UPDATE: Utah State uses hot first quarter to beat Southern Utah 34-3
Sophomore quarterback Chuckie Keeton didn’t miss in the first quarter as he tossed a pair of touchdowns to help the Aggies to a 21-0 lead early.
Running back Joe Hill added another touchdown on a 27-yard scamper with a minute remaining in the first quarter, despite 12 Southern Utah defenders being on the field.
“Tonight was a great night,” Hill said. “The linemen blocked very well tonight. They made holes and I just used my ability, just one cut and use my speed … Today was a very exciting day for me. I really didn’t expect to play as much, but Kerwynn (Williams) got a little bit tired and was cramping a little bit, so I had to step up.”
Hill racked up 119 yards and scored twice more in the second half, including a career-long 33-yarder to put the Aggies up for good at 34-3.
Utah State Head Coach Gary Andersen said it was “great to see” the sophomore perform so well.
“He got the game ball,” Andersen said. “He was the player of the game for us without question. He was explosive, which we always knew. His ball security was very good, which needs to continue. He can block pretty good too. I’m proud of the way he carried himself in that setting for really the first time, being a feature young man.”
The Thunderbirds couldn’t get past the Aggie defense. SUU’s first and only points came from a 22-yard field goal by junior kicker Colton Cook in the second quarter.
It was the lowest amount of points a defense at Utah State has allowed under Andersen, and the first time Utah State has won a season-opener since 1996.
“I thought we played well defensively,” said Aggie safety McKade Brady, who had five tackles. “We didn’t get as many turnovers as would have liked to, but I thought overall we did a good job of stopping the run, putting them in situations that they need to throw the ball.”
SUU quarterback Brad Sorenson completed 12 of 31 pass attempts for 153 yards and threw an interception in the end zone as time expired.
Utah State drew first blood with a 48-yard pass from Keeton to senior wide receiver Chuck Jacobs to make it 7-0 with 8:51 to play in the first quarter.
Offensively, the Aggies were led by senior wide receiver Matt Austin, who had 119 yards on five completions, including a 35-yarder from Keeton.
Keeton finished with 22 of 26 passing for 304 yards and two touchdowns, but said his perf
ormance at a B-level, despite a career-high in yards and completions.
“That is a positive,” Keeton said. “One of those completions was to the DB, so that’s how I see it and that’s why I say a B.”
Senior quarterback Adam Kennedy came on for Keeton in the fourth quarter, but was carted to the locker room after taking a hit on a slide, injuring his left arm.
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu
@stuckiaggies