Natson, defense fuels Aggies to win, bowl eligibility
It wasn’t pretty, but the Utah State football team got it done.
And for the first time in school history, the Aggies are bowl eligible in back-to-back-to-back seasons after a 28-24 win over UNLV on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
“We played well, in spurts, on both sides. We just didn’t play our best and it starts with me. I didn’t have them ready to play their best,” said head coach Matt Wells. “To me, that’s the ultimate team victory, because when you don’t play your best you find a way to win; you find a way to make plays on both sides. So for that, I’m proud of those kids.”
The USU offense struggled against a Rebels defense that ranked 106th nationally going into the game, but the defense kept UNLV in check and allowed the offense to stay in the game.
The teams traded blows throughout the first half, and Bruce Natson put the Aggies ahead 14-10 with a 13-yard run in the second quarter. USU had a chance to take the lead at the half, but penalties wiped away two touchdowns on the final drive and the Aggies failed to produce points.
“You know, we had two touchdowns taken off the board before halftime. That’s undisciplined play that we can’t have and we haven’t had all year,” Wells said.
The teams traded scores in the second half and UNLV led 21-17 before Natson’s 12-yard run put the Aggies on top for good.
“Outstanding performance by JoJo,” Wells said. “I thought we were struggling on offense, and to use him in some of that package he gave us a weapon. He showed up and players make plays, and that sucker made plays.”
Playing with the lead with less than four minutes to play, the defense allowed the Rebels to drive down the field and inside the red zone before forcing four straight incompletions to seal the win.
“It doesn’t get much more exciting than that or heart-stopping, threatening for my health,” Wells said. “First of all, to me, this is a true, consummate team win. It is a prime example of how far this program has come and I will go back the last four years because, honestly, we did not play our best.”
But despite the offensive struggles and the last-minute theatrics, the Aggies came away with the win and improved to 6-4 overall and 5-1 in MWC play.
With two games left to play, the Aggies moved half a game ahead of Boise State atop the division. The division winner will earn a berth in the inaugural MWC championship Dec. 7, but Boise State holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.
The Aggies host Colorado State and Wyoming in their final two games, while the Broncos host Wyoming, travel to San Diego State and then host New Mexico in their final three games.
“We’re not in a bowl and we haven’t gotten a bowl invite yet, so we’ll keep grinding away. I think again, that it’s the mark of a consistent program, is that we want to get to November and we want to play for championships,” Wells said. “We’re 5-1 in the Mountain West and, I think, we’re still in the hunt. So, that’ll be the goal of this program: to graduate the kids and to compete for championships. Right now, we’ll keep the blinders on and we’re right in the championship hunt.”
– curtislundstrom@gmail.com
Twitter: @CurtSport07