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FRESNO, Calif. -- It was quite the online following on Saturday night for the Utah State Aggies football squad, both on Twitter and the online video streaming services that showed the game against Fresno State.
Eric Frandsen (@efrandsen) gave a prediction before the game that looked pretty accurate early on when he said, "USU 38, Fresno St. 31. It will be close, but the Aggies will finally secure a late-game victory."
The ESPN commentators also gave a prediction at the beginning of the game, saying "This game between Utah State and Fresno State could help decide the conference title".
Right off the bat, Utah State scored on a 47-yard screen play from Chuckie Keeton to Michael Smith and it already had one fan mad at himself.
Steve Chambers (@chamberssteve) tweeted, "I need to learn not to miss the first minutes of the USU game. Just like that Aggies up 7-0."
Chuckie Keeton also did his best Tim Tebow jump-pass impression on the play, enabling Deseret News writer Kraig Williams (@Kraig) to say, "Keeton with a heck of a jump shot on that screen pass. #pagingStewMorrill."
On Fresno's first possession, David Carr fumbled the football and Utah State's McKade Brady recovered. The Aggies wasted no time hitting the scoreboard once again and, in so doing, they riled up the Bulldog fans.
Tony Jones (@TonyAggieville) wrote, "Robert Turbin goes 59 yards for a touchdown. USU 14-0, and Fresno fans are already booing."
While the fans in Fresno were unhappy, the students in Logan were living it up. J. Allred (@thedjshow) tweeted, "Touchdown! The student center is rockin'!"
Benji Hadfield (@DrHadfield) wrote, "Utah State is seriously so exciting to watch this year."
With such a quick start, some were thinking that this was the Wyoming game part two. David James (@DavidDJJames) wrote, "Is Utah State about to give Fresno State a Wyoming?"
Immediately following that post, James wrote an interesting thought. He said, "Gary Andersen has to get the Arizona gig." Remember that storyline; it may be something to watch for in the future.
The Aggies play-making ability was definitely a sight for sore eyes for Utah State alum Jordan Balmforth (@SaltLaker24). He wrote, "Aggies were hard to watch in early 2000's when I went to school. Now, I can't get enough of them. Love the swag that USU brings."
Adding to the swagger was the fact that "Utah State is the only team in the FBS that hasn't thrown an interception yet," according to David James (@DavidDJJames) and that the "receivers are playing out of their minds tonight. Tons of great grabs already," tweeted by Kraig Williams (@Kraig).
However, with the swagger that the Aggies' offense was playing with, the defense surely lacked that same attitude.
Justin McKissick (@justin_sr) tweeted, "Apparently the Aggies didn't do any tacking drills this week."
J. Allred (@thedjshow) felt the same way when he said, "Our defense not wrapping up with be the death of us."
Cache Sports Media ([As the game progressed to the second half, the offense for both teams became stagnant and the defense began to take over. Utah State had many chances to further advance the lead and would need every possession they could get. T. Wade ([Even with the opportunities, the Utah State defense was plagued with penalties throughout the game, especially the secondary. The defense gave up several yards to the Fresno State offense because of pass interference which lead the Bulldogs to the red zone. Tavin Stucki (@TavinStucki) made an interesting observation however. He said, "Even though Nevin Lawson had those PI's (pass interference calls), he saved four points for the Aggies."
The offense couldn't get anything going throughout the second half it seemed and it kept the defense on the field. Eventually, things began to break down, and you could see on almost every Utah State related post a message that looked something like these quotes:
"Please don't tell me this is the start of a classic USU fourth quarter meltdown" (Steve Chambers, @chamberssteve).
"Special teams just might cost the Aggies. Missed and blocked field goals will not win games" (Justin McKissick, @justin_sr).
"It wouldn't quite feel like Saturday without USU blowing a 4th quarter lead" (Ben, @PortlandUte).
And just like that, the tables turned on the Aggies and Fresno State ran away with the 31-21 victory.
Marc Neilson (@Federal_Farmer) wrote, "I get so tired of these 4th quarter tragedies. USU needs to hold it together till the very end of the game."
Aggies fan Kevin Hall ([ESPN's College Football Now (](<http://twitter.com/#!/@Ha11ywood' target=_blank >@Ha11ywood) tweeted, >)@ESPNCFB) even recognized that Utah State has trouble finishing games when they said, "Oh Mercy! Looks like Utah State had blown another lead."
This game could have been a statement game to the WAC, but alas, as Tyler Riggs (@TySpace) said, "The Aggies have arrived: back at mediocrity."
From game to game, it's tough to know what you are going to get from this Utah State team. Will they dominate or will they roll over in the 4th quarter?
Robb Louder (@rlouderaggies) made a comparison that has summed up this season's events thus far when he tweeted, "USU is like energy drinks. They bring you up just so you can crash later."
Email: onlinesports@ksl.com
Twitter: @matt_harris7](<http://twitter.com/#!/@cheecho6' target=_blank >@cheecho6) wrote, >)](<http://twitter.com/#!/@Cache_Sports' target=_blank >@Cache_Sports) got in on the social media action at the end of the first half when they tweeted, >)
