Utah State has a sack party vs New Mexico State

The golden years of Utah State football featured some of the most fierce pass rushes in all of college football. In USU’s last double-digit win season in 2012, the Aggies averaged 3.8 sacks per game. That mark was the second-best in the country. It was a large factor in USU’s success.

In the three seasons since, however, the pass rush evaporated. Utah State has averaged only 1.8 sacks per game in each of the past three years, putting extra strain on the secondary and dragging the overall defensive ability down.

The proofs in the stats. From 2012 through 2015, USU always finished in the top 25 in the country in yards allowed per game. The Aggies haven’t cracked the top 45 in the statistic since.

This year looks like a return to form, though. Through two games, Utah State has sacked the quarterback an impressive eight times, including five versus New Mexico State on Saturday night.

Incoming transfer Tipa Galeai is a major reason why. With 1.5 sacks in the first half alone, the junior phenom has 3.5 sacks on the season. To put that into perspective, Jalen Davis led the team with four sacks for the ENTIRE season last year. In only two games, Galeai has declared himself as one of the best defensive players in the Mountain West.

USU’s bolstered pass rush reflected on the scoreboard. Without any time to let plays develop, New Mexico State’s offense continued to struggle, gaining only 280 yards of total offense as Utah State steam-rolled NMSU in a 60-13 victory.