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LOGAN — Spring football is a different breed than that played in the fall.
The games aren’t conventional; the lineups aren’t conventional, and the scoring is far from conventional. However, through spring football, coaches can evaluate talent and scout opportunities that can be exploited during the season. That benefit was Utah State's greatest takeaway Saturday, as the Blue team beat the White team, 78-77, on a last-second field goal in the school’s annual Blue-White game.
Utah State coach Matt Wells said he was pleased with the performance.
“It’s a great day to be an Aggie,” he said. “We tried to create some excitement and get it down to the end, and to see Nick (Diaz) hit a game-winning field goal, that’s cool, and that’s a neat way to end the spring. It’s been very productive, and I thought today was good.”
Quarterbacks Darell Garretson and Craig Harrison took a majority of the repetitions, with both having several highlight plays. Harrison was able to do most of his work with his feet, while Garretson threw two touchdown passes, including a 29-yard pass to Brandon Swindall.
"We tried to create some excitement and get it down to the end, and to see Nick (Diaz) hit a game-winning field goal; that's cool, and that's a neat way to end the spring," Utah State coach Matt Wells said.
Overall, Wells said both quarterbacks made notable improvements in spring ball.
“I think Darell made some good developments,” he said. “(There’s) still work to be done, footwork-wise; transferring everything you know down to your feet and your arm. It’s a fast game out there right now, and Darell’s done a better job of slowing it down.”
As far as the status of injured quarterback Chuckie Keeton, who was present at the scrimmage but did not play, Wells said the Aggies are planning on Keeton getting back to his former level.
“When Chuckie gets back, I think he’ll be full speed,” he noted. “We’ll rip and run, and we’ll see how everybody does come August.”
The running backs also had a good day, with Kennedy Williams notably sticking out on several runs.
Williams, who is the younger brother of former Aggies star Kerwynn Williams, said the offensive line made the running backs successful.
“(The offensive line) did a really good job today of giving us a good push,” he said. “Our guards on our inside zone, they were pushing really good today, and the running backs in general had a pretty good day.”
Defensively, the Aggies were up and down throughout the scrimmage, but notably forced the offense into four straight three-and-outs to open the second half.
Junior linebacker Kyler Fackrell said spring practice benefited the defense a great deal.
“I think a lot of kids really stepped up,” said Fackrell, who is expected to anchor the Aggies’ defense. “I think we did a pretty good job overall of stopping the run, but a lot of kids like (sophomore defensive back) Devin Centers played great. Overall, I think the spring has been great to develop a lot of young guys.”
Overall, Utah State now goes into a dead period, where all practices will have to be organized by players. However, Wells said he has confidence in the team’s leadership structure.
“I feel good about it, and I want to feel great about it at the end of the summer,” said Wells, who is entering his second season as head coach. “We put it on the players in May, June and July. I think we have good leadership; we’ll find out if it’s great.
“I think we’re going to be a good team, and it’s a really small difference between being good and being elite.”
Utah State administrators extended Wells’ contract in the days before the scrimmage, and he said the attitude around the Aggies’ football program is positive.
“I think it shows great support from (athletic director) Scott Barnes and President (Stan) Albrecht,” he said. “It’s a pat on the back, but we’re not going to sit around and accept it. They like seeing me here because I’m alumni, but that doesn’t win games. This (alumnus) better win games.”
