No. 6 Ducks invade Romeny for showdown with Aggies
The Utah State University football team has had a week to recover from the disappointing 43-42 loss to the Wyoming Cowboys last Saturday. Now it’s back to business.
The Aggies will host the No. 6 (USA/Today and AP) University of Oregon Ducks at Romney Stadium Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
This will be USU’s second ranked opponent of the season.
“The challenge for us obviously is to line up and not be intimidated by who they are or how they are perceived, but to play our game as well as we can play it,” USU coach, Mick Dennehy said.
The two teams will meet for only the third time ever. The Ducks won the first two encounters – both played in Eugene – by scores of 52-7 in 1990 and 27-9 in 1976.
Looking to bounce back from the disappointing 43-42 loss, the Aggies can only anticipate what their roadblock will be this week.
“Every week brings a different opponent and seems to bring a different problem to the surface as well,” Dennehy said.
Most recently, the Aggies were plagued by personal fouls. Dennehy said personal fouls were an issue for the team early last season, but did not seem to bug the team until the most inopportune times.
“We just have to play smart and get focused,” USU quarterback Jose Fuentes said. “We can’t let anything get to us.”
It wasn’t all bad news for the Aggies against Wyoming. Tailback Emmett White rushed for a season-high 274 yards on 32 carries. He also turned in two touchdowns to go along with five receptions for 38 yards.
“When Emmett White is rolling, he is rolling,” Fuentes said. “The offensive line gave him some good holes to run in and he made a couple of big plays himself and the receivers made some great blocks as well. It was a great team effort.”
Looking to continue their impressive offensive performance from the last game, the Aggies will be more focused on defense Saturday night.
“I think we are a better defense than we showed [against Wyoming],” Dennehy said. “I don’t think we played near our capabilities.”
Joey Harrington leads the Ducks. Harrington makes big plays and not bad decisions, Dennehy said.
“He’s a big strong-armed kid that has very nice mobility,” Dennehy said. “He is their leader without question.”
After playing all their games at home this season and on artificial turf, the Ducks will play their first grass game Saturday. Dennehy is hoping this will slow the team down a little.
“They have great team speed,” Dennehy said. “We certainly can’t match that.”
Believing his team is smarter and a better football team than they were the week before, Dennehy said there is a logical progression each week.
The Aggies will look to build on that.
“I think we look at this [playing Oregon] as a great opportunity to prove ourselves, especially on the defensive line. We have a chance to stop one of the nation’s great quarterbacks and one of the great football players in the NCAA,” Aggie defensive end Tyler Olsen said. “That loss against Wyoming would not seem as bad if we could get a win against the University of Oregon.”
Following the Oregon game, the Aggies will face their second-consecutive ranked opponent when they travel to Provo to play instate rival Brigham
Young University, who is ranked No. 20.