Excellent field position aids Ags in blowout
The USU football team did just about anything it wanted Saturday at Romney Stadium.
USU (3-9 overall, 3-5 in Western Athletic Conference action) dominated every statistical category except for penalties, and led from start to finish in a 47-2 embarrassment of the New Mexico State Aggies.
“We wanted to do it for the coaches and the seniors,” said USU sophomore quarterback Diondre Borel. “We just wanted to win this last game and make a statement that we’re not the same Aggies from the past. We just played hard.”
USU finished with 410 yards of total offense (241 rushing, 169 passing), converted 11-of-17 third-down conversions and 3-of-3 fourth-down conversions.
Borel completed 14-of-25 passes for 118 yards and ran for 53 yards and one touchdown.
The USU defense had its way with NMSU. The southern Aggies were held to negative seven yards rushing, 156 yards of total offense and gave up six sacks. NMSU’s lone score came on a safety early in the fourth quarter.
USU senior defensive end Ben Calderwood recorded a team-high three sacks.
Senior linebacker Jake Hutton, who recorded a team-high 10 tackles, said Saturday’s defensive output was the tops of his career.
“This was probably the best defensive performance since I’ve been here,” Hutton said.
USU led 21-0 at the end of the first quarter thanks to excellent field position.
The first drive of the game, which began at the NMSU 40-yard line, was sparked by 29-yard pass from Borel to senior wide receiver Otis Nelson. Three plays later, freshman running back Robert Turbin had a 1-yard touchdown run.
A 26-yard punt return by USU junior cornerback Kejon Murphy helped the hosts start their second drive at the NMSU 34. Turbin jump-started the Aggies with a 20-yard run. Borel scored a 6-yard touchdown three plays later.
A 47-yard return on an interception from junior safety James Brindley helped USU start its final drive of the first quarter at the visitors’ 20-yard line. Freshman runningback Marquis Butler put in a 1-yard touchdown to seal the drive.
NMSU opened the second half with a failed onside kick, giving the hosts the ball at their own 39. In 11 plays USU only advanced 32 yards for a field goal.
USU’s defense clamped down on the southern Aggies on the next drive. NMSU senior quarterback Chase Holbrook was sacked for a loss of eight yards on a fourth-and-9, giving USU the ball at the NMSU 42. USU drove 10 plays before sophomore running back Curtis Marsh rushed for a 3-yard touchdown and 38-0 lead.
“I was very pleased with (our defense),” Borel said. “They played hard the whole year. Our defense isn’t bad.”
USU placekicker Chris Ulinski hit a 56-yard field goal with 8:06 to go in the game.
Later in the fourth quarter the USU defense again stopped NMSU on fourth down. The hosts got the ball at their own 37. With senior Sean Setzer at quarterback, USU marched 63 yards to get the game’s final score – a 10-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Xavier Bowman.
Hutton said the key to the success on defense was USU playing zone instead of man and the defensive line pressuring Holbrook.
–samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu