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LOGAN, Utah — How good is Utah State? The Aggies will get a real answer when they face Colorado State for homecoming on Sept. 24.
The Aggies come into the season 1-1 with a narrow 42-38 loss at Auburn and a crushing 54-17 victory at home over Weber State.
CSU head coach Steve Fairchild said the Aggies have a number of players who have NFL talent.
“(Utah State) should have beat Auburn,” Fairchild said. “The thing that catches me is their talent level. They lined up with as good of players as Auburn had. I didn’t see any difference.”
USU leads the Western Athletic Conference in several categories, including scoring offense, rushing offense, total offense, pass efficiency, third down conversion, red zone offense, rushing defense and total defense. The Aggies currently sit in fourth place nationally for rushing yards with 333.5 yards per game and ninth in the nation for points per game with 46.
Colorado State is 2-1 with a victory over Football Championship Subdivision team Northern Arizona and a narrow 14-10 escape over New Mexico, one of the nation’s worst programs in recent history.
On paper, Utah State can win every game left on the schedule, including Colorado State — but Aggie fans have heard it all before.
USU head coach Gary Andersen said the upcoming matchup with Colorado State is a big game for his team.
“We have to take a step forward,” Andersen said. “If we win this football game, it will definitely be a step forward for this program.”
Andersen said he expects to see the Rams establish the running game with a talented backfield and draw plays, then attempt to open the Aggie defense up with screens and play-action shots downfield.
“That’s kind of who they are,” Andersen said. “Coach Fairchild is going to do a great job of controlling the game. They’re going to be very well-rounded on the offensive side of the ball.”
With the injury to sophomore cornerback Cameron Sanders, the Aggie defensive backs will have their hands full and cannot give up big plays if Utah State wants to win.
Aggie senior safety Walter McClenton said the Ram offense will test the Aggie DB’s more than they have been in the past two games.
“I feel Colorado State is going to take chances,” McClenton said. “They’re going to look deep first and if its not there, then check down to the fullback or tight end. If its not touchdowns, its check downs.”
Expect Utah State’s offensive line and variety of running backs to tire out the CSU defense. Andersen said physical play on the offensive line will be key for the Aggies.
“I don’t know if the offensive line or the coaches would use the word 'dominating,' but they’ve been productive,” Andersen said. “Our backs compliment the offensive line, our tight ends complement the offensive line and they help each other and really complement each other and work well together.”
Fairchild said he had fun watching the Utah State offense work.
“They’ve got a lot of different ways they can hurt you,” Fairchild said. “When the day is done, it’s a very physical downhill running attack by their running backs that kind of carries that load.”
Expect the Aggies to play run-based football on both sides of the ball. Stopping the run will be very important for USU to win the game, especially with injuries to the CSU offensive line.
The Rams will play without offensive lineman Joe Capriolglio. The 6-foot-6 junior went down with a knee injury in the loss to Colorado Sept. 17 and is reported to be out the rest of the season.
Fairchild said Capriolglio is one of his best players, but injuries are part of the game.
“Paul Madsen is capable of doing a very good job over there,” Fairchild said of Capriolglio’s likely replacement. “Ty Sambrailo and Mason Hathaway both came in and played well. (They) are going to have to step up and play well.”
Andersen said this game will be the kind of game to gauge the rest of the season, if the Aggies can beat a quality CSU team at home.
“We need to take care of ourselves in this football game,” Andersen said. “Hopefully we’ll have a great crowd, which I believe we will.”
Tavin Stucki is a sophomore journalism student at Utah State University. He is the sports editor and football beat writer for the Utah Statesman, the Aggie campus newspaper. Twitter: @tavinstucki
