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RUSTON, LA — Taking on the No. 20-ranked Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on the road, the Utah State Aggies hung on for a hard-fought victory, winning 48-41 for the last ever WAC Championship. It was Utah State's first victory over a ranked opponent since 1991.
Impression 1:
Early on, Louisiana Tech had no answers for Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton, who dominated the game and had an answer for nearly everything the Bulldogs brought at him. Keeton was composed and confident, making plays for himself and his teammates, even after the Bulldogs tied up the game to send it into overtime.
In the first quarter alone, Keeton went 9-of-12 for 171 yards and two touchdowns. He ended the game going 20-of-34 for 340 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Keeton also set the school's single-season record for total offense. It was by far one of his best performances of his career.
Although Utah State has several talented athletes, Keeton has been the difference maker all season. His ability to read the defense and think quick on his feet has given the Aggies a dual-threat quarterback who can't be second guessed.
Impression 2:
Kerwynn Williams continues to impress with his speed and ability to muscle through the defense. While Keeton is the team's facilitator, Williams simply gets it done. And that was shown in the final minutes of the game, muscling his way in for the game-winning touchdown.
Williams' catch on the team's opening drive set the tone for the rest of the game. He ended the game with 125 receiving yards and one touchdown, and 162 rushing yards and two touchdowns. In all, Williams had 287 yards and three touchdowns to end the game.
Impression 3:
Gary Andersen simply got it done Saturday. While last season's team struggled to sustain their leads, this season's team has been much more consistent. Instead of coaching to just be competitive and keep the game close, Andersen came out from the beginning looking for a win. Instead of giving up on third down early in the game, Andersen pushed forward and coached his team to a strong lead going into the half.
And despite the late-game comeback by Louisiana Tech, Utah State stayed composed and won the game, which is a drastic improvement from last season. Andersen's team easily has the talent to win games, but it's amazing to see his coaching abilities continue to improve.
Impression 4:
Utah State's defense played a respectable game by shutting down Louisiana Tech's explosive offense early. The Bulldogs lead the nation in offense, but the defense managed to get it done. While it's easy to blame the defense for allowing the Bulldogs to make it a game, the team gave their all for a chance at a victory. The offense certainly got it done for the Aggies, but the defense should be equally credited for the win.
And if you haven't forgotten, Utah State intercepted two passes of Colby Cameron, who hasn't thrown an interception all season. It was a great effort by Utah State's defense.
Impression 5:
Penalties allowed the Bulldogs from coming back. There were several opportunities for the Aggies to pad their score, but were held back because of worthless penalties. Several personal fouls negated great plays allowed the Bulldogs to move the ball. Fortunately the Aggies won the game, but the penalties could have been the deciding factor in the end had they lost the game.
