Kickoff returns power USU in battle of the Aggies
After starting slow and overcoming a last-minute scare, Utah State was able to get its third win of the season Saturday, beating New Mexico State 27-22 as quarterback Diondre Borel moved to No. 2 all-time in passing yards in USU history.
Scoring a touchdown to go up 17-20 in the final three minutes of the game, the blue-clad Aggies came up with the game-winning stop as sophomore cornerback Quinton Byrd broke up NMSU quarterback Matt Christian’s pass to Kyle Nelson on fourth down, giving Utah State the ball with 52 seconds left. To waste out the clock, Borel ran out the final 8 seconds by scampering back into the endzone before taking a safety as time expired.
Borel, a 6-foot senior out of Freedom High School in Oakley, Calif. now trails only Jose Fuentes on the career passing-yards list. Borel said he didn’t even know about the record until after the game when the coaches told him.
“It’s great for me to know that I am number two on the all-time passing yards list,” Borel said. “I didn’t know it was going to happen, especially coming in as a receiver my freshman year. I’ve got to thank all my teammates for catching the ball, they are a big part of me having this record.”
The performance of the senior was vital to the win over New Mexico State, as Borel threw 11-22 for 110 yards and one interception. He would add a touchdown and another 30 yards rushing.
The crimson-clad Aggies of New Mexico State would take an early lead as Christian marched his team down to score on two of their first three drives in the game, giving them a 14-0 lead.
“When they jumped out to an early lead, there was no panic on our sidelines,” USU defensive end Levi Koskan said. “We knew it was early in the game and that we would have chances to get back into the game.”
Koskan also said two important kickoff returns by sophomore running back Kerwynn Williams helped to jump-start the home team.
Williams led Utah State in all-purpose yardage, carrying the ball five times for 29 yards and returning five kickoffs for 201 yards. His first big return came near the end of the first quarter, taking New Mexico State junior kicker Jordan Davenport’s kickoff 84 yards to the 10-yard line. The return would set up a pair of rushes from senior running back Derrvin Speight to take the ball into the end zone to make it 14-7.
“It’s a big deal when Kerwynn makes plays like he did today,” Borel said. “When he returns the ball and ultimately sets us up to score on offense, it can change the entire game.”
Williams added another return in the fourth quarter, this time for 64 yards. A New Mexico State penalty would shorten the field for the blue and white, placing the ball at the 12-yard line. On the subsequent play, junior wide receiver Eric Moats would take the option pitch from Borel in for the score and give Utah State the lead 24-20.
“On those two kickoffs it was very disappointing,” New Mexico State head coach DeWayne Walker said. “They really hurt us, especially the second one.”
In the third quarter, the Aggies were helped out by another couple of New Mexico State penalties that allowed Speight to set up the score from Borel to tie the game at 17.
Speight would lead all rushers and finish the game carrying the ball 19 times for 114 yards and a touchdown. This is the first time in his collegiate career the senior has rushed for 100 yards or more.
“I have to give the credit to the offensive line,” Speight said. “They created holes that allowed me to run downhill and get my shoulders square.”
USU head coach Gary Anderson said both Williams and Speight played hard.
“Kerwynn Williams did a tremendous job with returns and Derrvin (Speight) did great
with rushing and got us a lot of yards,” Anderson said. “Our kids came in to half time with a great mindset and we went out and got the victory. This win is for the kids; they fought a tough game, with lots of adversity.”
On the defensive side of the ball, USU was helped by junior linebacker Bobby Wagner who led the team in tackles. Koskan, who notched seven tackles in the game, said Wagner is a player who is in on every play.
“He gives 130 percent every down,” Koskan said. “It’s not surprising that he had 17 tackles today. He is a great athlete.”
Senior corner Rajric Coleman and junior defensive end Quinn Garner added another 12 and 11 tackles, respectively. The Aggie defense was also able to come up with two sacks in the game.
“It is great to get a victory. Falling behind early put us in a hole, but defensively we stepped up,” Anderson said. “For as young as we are to get down and hang on in the end; it is tremendous. We need to execute in all scenarios. We don’t have to play great in all phases of the game; we just have to play good in all phases.”
The win brings Utah State to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in the Western Athletic Conference. New Mexico State drops to 2-7, 1-4 WAC. On Nov. 6, USU will travel to San Jose State to take on the 1-8, 0-4 Spartans, while NMSU will play host to 3-6, 2-3 Lousiana Tech.
To become eligible to play in a postseason bowl game, Utah State will need to win all of its final three games against San Jose State, Idaho, and Boise State. Koskan said the Aggie players know they cannot lose another game.
“It is going to take a lot of effort and focus for us to take the momentum we made here tonight and take it to California with us,” Koskan said. “We want to win in San Jose and set ourselves up for the opportunity to win over Idaho and go into Boise State for the chance to go to a bowl game.”
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu