Ags barely hang on for 38-33 victory over Idaho State
It didn’t take long for the Utah State University offense to demonstrate its quick strike ability Saturday night.
Only 18 seconds.
The Aggies scored touchdowns on their first two plays en route to a 38-33 victory over Idaho State University at Romney Stadium.
“Sometimes when things are that easy you have a tendency to feel like it’s going to be that easy all the way through, and obviously it wasn’t,” said Aggie Head Coach Mick Dennehy.
Utah State started with the ball on its own 20-yard line and on the first play quarterback Jose Fuentes went deep to wide receiver Kevin Curtis. Curtis grabbed the ball over a defender near the ISU 40-yard line, made a move past another and sprinted into the end zone. Curtis would finish the game with 147 yards on 5 catches.
Idaho State wouldn’t get a chance to answer on its first possession.
On the Bengals’ second play from scrimmage, quarterback Doug Baughman’s pass was deflected and ended up in the hands of USU safety Jamar Glasper.
It was Glasper’s first career pickoff and one of four Baughman would throw on the night.
“The first interception started the domino effect and that was the momentum for our defense,” Glasper said. “It was a good thing for me. I told myself once I get my first [interception], they’re all just going to come to me.”
Starting at the ISU 20-yard line, the Aggie offense didn’t waste any time, taking one play and seven seconds to score on a 20-yard pass to receiver Gary Coleman.
With 13:40 remaining in the first quarter the Aggies were ahead 14-0.
On Idaho State’s next possession, the Aggies came up with another interception, this time by cornerback Ade Jimoh. Utah State couldn’t move the ball though, and the teams exchanged punts until less than a minute remaining in the quarter when the Aggies struck again.
Starting on their own 20-yard line after a Utah State punt, the Bengals tried running the ball, but ISU running back Rory Carrington fumbled on the handoff. Aggie defensive tackle Jorge Tapia scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 15 yards for a touchdown, making the score
21-0.
“That was awesome,” Dennehy said. “Those defensive linemen, they never get to touch the football let alone score a touchdown.”
Utah State would score again to start the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run by running back James Samuel.
Trailing 28-0, ISU began to chisel into the Utah State lead before halftime.
Bengal running back Isaac Mitchell scored the first two touchdowns, on 11-yard and 51-yard runs, but ISU also had a 48-yard field goal attempt blocked by Glasper.
ISU had another opportunity to score when they set up for a 37-yard field goal with seconds left in the half. Bengal kicker Jeremy Hershey faked the kick and tried to run the ball but was stopped by Glasper. The half ended with USU up 28-14.
In the second half the Bengals would close the gap further with a 38-yard field goal but the Aggies bounced back with a 29-yard touchdown pass to receiver Chris Stallworth. ISU answered on a 50-yard touchdown pass and then added a 50-yard field goal to make the score 35-27 going into the fourth quarter.
Utah State made a sustained drive to open the fourth quarter, moving the ball to the ISU 9-yard line. On third down, the Aggies apparently scored on a run by Fuentes, but the touchdown was called back on an illegal motion penalty.
The Aggies settled for a 25-yard field goal by kicker Dane Kidman, making the score 38-27.
“We get a touchdown down here and get the dang thing called back and have to settle for three instead of seven,” Dennehy said. “It’s amazing how the little things in the game of football end up being so huge. Really there is no such thing as a little thing, they’re all big.”
With 6:17 remaining in the game, the Bengals scored for the last time. Mitchell punched the ball in from two yards out but the 2-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score 38-33.
The Aggie defense held for the remainder of the game and finished off the Bengals on an interception by safety Bryan Jackson as time expired.
“Nobody gave us a shot being down 28-0, but this team came back and played their a—s off to get us back in this game,” said ISU Head Coach Larry Lewis.
Baughman finished with 268 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions on 20- of-50 passing. Fuentes was 26-of-41 and had 330 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
On the ground, the Aggies picked up a season-high 161 yards.
Tailback Roger Robinson led the Aggie ground attack with 93 yards on 12 carries while Samuel chipped in 63 yards.
“We’ll take the win,” Dennehy said. “There’s nothing like that feeling. We’ll enjoy it for a couple of hours and get back to work tomorrow.”
-slbk5@cc.usu.edu