Aggies stomped by SDSU ground game
For the first time since 2009, Utah State is 0-2 to start a season following a 38-7 home loss to San Diego State.
The issues that plagued the Aggies in their 42-13 loss to Boise State made a curtain call in Logan. An inability to move the ball on offense and a defense unable to hold the line for 48 minutes. San Diego State outgained Utah State with 570 yards compared to 215. USU head coach Gary Andersen called the game a “complete domination” by SDSU.
“We did not win the physical battle on either side again,” Andersen, emphasizing the “again” in reference to his similar comments after the Boise State game. “That’s just the facts. None of us can hide from that. None of us can run from that. I told the kids. The tougher, more physical team dominated, and that’s two games in a row.”
In the first half, the Aggie offense was the main culprit in the team’s ability to gain any momentum. The defense held the Aztecs to just 10 points despite the visitor’s consistently good field position. The offense turned in almost a complete dud with just 99 yards prior to the Aggies’ final drive of the half.
“We need to find a way to get the ball in the hands of our playmakers,” Andersen said. “In our first two games, we don’t have an identity on offense, we don’t have any rhythm on offense.”
It was that final drive of the first half that proved to be USU’s only spark of competence on offense. Quarterback Jason Shelley completed 5 of 6 passes (excluding a spike to stop the clock) for 59 yards plus a 14-yard scramble to lead the Aggies to their only touchdown of the game. The score itself came on a SportsCenter-worthy pitch-and-catch from Shelley to junior wideout Deven Thompkins who caught the ball over his shoulder in the back corner of the end zone.
After that play, which put the Aggies just three points down at halftime, the game felt close and gave the home side hope for their first win of the season.
“After that play, we came into the locker room pretty juiced up. We were ready to go,” Thompkins said.
Utah State even built on that hope at the start of the third by sacking SDSU quarterback Carson Baker on his own six-yard line, forcing a daunting 2nd and 26 for the Aztecs on their opening drive of the half. But eight plays later and the visitors had not only converted the necessary 26 yards, but had punched the ball into the end zone via a Greg Bell six-yard run.
Simply put, Utah State never recovered from that whole, never scoring in the second half and hardly stopping San Diego State.
“We lost a lot of energy coming from the second quarter to the third,” senior safety Shaq Bond said. “We were juiced up that late second. We were hyped. We had people pushing. We had people confident and then that third quarter we lost a lot of energy.”
The energy USU had may very well have simply transferred to the opposing sideline as SDSU put the pedal to the metal in the second half, especially on the ground. Of the 407 total rushing yards the Aztecs accumulated, 289 came in the second half. That dominant run game powered the 28-point second half that put the game away.
Utah State’s next game will be played on the road at Nevada. The Aggies will have a short week to try and fix their numerous shortcoming with the game to be played on Thursday.