Utah State continues road struggles at NMSU
The temperature at the beginning of Utah State’s game at New Mexico State was a warm 64 degrees, in contrast with last Saturday’s game when it barely broke into the 30s.
And that wasn’t all that was different.
New Mexico State won the game 26-21, snapping Utah State’s two-game winning streak and stopping USU from picking up its first road win this year.
USU struggled offensively throughout the game, losing by five points in a contest where it missed two field goals.
Utah State had not attempted a field goal in its last six games. Kicker Jacob Hamblin missed from 38 yards and 26 yards, both in the second quarter.
It was the third straight game Utah State has held its opponents without a touchdown in the first half.
Utah State led 7-3 at the half.
USU’s lack of scoring wasn’t because of lack of chances. USU had three possessions inside the red zone and could only capitalize once.
“We played well defensively, we just shot ourselves in the foot on offense,” said Utah State Head Coach Mick Dennehy in a post-game radio interview.
USU kick returner Joe Kilpack returned the second half kickoff to the 34-yard line, but a penalty moved them back to the 12-yard line.
The offense couldn’t dig itself out of the hole and Utah State punter Ben Chaet had to kick with his feet on the end zone line.
This gave NMSU great field position and led to another field goal.
On the kickoff after the field goal, Kilpack fumbled the ball at Utah State’s 11-yard line. NMSU capitalized with a one-yard touchdown run by quarterback Buck Pierce to take a 12-7 lead.
New Mexico State extended the lead to 19-7 later in the quarter with a two-yard run by running back Tony Joseph.
Joseph led all rushers with 116 yards on the ground. Utah State running back David Fiefia recorded his second straight 100-yard rushing game with 106 yards.
During the second half it looked as if New Mexico State was going to abandon its loyalty to the run and start throwing deep.
For one drive that is how the southern Aggies played. That loosened up the Utah State front so the northern Aggies were able to run the ball whenever and where ever they wanted to.
USU started keying in on the running game of New Mexico and that’s when the southern Aggies began picking apart the northern Aggies defensive backs.
From then on Utah State wasn’t able to control the defensive line of scrimmage and Joseph was hitting every hole and taking advantage of the lack of penetration by the Utah State front line.
The northern Aggies did show a little promise in the second half by scoring two more touchdowns, but they never got closer than five points.
During the second half NMSU had 14 first downs as opposed to five by Utah State.
USU quarterback Travis Cox threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort. Wide receiver Kenny Coleman had a career day, catching six passes for 111 yards.
Tight end Chris Cooley also set a career high for receptions, grabbing nine passes for 101 yards.
-kcaustin@cc.usu.edu