Ags say aloha to Warriors
No freaky last-second field goals were to be found Saturday at Romney Stadium.
Rather, the Aggies (2-7 overall, 2-3 in Western Athletic Confernce games) blocked two field goals and beat the Hawaii Warriors (last season’s WAC champions that went to the Sugar Bowl) 30-14.
“Tremendous victory,” said Aggie head coach Brent Guy. “Going into the week I challenged our team. We have not competed well with (Hawaii). We have not had a fourth-quarter game with them. We had to do that today to win the game. We learned our lesson from last week.”
Naturally, Warrior head coach Greg McMackin was put out from the loss.
“You have to give credit to Utah State, but it’s still a devastating loss,” McMackin said. “I don’t have any excuses. We just didn’t get it done.”
Leading the way for the Aggies were sophomore quarterback Diondre Borel’s quick legs and his accurate arm.
Borel completed 14-of-19 passes for 223 yards, while rushing for 87 more.
The Aggies grabbed thier biggest lead of the game with 1:26 remaining in the third quarter. That was when Borel found freshman running back Robert Turbin in the back of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown pass.
The Warriors struck back by putting together a 13-play, 68-yard drive, but were stopped scoreless at the USU 12-yard line.
The Aggies went four-and-out, and the Warriors narrowed the Aggie lead to six with a five-play, 38-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.
On USU’s next drive came what Guy said was the biggest play of the game. With a first-and-10 from the USU 30, Borel scrambled 61 yards to the Warrior 9. The Aggies were only able to get a field goal out of the drive, but the score made it a two-possession game.
The Warriors threw four incomplete passes on the next drive, allowing the Aggies to take over at the Warrior 20-yard line. Five plays later Turbin rushed for a 6-yard touchdown.
Hawaii’s Malcolm Lane returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards, but Aggie senior cornerback Joshua Taylor stripped the ball at the 5-yard line. USU freshman wide receiver Austin Alder recovered the ball and ran back to the Aggie 22, thus sealing the victory.
McMackin says Guy is doing great job
Saturday’s victory bumps Guy’s four-year record at USU to 8-36.
When asked about Guy’s situation, McMackin said those who want to get rid of Guy are being unwise.
“I know they were all over his case, but he is a heck of a coach and he does a great job,” McMackin said. “He has got young players and players that are playing their tails off. He gets his team ready to play and I have a lot of respect for him. Anybody that is trying to get rid of him doesn’t know what football is all about. They need to get off his case.”
Other positive thoughts on Guy were expressed by USU senior safety De’Von Hall. Hall said Guy’s game plan for Hawaii was just right.
“Coach did a great job with the scheme,” said Hall, who broke up three passes and recorded two tackles.
–samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu