Utah State football debrief
The Great: What more can you say about Derrvin Speight? The senior runner wasn’t even expected to be the backup coming into the year, but injuries to Robert Turbin and Michael Smith have allowed the Nevada native to make the most of his final go-around. After rushing for a career high last week against New Mexico State, he broke his own record by rushing for a new high of 125 yards, showing power and determination on his final touchdown run. On a team full of freshman his leadership has proved invaluable, and by taking the pressure off Borel he’s helped the Aggie offense achieve balance. Oh yeah, his offensive line, led by senior tackle Spencer Johnson, is pretty good, too.
The Good: With injuries continuing to strike, USU has had to turn to several younger players and former backups who have had to mature faster than expected. In previous games this has hurt USU, but against San Jose State, many of these players have showed they are getting comfortable on the field and in their new roles. Nevin Lawson showed great resiliency after a tough day at cornerback by bouncing back and picking off Jordan Le Secla on the game’s final play, while freshman runner Robert Marshall – who many didn’t even expect to play this season – ran with power and determination on 12 carries. And what about Travis van Leeuwen? The seldom-used receiver has stepped up over the past two weeks, and led the Aggies with five catches against San Jose State.
The Bad: A road win and a winning streak are great confidence builders for USU, but don’t forget that the past two games have come against two of the worst teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). That USU nearly lost both games shouldn’t be overlooked, especially as the competition level heats up in the season’s final two games. Diondre Borel was sacked four times and the Aggie offense turned the ball over three times, while the defense allowed what had been, statistically, the worst offense in the FBS to have a veritable field day.
The Ugly: An announced crowd of 12,239 fans seems awfully generous. No wonder this game wasn’t televised.
Behind the Numbers: While he threw two interceptions against San Jose State, Borel continued his ascension into the Utah State record books. The senior topped 2,000 total yards against the Spartans, making it the third straight year he’s eclipsed the 2,000 yard mark. By throwing his 37th career touchdown pass to Dontel Watkins in the first quarter, Borel moved into fourth place all-time in touchdowns thrown by a USU quarterback. USU is 3-0 this season and 7-2 under Gary Andersen when the Aggies have a halftime lead.
What it Means: Believe it or not, USU isn’t statistically eliminated from a bowl game, although the team would need two wins to finish out the year (including an improbable victory against Boise State in the finale) to be considered for a postseason game. While the team is unlikely to achieve its ultimate goal, the win keeps the Aggies out of the WAC basement, and gives a young team confidence and momentum heading into next year. By winning on the road and getting Andersen’s first back-to-back wins, the Aggies have taken the first steps in establishing a culture of winning.
Up Next: Utah State will return one more time to Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium next Saturday at 1 p.m. to take on Idaho. The Vandals are 4-6 this year after losing 54-14 to Boise State a week ago. The team, which currently has three games remaining, will be desperate as they attempt to return to the postseason under second year headman Robb Akey, while the Aggies will look to send their seniors out on top and eclipse their 2009 win total.
– adam.nettina@aggiemail.usu.edu