USU wins whiteout
Running back Kerwynn Williams had 260 yards of total offense as Utah State rolled over UNLV 35-13 in front of a nearly-sold out crowd at Romney Stadium on Saturday.
Williams, a Las Vegas native, had the most receiving yards by an Aggie non-receiver since 1959 against his hometown team.
“I feel like if it were any other team I would have come out with the same intensity,” Williams said. “That didn’t add anything to it, but I am excited to play and for the way it turned out tonight, just to go out there and get the victory.”
The senior was also the first player since Robert Turbin in 2009 to have 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game with 20 carries for 113 yards and seven receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Sophomore quarterback Chuckie Keeton also had a career-high 402 yards for four scores through the air.
“Our offensive line had an amazing game today. They gave me a lot of time to just stand back there and throw and opened up some huge holes for Kerwynn,” Keeton said. “They’re really the heroes of this game, the O-line.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Utah State’s first of the season, Aggie kicker Josh Thompson hit a 32-yard field goal to go up by three.
“We kind of shot ourselves in the foot when it comes to penalties,” Keeton said. “It definitely killed us. We had 33 plays in the first three series and we only came out with three points. That is definitely due to penalties.”
Utah State was flagged nine times for 123 yards in the game.
UNLV’s only touchdown — and only lead — came on a 3-yard pass from freshman quarterback Nick Sherry to junior tight end Max Johnson with 10:45 left to play in the half.
Then Utah State turned on the scoring switch and put up 17-straight points, the final three from a 31-yard field goal as time expired to make it 20-7, capping off an six-play, 82-yard drive spawned by an interception from senior cornerback Terrance Alston.
“It’s kind of just a gut call,” Andersen said about the decision to drive with 31 seconds left instead of kneeling to end the first half. “I feel like we had a bit of flow on the offensive side of the ball and we were able to make a play and then make another play.”
The Aggies turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions to start the second half, but the defense stiffened up to force a pair of UNLV field goals to make it 20-13.
Andersen said he thought the defense played solidly.
“I thought the defense bowed up in tough times, especially with the turnover. That was a big turnover to start the second half,” he said. “The defense was stout.”
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Keeton threw a screen pass to Williams, who took the ball 74 yards for his only touchdown of the game.
Keeton hit senior Chuck Jacobs from 17 yards out for the receiver’s second touchdown catch of the game four minutes later. Jacobs finished with four catch
es for 101 yards and two scores.
The offense wasn’t the only unit to put points on the scoreboard.
A host of Aggie defenders tackled running back Tim Cornett in the end zone for a safety to make it 35-13 after senior defensive end Al Lapuaho sacked quarterback Nick Sherry on the one yard line with 5:10 left in the game.
Junior linebacker Jake Doughty led the defense with 13 tackles, followed by junior Zach Vigil with 10.
“I felt like the defense, once again, played with their heads on fire,” Williams said. “When we have a defense like that it allows us to take more chances on offense.”
The win brings USU to 4-1 on the season. Utah State will next face Brigham Young University on Oct. 5 in Provo.
Tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @Stuckiaggies
Aggie Football players tackle a UNLV ball carrier during the Homecoming game Sept. 29, 2012 at Romney Stadium. CURTIS RIPPLINGER photo
Joe Hill breaks a long run after a pass during the Homecoming game against UNLV on Sept. 29 at Romney Stadium. CURTIS RIPPLINGER photo