USU football team buries NMSU
It didn’t take Utah State long to establish dominance over New Mexico State on Saturday in the all-Aggie affair.
Senior running back Kerwynn Williams took a screen pass 76 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game en route to Utah State’s 41-7 dismantling of NMSU.
It was William’s career-long reception and sophomore quarterback Chuckie Keeton’s career-long touchdown pass.
“That play was blocked tremendously well by the wide receivers, tremendously well by the offensive linemen,” Utah State head coach Gary
Keeton struck again eight minutes later on a 49-yard pass to senior wide receiver Chuck Jacobs to make it 14-0. The pass immediately followed a 17-yard reception by Jacobs, who finished the game with four receptions and 94 yards receiving.
Keeton ran for a career-long 76-yard touchdown a minute into the second quarter to put Utah State up 21-0. The sophomore finished with 81 yards rushing to go along with 16 completions for 257 yards and three total touchdowns.
Williams added another score from three yards out 21 seconds before halftime to give USU a 28-0 advantage.
“They are what makes the offense go,” Andersen said. “The big-play potential at any moment from a quarterback and the running back is a very, very vicious weapon.”
Senior safety Will Davis picked off a pass from NMSU quarterback Andrew Manley in the end zone, wiping away a could-have-been touchdown with nine minutes left in the first half, returning it to the USU 35-yard line.
“I tell you what, it was long overdue since even Colorado State,” Davis said of his first pick after multiple near-interceptions this season. “The fans always tweet me, saying ‘I feel it this time, I feel it this time.’ I couldn’t get it, couldn’t get it … to actually finally do it, it felt great.”
New Mexico State’s first points came with 8:15 left in the third quarter when quarterback Andrew Manley hit wide receiver Austin Franklin from six yards to cut the lead to 31-7.
New Mexico State gained 132 yards on the ground and 189 through the air.
Junior linebacker Jake Doughty led the defense with 10 tackles, eight of which were unassisted.
Despite the near-shutout, Davis said the USU defense did not perform as well as it is capable.
“I think the first half we came out a little slow,” Davis said. “We were giving up way too many yards. We didn’t give up any points, but at the same time, our defense wasn’t playing that good. We were giving up 10-play drives and our offense was scoring so fast.”
Keeton added another score on a 9-yard run with a minute left in the third quarter to make it 38-7. USU and Sophomore kicker Nick Diaz nailed two field goals in the game, one each from 53 and 48 yards out to seal the USU victory.
“To be bowl eligible, to be 6-2, to win in a convincing manner at home again was a great accomplishment for the kids,” Andersen said.
‒ tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @StuckiAggies