Nothing special about Aggie special teams
After a game meant to be a “next step” ended in disappointment, all Utah State’s players and coaches could think about was one thing – special teams. In that pivotal facet of the game, the Aggies struggled to perform and it eventually contributed heavily to their 41-24 loss against Fresno State. “We had big issues on special teams,” said USU head coach Gary Andersen. “Special teams was really the key factor.” For most of the first half, however, the Aggies outperformed the Bulldogs, never trailing and executing efficiently on offense and defense. USU’s special teams also played well, highlighted by kicker Peter Caldwell’s impressive 50-yard field goal early in the second half.
The special teams dilemma started just before halftime when Fresno State, through a brilliant punt which pinned USU on the one-yard line and then forced the Aggies to go three and out on the ensuing series. Utah State was forced to punt from their own end zone and because of poor punt coverage, Fresno State’s Shaun Evans ripped off a 50-yard return that set up the Bulldogs on the seven-yard line. Fresno would score easily just before halftime when quarterback Ryan Colburn ran the ball into the endzone, tying the game and shifting momentum in their favor.
The second half started didn’t see a dramatic improvement from USU’s special teams as the struggles continued against the Bulldog return game. Fresno wide receiver Jalen Saunders took the opening kickoff 30 yards to the 45-yard line, giving the Bulldogs a short field and a good scoring opportunity.
“The second half we came out a little sluggish,” said quarterback Diondre Borel, who had two touchdowns for the Aggies, one through the air and another on the ground. “We didn’t play with the same intensity.”
Not all the Aggies were sluggish, though, as the defense came up big early in the third quarter when cornerback Chris Randle tipped a pass that was intercepted by defensive end Quinn Garner. The next offensive possession following the pick, USU got to the 20-yard line only to have kicker Peter Caldwell miss wide right on a 37-yard field goal attempt.
Despite all the mistakes, Utah State kept fighting. The defense continued to play hard and the offense started to click as the team put together a resounding drive capped by Borel’s 10-yard touchdown scamper with 6:09 left in the third.
The celebration was short-lived as Fresno quickly responded with a touchdown of their own and a play that would later be seen as the tipping point of the game.
With 2:03 left in the third quarter, USU started their drive at their own 37-yard line. The possession began on an ominous note when Borel was sacked and fumbled the football. The ball was recovered by the Aggies, but just three plays later Fresno State blocked Caldwell’s punt attempt and recovered the ball at USU’s 24-yard line. According to Andersen, it was big plays like the blocked punt which have continued to doom USU throughout the past two seasons.
This turn of events deflated the Aggies and they could not recover during a fourth quarter that saw Fresno State roll up 17 unanswered points and turn a once-close game into a blow-out win. The blocked punt also deflated USU’s defense, which continually found itself having to play almost error free to keep Fresno off the board.
“Our defense always plays hard,” said USU defensive end Levi Koskan. “(But) when you’re going up against a short field every time, it’s tough.”
It was tough indeed for the Aggies, as they were outgained 110-37 total yards in the fourth quarter. USU also allowed 209 combined kick-off and punt return yards, something Andersen specifically addressed following the game.
“That (209 yards) allowed them to control field position,” Andersen said. “Fresno did a tremendous job returning the football and we couldn’t tackle them.”
The loss was particularly bitter for USU because of the high hopes they had going into the game. “We were excited to play Fresno State,” Koskan said. “We all felt like this was an opportunity to prove to the WAC, as well as the nation, that we are a team that wins.”
The Aggies now look to their next opponent – the San Diego State Aztecs – as their opportunity to take that “next step.”
“We won’t lose any confidence going forward,” Borel said. “We feel like this is a special year for us and we will continue to fight to win games.”
– mark.israelson@aggiemail.usu.edu