Aggie experience deja vu – end season on negative note
The Utah State University football team suffered a deja vu experience Saturday in Fresno, Calif. The disappointing 70-21 loss to the Bulldogs seemed all too familiar to the season ending loss to Idaho State, a Division I-AA team, last year.
Despite giving up 56 first-half points, the Aggies did have a little bit of success.
USU quarterback Jose Fuentes was 20-of-33 for 238 yards and two touchdowns on the day. He also set a USU record with 24 touchdown passes this season.
Running back David Fiefia rushed for a career-best 119 yards and a touchdown.
Kevin Curtis caught seven passes for 100 yards and a score.
Fresno State dominated the game, though.
David Carr threw for six touchdowns and 432 yards.
Bulldog Bernard Berrian also scored three touchdowns and four receptions for 158 yards.
The Aggies had not given up 70 points since a 72-3 loss in 1974 to Oklahoma. It could have been worse Saturday, but Fresno took most of their big guys out of the game after the first half.
The Aggies struggled early, being accused of dirty play by the Bulldogs including hard hits to sneaky defensive signal-calling. The Bulldogs responded by taunting USU, especially after a Carr touchdown, and a slew of personal fouls.
“I was not really happy with the way some of those people conducted themselves out there,” Fresno State Head Coach Pat Hill said of the Aggies. “I wasn’t pleased with their sportsmanship.”
Both USU Head Coach Mick Dennehy and Hill exchanged shots across the field.
“We just got in a giant hole today,” Dennehy said. “We probably got a little bit of emotions carried away, both ways. I’m a little bit disappointed by the way our kids reacted to that, but I think we buckled down and got some things squared away. That’s not how we want to be known as playing football.
“That’s about the biggest [loss] one could ever imagine getting,” Dennehy said. “They are absolutely loaded and unbelievably talented. When you don’t come out early in the game and stem the tide against teams like that, things have a tendency to snowball, and they sure did today.”
Another blow early to the Aggies was the loss of tailback Emmett White to a knee injury in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs scored first as Carr found Deandre Gilbert for a 41-yard touchdown. Fresno scored touchdowns on eight of its first 10 drives.
“If it was a fight, they would have stopped it,” Hill said. “I don’t know if there was anybody that would have beaten us here in Bulldog Stadium today. This is one of the best teams in the country. I’ve said that all year.”