Aggies on the road at Louisiana Tech
USU quarterback Riley Nelson will get a second crack at the first road win of his freshman career Saturday when the Aggies take the field in Ruston, La., for another sure-to-entertain WAC affair.
Last week in San Jose, USU’s heart was broken when they couldn’t convert a fourth down play on their last possession and the Spartans were able to run the clock out.
USU Head Coach Brent Guy said it’s unlikely the Aggies will be able to score on very many 12-play drives, and he wants the offense to produce more explosive plays of 20 yards or more, specifically tailbacks Marcus Cross and Antraun McDaniel.
“We have got to get bigger plays. We have got to make guys miss,” Guy said. “We had only one explosive, that was the throw to Kevin (Robinson) late in the game to get us down there to give us a chance to tie it up. We got one out of Riley, but it got called back. We have to have four a game, like we did against Fresno to have a chance to win some of these WAC games. In the end, that is what continues drives.”
Utah State was defeated by the Bulldogs last year in Logan, by a 27-17 score, and if they are able to avenge that defeat for their first road win of the year, would even their WAC record at 2-2.
Leon Jackson III passed for 372 yards in that game and Ryan Bohm rushed for two touchdowns but the Aggies fumbled four times.
This year La. Tech has a miserable 1-5 record, is winless in the WAC and seems like a great matchup for a USU team playing much better against conference foes. Louisiana Tech is giving up 224.7 yards per game on the ground and has allowed 18 rushing touchdowns.
Guy said the Bulldogs have played a brutal schedule.
“Nobody would want Jack Bicknell’s (La Tech’s head coach’s) schedule. They have eight road games. This is the first time they have got to stay home two weeks in a row. That will be an advantage for them,” Guy said.
Among those eight road games were trips to Clemson, S.C., College Station, Texas, and Lincoln, Neb., where the Tigers, Aggies and Cornhuskers walloped the Bulldogs by scores of 51-0, 45-14 and 49-10. Last time out against Idaho, La. Tech turned the football over eight times in a 24-14 loss.
“It is a big game for both of us,” Guy said. “It is a game that you have to say for both teams is a must-win game for us with the situation we are in.”
Louisiana Tech’s leaders on offense are quarterback Zac Champion, who has thrown for 1,129 yards with nine interceptions on a 48.8 completion percentage, and running back Patrick Jackson, who has scored four touchdowns. The Bulldogs like to spread the field with multiple receivers, of whom Eric Newman has the most receptions with 21. Jonathon Holland has 19 receptions, while Josh Wheeler is the big play threat with a 22.6 yards per catch average and two touchdown receptions.
Linebacker Quin Harris is the leader of the Bulldog defense, with 44 tackles and four fumble recoveries.