Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Considering the past two games the Aggies have had, Saturday's game against the New Mexico Lobos must feel pretty good.
Darell Garretson got his first win as a starter, Joey DeMartino shined, and the defense dominated in Utah State's 45-10 win over New Mexico; extending their conference road winning streak to 10 games.
The big storyline coming into Saturday's game was true freshman Darell Garretson starting his first game as an Aggie; and Garretson did what he needed to do. He threw for 144 yards, completing 15 of his 23 pass attempts, and threw for one touchdown. He might have had a few more touchdowns had they not been dropped
"I thought he was efficient," head coach Matt Wells told me after the game. "The bottom line is we played well around him."
Let's take a look at who played well around him, shall we?
Joey DeMartino
What else can you say about the senior running back that hasn't been said already this season; he continues to thrive in his senior year, rushing for 144 yards on 12 carries and punching it in the end zone three times against the Lobos.
But wait, there's more.
DeMartino caught a career-high three passes for 41 yards and one touchdown.
"Sheer guts and sheer determination," said Wells.
Bruce Natson
Kevin Robinson did it in 2007 against Nevada. On Saturday, Bruce Natson did it against the Lobos.
In the second quarter, with 1:47 on the clock, Natson showed us all the play making ability he has with a 65-yard return. Natson would've have had another in the third quarter, had a block in the back by Keylon Hollis not nullified his 56-yard return.
Not all aspects of the special teams were praiseworthy though; for the third straight game Utah State had a field goal blocked. That's a bit disturbing when you consider Colorado State and Wyoming are playing pretty good ball. The Aggies can't have a blocked field goal haunt them in those games — which of course, are must wins — if they want to keep any hope of playing in the MWC Championship game alive.
Defense
Throughout spring and fall camp, Wells and defensive coordinator Todd Orlando said over and over that there would be multiple defensive schemes.
We saw it against the Lobos.
Utah State came out in a true 4-3 and stuffed the nation's second-leading rush team; holding them to 160 yards, nearly 200 yards below their season average.
They recorded five sacks and 12 tackles-for-loss.
They also set the tone early for the team with a play eerily reminiscent to the Air Force game in September.
After the offense marched down the field for a touchdown — on their first drive — the defense forced a turnover on the ensuing possession; putting the offense in position to take a 14-0 lead.
A good bounce back effort for a squad that hasn't performed as well as they would've liked the past two weeks.
