was going to run to the middle of the field, so WSU was in a better position for the fieldgoal attempt, and CSU recovered the ball and won 24-23.

“We played our butts off and obviously I’d rather we had a win,” Smith said. “I think we were the better team and we should have won, and I think that was apparent out there. Things happen for a reason and that’s just going to help us out next week.”

The Wildcats (0-2) now enter the league portion of their schedule, facing their eight Big Sky Conference opponents over the next nine weeks. First up is rival Idaho State on Saturday night at Stewart Stadium. The Wildcats are ready to defend the league title they had to share with Montana last season, and feel like they’re in a better position than they were a year ago even after a 29-22 loss at Wyoming and Saturday’s setback against the Rams.

“I think we started off a lot better this year,” said WSU wide receiver Tim Toone. “We’re more focused and we believe more and so now we’ve just got to get it together and fix those little mistakes and we’ll be rollin.”

Dealing with pressure

When you’re the quarterback, you’re either the hero or the goat.

There’s rarely a time when there is any middle ground since it’s the quarterback who has the ball in his hands during every play. That means their mistakes are more obvious than say a wide receiver who runs the wrong route, something that goes unnoticed by nearly everyone but those who know the ins and outs of every play.

Higgins was one of the final Wildcats to leave the locker room on Saturday evening, and was the most subdued during postgame interviews when talking about the fumbled snap and his two interceptions in the game.

“I just can’t make these bonehead mistakes,” Higgins said. “I’ve got to start being a leader people look at me to be. I’ve got to lead the team to victories. I’m sick of being a touchdown short or a point short of losing a game when I have the chance to win the game and I let the team down.”

Last season Higgins threw 13 interceptions in WSU’s 14 games. Two games into this season Higgins already has seven interceptions. However a lot has been asked of Higgins as well. He attempted 47 passes against Colorado State and 51 a week earlier at Wyoming. Those are the two highest-attempt games in the junior’s career.

Odds and ends

The Wildcat Club will hold a luncheon today at noon at Ligori’s Pizza & Pasta. WSU coaches will be on hand to discuss the happenings of the past few weeks as well as look ahead at what’s to come. … Tight end Cody Nakamura had a career-high 10 catches against Colorado State while kicker Mike Snoy made a careerlong 47-yard field goal