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LOGAN -- After an action packed overtime Homecoming game, USU students, alumni and fans alike left disappointed after another heartbreaking loss. While falling to Auburn in the opener, this might be a more difficult loss for the Aggies. While neither team played particularly well, there were some who stood out.
CSU Special Teams
Both kickers for CSU (senior PK Ben Deline and junior P Pete Kontdiakos) did a great job limiting Utah State junior KR Kerwynn Williams with deep kickoffs for touchbacks and high punts for fair catches. Williams has shown over the years to be as dangerous as the NFL's DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles. Neutralizing Williams' playmaking abilities was huge for the Rams.
Twice Kontdiakos was able to pin the Aggies within their own 5-yard line on punts. Twice USU turned the ball over on muffed punts. Credit the Rams special teams for creating pressure on the Aggies.
USU Defense
While the game against the Rams wouldn't be called their best work, it's difficult to say that they didn't have a productive game. The Aggies limited the Rams to a single field goal on just 89 yards of offense in the first half, but were unable to contain the Rams in the second half allowing 18 points to tie the game and in overtime allowed CSU to score touchdowns both times they had possession of the football.
Senior linebacker Bobby Wagner finished his final Homecoming game with 17 tackles while a fellow senior Levi Koskan recorded two sacks on the night.
Aggie Faithful
Fans and Utah State alumni flooded Logan Saturday for the annual Homecoming game and made themselves known. The 22,599 fans made enough noise Colorado State was flagged for several false-starts and late in the fourth quarter CSU freshman offensive lineman Nick Ciani was called for a late hit when he was unable to hear the whistle that blew the play dead. After the Rams pulled within two points with 42 seconds remaining in the game and CSU attempting a two-point conversion the Aggie True-Blue pushed the Rams into yet another false-start penalty. The Rams were able to convert, but USU should be proud of their fans after this game.
Chris Nwoke, CSU RB
Nwoke rushed for 53 yards in regulation, and was key in overtime rushing four times for 18 yards setting up both Colorado State scores. When Rams head coach Steve Fairchild elected to go for the tie on a two-point conversion with 42 seconds left in the game it was a Nwoke 1-yard touchdown rush that gave him that opportunity. Nwoke finished the game with 71 yards on 21 carries and that one score.
Robert Turbin, USU RB
While this wasn't the way Turbin wanted to end this homecoming game, he certainly gave it his all to give the USU faithful hope. The Aggies turned to Turbin 27 times on the ground for a total of 101 yards and four touchdowns. Turbin rushed for both USU scores in overtime with a 9-yard and 25-yard score respectively. The run that Turbin will want back is the final rush of the game when he was stopped short on the two-point conversion that would have given USU the victory.
This is a very difficult loss for senior players and USU fans alike. The Aggies will need a steep turnaround next Friday in Provo when they take on BYU in the Battle for the Old Wagon Wheel. One thing is for sure, quarterback Chuckie Keeton, Turbin and the rest of the Aggies will need to step up their game for this in-state rivalry.
Email: onlinesports@ksl.com
