Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LOGAN -- There will be a lot more than pride on the line for the Aggies as they take the field at LaVell Edwards Stadium Friday.
Last year Utah State won the Old Wagon Wheel -- the traveling trophy awarded to the winner of the USU vs. BYU football matchup -- for the first time in 17 years. BYU has a chance to take it back, but not without a fight.
USU head coach Gary Andersen said his team is excited to play.
“We won the last one and we look forward to the opportunity to play against them,” said Andersen, who is in his third year as USU head coach. “I think that it will have a little more to it because of that.”
BYU has won the last 15 games of the series played in Provo, a hometown to several Utah State players including left guard Funaki Asisi.
“I have been looking forward to it for a while,” the 6-foot-2 Provo High School graduate said. “My hometown, I know a lot of people down there in that area. Basically, when you come out of it, it is a lot of bragging rights. I’m definitely looking forward to this one. Going down there as a starter, I definitely want to bring my 'A' game.”
The 2-2 Cougars are coming off a 27-14 win over the University of Central Florida. Aggie junior safety McKade Brady, who ran track at BYU before transferring to USU as a football player, said the Cougars have some great weapons on their team.
“I know JJ DiLuigi is a really good player,” Brady said. “They have got some great wide receivers, they look really talented. Their offensive line is always huge, so they are really talented all the way around. Their quarterback Jake Heaps is a good player. All around they are a good offense, from what I have seen so far.”
What to watch for:
- The running game will be important for the Aggies to control. The Cougars are currently No. 116 in the Football Bowl Subdivision with an average of 68 yards per game while the Utah State defense allows an average of 82.7 yards per game on the ground.
- BYU quarterback Jake Heaps will need to have a good night for the Cougars to get the win. USU allowed an average of 197 yards through the air in their two close losses to Auburn and Colorado State. If Heaps beats the Aggie secondary, USU will have a tough time getting the win.
- USU will have to find a way to bounce back from the heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Colorado State last week on Homecoming. It was a tough loss,” said USU wide receiver Austin Alder, who graduated from Provo High School. “As a team, we just have to come together, bounce back from it and we are ready to play BYU. We are excited.”
