Non-conference games continue to plague USU gridders
After winning its first Sun Belt Conference game of the season last week against Louisiana-Monroe, the Utah State football team lost 34-7 to non-league opponent New Mexico Saturday in a lopsided game.
USU could not get into a rhythm against the Lobo defense as the Aggies could only snap the ball past midfield on two possessions.
New Mexico dominated the time-of-possession battle in the first half, having the ball for more than twice the time USU had it.
“Our offense was on the sidelines so much in the first half that our quarterbacks had to go re-warm up because their arms got cold,” said Aggie Head Coach Mick Dennehy in a post-game radio interview. “It was that bad. You feel for the defense for having to be out there for so many plays and for so long. But they got to make some plays on third downs. They got to make some stops, too.”
One of the few bright spots for the offense came in the second quarter when quarterback Travis Cox found wide receiver Barry Tolli down the sideline for a 79-yard touchdown pass to make the score 10-7 in favor of the Lobos.
“You hope that making a big play like that is going to get everyone back into the [game] emotionally and it just didn’t happen,” Dennehy said. “Usually, it does.”
New Mexico would go on to score the final 24 points of its Homecoming game. New Mexico played in Logan last year in USU’s Homecoming game. The Aggies won the contest 45-44 in overtime.
“I don’t think we played with the kind of effort that we generally play with,” Dennehy said. “That’s more disappointing than anything.
“On offense, we’ve got to do a better job on first down and defensively we’ve got to make some stops on third down. Our first-down offense and third-down defense was not where it has been nor where it needs to be. I think if we had done that then we would have been far better off,” he said.
After two impressive USU defensive stands in the first quarter, Tony Pennyman dropped a New Mexico punt deep inside the Aggie zone. The Lobos would score a touchdown four plays later to put the first seven points of the game on the scoreboard.
The Aggies received a scare in the first half when Cox was hit hard and got the wind knocked out of him. He had to be helped off the field and Matt Crivello replaced him for the rest of the drive.
Cox returned the next drive and did not appear to be affected by the hit.
Aggie long-snapper Matt Wiser injured his shoulder during the game and will likely be out for the season, Dennehy said, and Crivello broke his collar bone and will also most likely miss the rest of the season.
Lobo DonTrell Moore rushed for 120 yards on 31 carries and had touchdown runs of six and two yards.
Following a great performance last week against Louisiana-Monroe where he rushed for a career high 142 yards, running back David Fiefia was held to only 38 yards on 11 carries. Only five of those yards came in the first half.
New Mexico quarterback Casey Kelly completed 13 passes in 22 attempts for 230 yards and one touchdown, while Cox completed 13 passes in 27 attempts for 162 yards and also had one touchdown.
Turnovers plagued the Aggies as they fumbled the ball three times with New Mexico almost running one of them back for a touchdown. New Mexico would not take advantage, however, as Kelly would be intercepted by Aggie Cornelius Lamb in the end zone.
Lobo Sidney Wiley caught a 39-yard touchdown pass from Kelly in the second quarter to make the score 17-7 in favor of New Mexico. Lobo kicker Wes Zunker also kicked two field goals from 24 and 41 yards away.
-bhhinton@cc.usu.edu