USU narrowly defeated
What seemed like complete victory turned out to be utter defeat, after the Aggies dropped a heartbreaker in the season opener against Auburn, 42-38, Saturday, Sept. 3.
After a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Robert Turbin, Utah State was up by 10 points with just under four minutes remaining. Auburn junior quarterback Barrett Trotter started the drive from his own 35-yard-line and, six plays later, found himself facing third down and goal, from the USU 15. Trotter connected with tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen on a pass to the flat and the 6-foot-5 junior found his way to the end zone to put the Tigers within three, 38-35 Utah State.
With 2:07 left in the game, the Tigers attempted an onside kick. Auburn receiver Emory Blake recovered the ball, knocking over USU’s Chuck Jacobs, as he snatched possession away from the junior receiver.
Barrett once again marched the Tigers down the field, this time eventually handing the ball to star running back Michael Dyer for the 1-yard touchdown run to take the lead, 42-38 Auburn.
With just 30 seconds left on the clock and starting a drive from their own 20, Utah State could not get into field goal range to force overtime or secure a victory.
Dyer had 14 carries, for 58 yards, and two touchdowns for the Tigers. Barrett ended the game completing 17 of 23 passes for three touchdowns, including the two late in the fourth quarter to put Auburn on top for good.
Utah State head coach Gary Andersen said it was a very disheartening outcome.
“It’s obviously a disappointing loss,” Andersen said. “We failed to execute a gigantic play on the onside kick to pretty much win the game.”
Turbin had 22 rushes for 72 yards, and two touchdowns in his first game back from injury in 644 days. He said the focus of the team, now, is on winning.
“I am on the hands team,” Turbin said. “We practice over and over with onside kick situations. We have been over it countless times and we just have to do a better job and be more prepared. I don’t think you understand how much this game hurt, to be up 10 with four minutes to go, with the defending BCS National Champions on the ropes.”
Aggie linebacker Bobby Wagner had 10 tackles and one sack in the game, and said he puts the loss “solely on (his) shoulders.”
“This game came down to defense and we did not step up,” Wagner said. “I felt like we were stronger than them. I felt like we were faster than them, but I felt like they made plays when they needed to, and we did not.”
USU quarterback Chuckie Keeton was named the starter as the offense took the field for the first time. Keeton completed 21 of 30 passes, to 10 different receivers, for 213 yards to go along with two rushing touchdowns. The 6-foot-2 true freshman was named rivals.com National Freshman of the Week for his outstanding play.
Andersen said Keeton is a special player.
“I promise you no one is hurt more,” Andersen said. “You saw exactly how he played as a true freshman. I think we are in very good hands at the quarterback position, just as we felt as we continued through camp. I love Chuckie Keeton. I have loved Chuckie Keeton since I walked into his living room.”
Uncharacteristic of USU teams in recent history, the veteran Aggie front line was able to push around the Auburn defensive front, allowing Utah State to dominate the defending BCS National Champions in several key statistics, including first downs 27-17, rushing yards 227-78, offensive yards 448-364 and time of possession 37:41-22:19.
“We controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the football in the run game,” Andersen said. “Which is great to do against a quality opponent.”
Keeton said the Aggies took strides during the game, but need to make improvements.
“It doesn’t matter, we didn’t win,” Keeton said. “It doesn’t matter how many yards we racked up or points we scored, if we don’t win.”
Utah State will play Weber State next in the season home-opener on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. The Wildcats lost at Wyoming, 32-35, last weekend.
—tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu