Tomey has high praise for Aggies
With a blowout victory over Idaho and a three-quarter victory over No. 8 BYU, the USU football team certainly has the respect of Dick Tomey.
“This is the best Utah State team we’ve played,” said Tomey, who is now in his fourth year as head coach of the Spartans (1-0 in Western Athletic Conference play, 3-2 overall).
Tomey’s Spartans, who are coming off a 20-17 victory at Hawaii Sept. 27, host the Aggies Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
Tomey pointed to the “more explosive” offense the Aggies have because of sophomore quarterback Diondre Borel, and a stable of running backs that includes redshirt freshman Robert Turbin.
Furthermore, Tomey said he is aware of how close the past three games have been between the Aggies and Spartans. Each has been decided by a touchdown or less, with the Aggies’ sole victory coming at home in 2005.
“We’ve had very tough games with them the past three years, and there’s no reason to believe this won’t be the same kind of game,” Tomey said. “Interestingly enough, Utah State has the longest winning streak in conference play going into this game. Nobody else has won three games in a row. That shows you the competitiveness of our conference.”
That three-game streak Tomey spoke of includes USU’s victory over Idaho this season, as well as two consecutive road wins against New Mexico State and Idaho to end last season.
USU head coach Brent Guy, also in his fourth season, had just as many good things to say about the Spartans, who are leading the Western Athletic Conference in defense (allowing 286 yards per game) and turnover margin (averaging just over one per game).
“They don’t miss opportunities,” Guy said. “If the ball is on the ground, they get it. If they get their hands on a ball, they don’t drop it. They just don’t give up any opportunities and they don’t turn it over themselves.”
Special teams – namely the field goal unit – is another aspect in which the Spartans are a threat.
To beat Hawaii they had to make two field goals from over 47 yards in the final 9:32 of the game, with the game-winner coming with 1:49 to go.
For the Aggies to win, senior cornerback Roy Hurst said they will have to eliminate turnovers – especially like the two fumbles and one interception that lead to 17 first-quarter points for BYU.
“We have to come out on fire,” said Hurst, who is an Oakland, Calif., native. “We don’t need to test the water. We just need to know we can jump in and play with any team in the country. The only good that came out of (the BYU) game is to know we can play with anybody.”
Guy said other keys to the game for USU is to not be a one-dimensional team on offense, and to score in the red zone.
“Last year, we had trouble in the red zone, and it came down to a three-point game last year,” Guy said. “This (SJSU team) is much like the game two years ago, and we were able to create some turnovers and beat them at their own game.”
WAC now the main focus
With a 1-0 record in the WAC, USU is in a four-way tie for first place with Boise State, Nevada and San Jose State.
After San Jose State, the Aggies have only six games remaining – all of them WAC games.
“The WAC is our main focus,” Hurst said. “We need to come out and play one game at a time. We feel we have a shot at it and every game if we come out and play to our ability. If we don’t cause critical mistakes and play focused, we have a shot at each game.”
–samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu