Football: Worst to first
What a difference a week makes.
USU nearly eclipsed it’s offensive total from a week ago . . . in the first quarter, and finished with their biggest offensive output in seven years en route to a 42-17 shellacking of the Idaho Vandals. The win moved the Aggies to 1-0 in WAC play.
Not since amassing a whopping 684 yards against FCS (formerly Division II) opponent Weber State has the Aggie offense passed the 500-yard mark in total offense. That changed Saturday in a big way.
The Aggies used a steady dose of the run and threw for over 200 yards passing, rolling over the Vandal defense to the tune of 580 total yards on 68 plays. That’s an average of 8.5 yards every play.
Making his first career start, sophomore quarterback Diondre Borel played a big role in the offensive explosion throwing for 191 yards and two touchdowns, and rushing 12 times for 97 yards and another score.
“I was a little bit nervous. It’s different when you start than when you come off the bench,” Borel said. “The first drive I had an incomplete pass, but we were moving the ball and taking the ball down the field. It was just fun.”
With such a big output, Borel wasn’t the only big gainer on the day. Redshirt freshman running back Robert Turbin also ended a long Aggie drought becoming the first rusher in two years to break the century mark. Turbin vandalized the Idaho D, rushing for 123 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
All told, the Aggies rushed for 356 yards on the day – 130 yards more than they had combined in the first three games – breaking the 300-yard mark for the first time since Nov. 4, 2000.
“I think overall, the reason why we won this game is that we played as a team and when controversy hit us, we didn’t get down on ourselves. We just kept fighting, kept playing, and stayed confident in ourselves and our ability to move the ball against the Idaho defense,” Turbin said. “Everybody’s excited. It feels good to win.”
Despite the happy ending, things didn’t start out very positive for the Aggies. After taking the opening kickoff and moving the ball down the field, the Ags turned to ball over when Stanley Morrison fumbled after being hit by Idaho safety Isaac Butts.
On the Vandal’s ensuing possession quarterback Nathan Enderlie connected with tight end Eddie Williams on a 7-yard strike. Two pass interference penalties, one on third down and 13, helped Idaho along the way.
Utah State again moved was able to move the ball down the field, eventually moving to Idaho’s 8-yard line. But three straight rushes led to a 23-yard field goal attempt by Peter Caldwell.
In what was turning into a slightly alarming situation, the attempt was blocked. Despite nearly doubling the Vandals offensive output in the first quarter, the Aggies still had nothing to show for it, trailing 7-0.
After holding the Idaho defense to a three and out situation, the Aggies again shot themselves in the foot. A good punt return to the USU 42-yard line was negated by a holding penalty. Instead of taking over near midfield, the Ags had first and ten from their own 22.
It looked like another Aggie three and out when Turbin’s 11-yard reception came up short on third and 14. Deep in their own territory it looked like the Ags would have to punt. Then, USU caught its first break.
A roughing the passer penalty on Idaho’s Guy Reynolds, Jr., gave the Aggies 15 yards from the end of the play and an automatic first down. Five plays later the Aggies cashed in when Borel scampered 33 yards to tie the game.
USU had a couple more chances to score during the second quarter, but a bobbled pass on fourth down and a tipped pass that led to an interception thwarted any thoughts of a halftime lead.
After trading scores to open the third quarter, the Aggies were finally able to take the lead for heading into the fourth. Set up by a 49-yard run from Turbin, Borel hit Jeremy Mitchell for a 15-yard touchdown that put the home team up for good.
The clincher came just a few minutes later. Backed up to their own goal line, Idaho dropped back to pass, and Enderlie never saw what was coming. Darby Golden broke through the offensive line of the Vandal’s, and laid a lick on the Idaho signal caller.
Enderlie fumbled the ball into the waiting arms of defensive end Ben Calderwood. Touchdown. USU 28, Idaho 17.
“I challenged them in the fourth quarter to steamroll somebody, to do what can be done,” USU head coach Brent Guy said. “They responded as well as I’ve had a football team respond. That defensive play in the end zone was huge. When you hit a quarterback and strip the football and score on defense, that is demoralizing.”
In true turnaround form, the Aggies did something they were unable to do last season – they finished a game.
Utah State worked the ball on the ground, wound down the clock, and added two more touchdowns to the total. The 42 points were the most scored under Guy, and the most since 2003. Also, with the win, the Aggies take over sole possession of first place in the Western Athletic Conference.
“This is a big win for us. Like I told the players, we’re Ricky Bobby today – it was first or last,” Guy said. “It was the only WAC game today, and it was Ricky Bobby; first or last.”
With a bye week coming up, USU has two weeks to prepare for their toughest test yet. The Ags “welcome” BYU to town on Friday, Oct. 3. The Cougars have beaten their last two opponents by a combined score of 103-0.
“We’ve got an open week, but we’ve got a great challenge coming,” Guy said. “We’ve got the best football team coming that we’ve seen yet.”
-t.olsen@aggiemail.usu.edu