Football: Rally against LaTech falls short
There will be no career-high, four-win season for Brent Guy in 2008.
The USU football team (2-9 overall, 2-4 in Western Athletic Conference play) climbed out of an 18-point deficit and held a fourth-quarter lead Saturday.
But when the clock was at zero, it was the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs 45, Aggies 38.
“The way we rallied, I’m proud of them,” Guy said of the Aggies in a postgame radio interview. “(But) in the end, it’s just another loss.”
The Bulldogs improved to 6-4 overall and are now bowl-eligible.
USU sophomore quarterback Diondre Borel completed 12-of-18 passes for 204 yards with three interceptions and zero touchdowns. Freshman runningback Robert Turbin rushed for three touchdowns and 99 yards on 17 carries.
“(Turbin) ran the ball well today,” Guy said. “We need him to continue to do that.”
The first of Borel’s interceptions came on the Aggies’ first play of their first drive of the game. The Bulldogs’ Matt Broha picked Borel off and then returned the ball 40 yards for 7-0 lead.
The Aggies bounced back with a nine-play, 51-yard touchdown drive. Every play was a rush, with Turbin scoring on a 1-yard run.
The Bulldogs were also able to develop the run. They took a 14-10 lead on a nine-play (eight of them on the ground) scoring drive. The ninth play was a 30-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ross Jenkins to Patrick Jackson.
Three plays into the Aggies’ next drive their four-point deficit was extended to 11. Borel threw his second interception to Dominique Faust, who returned it 60 yards for a touchdown and a 21-10 lead.
The Bulldogs took a 28-17 lead into the half.
At the 7:04 mark of the third quarter, down 35-17, the Aggies began their rally.
Borel went 4-for-4 passing and rushed for an 11-yard touchdown during the five-play scoring drive.
USU defensive end Junior Keiaho forced a fumble and senior defensive end Ben Calderwood recovered the ball at the Bulldog 18. Three plays later Turbin tallied a 2-yard rushing touchdown.
The fourth quarter began with an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Borel scampered 13 yards for the touchdown.
The Bulldogs took the lead back on their next drive with a 22-yard run by Daniel Porter.
Guy said he was proud of the way his players did not give up, even though they don’t have much to play for.
“All we have to play for is to finish higher in the WAC,” Guy said. “We don’t know how it will all end up, but it says something about the character of the kids the coaches have recruited here.”
The Aggies have a week off before ending the season Nov. 29 at home against New Mexico State.
–samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu