Homecoming heartbreak: A tough pill to swallow
Going into Saturday’s homecoming game against the Fresno State, Aggie fans were hoping for a miracle. Most, however, weren’t expecting that the Bulldogs would be the team that would need one to win the game.
Nevertheless, with 2 seconds left, it was Fresno State’s redshirt freshman kicker that would deliver. Kevin Goessling booted a school record 58-yard field goal as time expired to save the Bulldogs from a second consecutive one-point loss in Logan.
“If they’d asked me, ‘would you take a 58-yarder,’ I would’ve with the way that guy had been kicking,” USU head coach Brent Guy said. “I have to give credit to that young man for making that kick in that situation, especially after what’s happened to him this season.”
Guy of course was referring to Goessling’s inability to make potential game winning or tying kicks in two of Fresno State’s earlier losses (Wisconsin, Hawaii). Goessling also missed a 22-yard attempt earlier in Saturday’s game.
In so many ways, it seemed like the Aggies were destined to beat the Bulldogs. For the first time this season, USU took its opening drive down for a score. The Aggies didn’t turn the ball over in the game, and amassed over 200 rushing yards.
Even after falling behind during a stagnant third quarter, the offense was able to mount a comeback. The Aggies scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, including what looked to be the decisive go-ahead score with 38 seconds left.
On fourth and goal from inside the one-yard line, the Aggies ran an option play to the left. Quarterback Diondre Borel pitched the ball to freshman running back Marquis Butler who dove in for the touchdown.
“Everything was flowing, we drove the ball down the field and I knew we were going to score,” Butler said.
Butler had his best game of the season rushing the ball 13 times for 55 yards and a touchdown.
Trailing 28-27 with just over 30 seconds to play and no timeouts, the Bulldogs were facing a tough task. The Aggie defense kept the Fresno State receivers in front of them, but was unable to bring them down inbounds. The ability to get out of bounds set the Bulldogs up for the game winning kick.
“We fought all the way to the end and they just had the last play on us, I couldn’t do anything about it,” Borel said. “The kicker missed one earlier in the game so we thought his chances of missing a 58-yard field goal would be even better. It’s hard for me and the whole team.”
In the first half, the Aggies battled back and forth with the preseason conference favorites. After USU’s opening touchdown, the Bulldogs answered when running back Lonyae Miller scampered in from 19-yards out to tie the game at seven.
Fresno State would add another touchdown in the second quarter and the Aggies would tack on two Peter Caldwell field goals to head into the intermission trailing by only one, 14-13.
The Bulldogs opened the second half with the ball and promptly used a 16-play, 80-yard drive to take over 7:30 off the clock and push the lead to eight.
After a Goessling field goal midway through the final quarter, things weren’t looking good for the Aggies as they trailed by 11.
Suddenly, after a second half of mediocrity, the Aggie offense woke up. Borel moved the Aggies 75 yards in three plays, finding junior wide receiver Xavier Bowman for a 20-yard strike. Borel also completed the 2-pt conversion when he scrambled in, cutting the Bulldog lead to three points with 6:16 still to play.
On Fresno State’s ensuing possession, the Aggied D bent but did not break, holding the Bulldogs to another field goal and setting up the exciting finale.
“We haven’t really lost any games like this at the very last second,” senior linebacker Jake Hutton said. “They don’t come around too often, so ones like these are probably the hardest for sure.”
Guy echoed his senior’s thoughts.
“That was a tough hard loss for this football team to take,” he said. “Football gives us lots of lessons in life and that was a tough, tough one to swallow. Until the clock says zero anything can happen … that’s life and football.”