Aggies top Air Force in Homecoming win
Utah State football limited the nation’s tenth-best rushing offense to 155 yards on the ground Saturday in a 34-16 victory over the Air Force Falcons. The Aggies’ sophomore quarterback Darrell Garretson finished the game 20-of-29 and throwing for 298 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard strike to junior wideout Hunter Sharp on the first play of the game.
The Aggies improve to 4-2 on the season and start Mountain West Conference play 1-0.
“Our goal was to be 1-0 at midnight, so we’re right on track,” said head coach Matt Wells. “This was a really good win for our kids. Right out of the gate we started fast and made some big plays on both sides of the ball. We had some really good individual performances within our team concept and our goals.”
Air Force’s run-heavy offense averaged 298 yards on the ground heading into Saturday’s matchup, clashing with senior linebacker Zach Vigil and the rest of USU’s stout defense. Vigil recorded 22 tackles in the game, the most in the nation this year at the Football Bowl S level in one game.
“It was an unbelievable performance when we needed it against an option, run-heavy option,” Wells said. “Everything he means to this program is big. He’s a captain and an inspirational leader who had a great performance out there tonight.”
Vigil chalked his record-setting game up to the efforts of his teammates.
“Like I said, I give full credit to my D-Line,” Vigil said. “Against teams like Air Force, they’re not as big up front, but they’re really fast, as fast as us linebackers. Our line did a really good job of eating up the blocks and allowing me to scrape. My hat’s off to them and the rest of the guys.”
The Aggie offense dominated the first half, scoring 31 points and finding Sharp in the end zone twice. Sharp totalled 164 receiving yards on 12 receptions against the Falcons.
“Hunter Sharp continues to play well each and every week,” Wells said. “I think it’s a reflection of his practice habits. He practices his tail off and does such a good job. He had another really good night catching the ball.”
Sharp’s performance marked his fourth straight game of over 100 receiving yards.
“Tonight as an offense we were clicking very early in the game,” Sharp said. “It led to two touchdowns early on and I felt like we had one of our best games as an offense tonight.”
Sharp added his surprise at his opening touchdown.
“That was unexpected,” Sharp said. “I for sure thought I was going to slip, because I always slip on this field for some reason. I looked up and saw the space. Coach always says to go full-speed and use the space. I found that space and just ran. I just did what I’ve been taught to do.”
Garretson and Sharp had the Aggies ahead 14-0 just over three minutes into the game. Air Force responded by driving all the way to the 2-yard line before a fumble into the end zone resulted in a touchback. Two Falcon field goals later, USU found itself up 14-6 before sophomore linebacker Nick Vigil ran in his second rushing touchdown of the season for a 21-6 lead.
The next drive, Nick intercepted a pass and returned it 19 yards, setting up a 46-yard Nick Diaz field goal. A 17-yard Garretson rush capped the Aggies’ 31-point half.
USU scored just once in the second half, a field goal in the fourth quarter. The Aggies have now forced 19 turnovers in their past five games, including at least one interception in 11 of their past 12. Wells commended his coaching staff for holding the halftime lead and stifling Air Force’s offensive drives.
“That was a big time performance by Todd Orlando and our defensive staff,” Wells said. “Those guys played well and I think the game was won up front. That’s where we talk about establishing the physicality and the toughness. It was a good job, I could talk all night.”