Aggies look to take to the air against Iowa
The one-two punch of quarterback and receiver.
It could be the Utah State University football team’s key to opening the door to an upset over the University of Iowa Hawkeyes (2-1) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Saturday afternoon.
The Hawkeye pass defense ranks close to last in the nation giving up 333 yards and two touchdowns per game. They also allow opposing team’s quarterbacks to complete 66.7 percent of their passes.
Utah State University wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who brings in 115 of Utah State University’s 250 passing yards per game, said he feels USU shouldn’t have a problem passing the ball.
“Definitely we feel we can throw the ball on them,” Curtis said.
He also said the Aggies will have to have all parts of their game working for them to beat the Hawkeyes.
Iowa plays in Kinnick Stadium, which can hold a capacity crowd of 70,397. This will be the second game this season in which the Aggies have gone head to head with a team in a 70,000-plus seat stadium.
One aspect of the stadium many rave about is how close the fans are to the field, said USU Head Coach Mick Dennehy.
“The fans are right on top of you,” Dennehy said. “Hopefully, we will take another step forward and not get hung up on the atmosphere surrounding the game.”
USU (1-2) comes into this Saturday’s game off its first win of the season. The Aggies escaped last Saturday with a 38-33 win over the Division I-AA Idaho State Bengals in Romney Stadium.
Utah State scored from touchdown passes on each of its first two plays from scrimmage, and eventually built a 28-0 lead early into the second quarter.
But the Bengals clawed their way back into the game and had a chance to win with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.
Were the Aggies dissatisfied in the way they let a I-AA team come back into the game? Not completely.
“It doesn’t matter how or where, we just needed to get a win,” said Aggie linebacker Robert Watts.
Dennehy said, “We are never, ever not going to be satisfied when we come out on top. [Wins] are too tough to come by.”
Iowa won’t be looking to greet the Aggies with a smile when the teams hit the field.
In their game last Saturday, the Hawkeyes lost at home to in-state rival Iowa State 36-31 – a game which was all the more painful since the Hawkeyes held a 24-7 halftime lead.
Iowa State reversed positions with the Hawkeyes in the second half, taking advantage of three Hawkeye fumbles and converting them into 17 points. Every one of Iowa’s five turnovers this season has been costly as opposing teams have scored four touchdowns and one field goal off them.
The Hawkeye running game is one of the top 10 in the nation, courtesy of what Dennehy calls a huge offensive line. They are sure to test an Aggie defense that allows an average of 240 yards on the ground each game, he said.
“Their offensive line is unbelievably large,” Dennehey said. “We are not talking 6-4, 300 pound guys. We are talking 6-7, 6-8 325 pound guys.”
However, there may be a gaping hole in the Iowa running game. Hawkeye tailback Fred Russell, who turns up 153 yards on the ground each game, left the Iowa State game early in the third quarter with a shoulder injury and is questionable for Saturday’s game.
“That’s a big advantage if that’s the case,” Watts said. “But I guess we will see at game time for sure.”
Saturday’s game will be the 100th for Dennehy as a head coach. Does this give the Aggies extra motivation entering Saturday’s game? Curtis said it is that way for the Aggies every game.
“Any time we play there is motivation,” Curtis said. “Each game we want to go out and win for him.”
-samhis@cc.usu.edu