Freshman Jackson shines on dark night for U State
With USU down 48-6, head coach Mick Dennehy had quarterbacks Matt Crivello and Leon Jackson III play every other down for the remaining 12:03 in the game.
“Right now, we would have a difficult decision in terms of who our No. 2 guy would be,” Dennehy said. “I thought both of them did a reasonably good job. I was particularly impressed with Leon. I thought that he did an outstanding job.”
Jackson was pleased with his limited playing time.
“It felt great,” he said. “It would have been nice to get a six on the board. Every time I touch the ball I just want to score. Anytime I can get a chance to play I love it. I’m content with anything I get right now. I’m just scratching for any time, any play, any second. I just want to play. I’m not worried about anything else.”
Chaet shines again
In a game when the offense only rushes for 48 yards on 35 attempts and over a quarter of the team’s total yards come on kickoff returns, it pays to have a good punter. And Punter Ben Chaet shined once again.
Chaet punted five times and pinned Utah inside its own 20 twice. On every possession when Chaet punted, the Aggies started no better than their own 30 yard line. Their average starting field position for the game was their own 25.
Utah’s average started field position its own 33 for the game. In the first quarter, when the Utes outscored the Aggies 20-0, Utah’s starting field position was the USU 47.
Also …
USU has now lost 15 of its last 17 games to Utah, including a current seven game losing streak … USU’s six points were its fewest in a game since losing 23-3 to Utah in the 2002 season opener … USU’s 41-0 deficit was its biggest since trailing Iowa by 41 points (48-7) on Sept. 21, 2002 … QB Travis Cox has thrown multiple interceptions for the third straight game but just the fourth time in his 15 career starts.
By the numbers
24,750 – total number of tickets sold
65 – yards kickoff by Justin Hamlin that sailed through the uprights in the 3rd quarter
35 – point lead when Utah Head Coach Urban Meyer was flagged for Unsportsmanlike Conduct
7 – touchdowns by Utah
6 – USU drives that crossed the 50-yard-line
6 – A total of six quarterbacks played for both teams.
-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu