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LOGAN -- Utah State head coach Gary Andersen should be proud of his team as the Aggies found a way to pull out a 34-33 last-second victory over the Spartans of San Jose State. While it wasn't the cleanest game the Aggies have played all season, they didn't give up and a touchdown pass from junior quarterback Adam Kennedy to senior wide receiver Matt Austin gave them the victory they were so desperately seeking. The Aggies have now won two in a row for the first time all season. Take a look at how they did:
Quarterbacks: B
Junior transfer Adam Kennedy played a very solid game in his first collegiate start for the Aggies. Kennedy finished the game 21-27 for 255 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, he led the team to victory. There was a time late in the third quarter and into the fourth when Coach Andersen and offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin brought in wide receiver Stanley Morrison to run the Aggie Wild (USU's version of the Wildcat formation), but they put the ball in Kennedy's hands at the end and it paid off. There were a few smudges on the junior quarterback's stat sheet: an interception he threw in the first quarter and a fumble on the Aggies first drive of the game, one could easily attribute these to first game jitters, but they were turnovers nonetheless. The defense was able to lock down SJSU and hold them to just six points off the turnovers so the damage was held to a minimum. Kennedy also ran the ball nine times for 29 yards.
Running Backs / Fullbacks: A-
It's hard not to give this group of Aggies anything but a perfect grade, but a few fumbles lowered their score just a little. The combined efforts of junior Robert Turbin and senior Michael Smith gave the Aggies the much needed big plays to win this tight game. Turbin ran for 128 yards and two scores on 22 carries while Smith went for 91 yards on just eight carries and also had a touchdown. While Smith is the holder of the games longest run, a 77-yard touchdown scamper, Turbin had a 39-yard score himself. Junior wide receivers Stanley Morrison and Chuck Jacobs as well as quarterback Kennedy chipped in as well; running the ball a total of 15 times for 60 yards.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends: A-
Quarterback Adam Kennedy found ten different receivers to throw to in this game, connecting no more then four times to a single man. This is a group with no stars, just gamers, guys willing to put in all on the line to win games. Senior Matt Austin led the team with four catches and 68 yards and the most important score of the day: the 21-yard Kennedy toss for the go-ahead score with just 47 ticks of the clock remaining. Unsung sophomore Travis Van Leeuwen caught his three passes on the second to lass drive of the game including a 14-yard touchdown strike that brought the Aggies to within six points (the ensuing PAT put them within five). Junior Stanley Morrison put the ball on the ground twice as an offensive player This is a group that should only improve over the next few years.
Offensive Line: B+
The Aggies' offensive line gave Kennedy and the Aggie running backs plenty of time and room when the game was on the line. Earlier that was not the case. There were spots when the Aggie backs got the big blocks and broke away for big runs, but more often then not they were fighting to get even two or three yards. Kennedy was pressured, but found a way to avoid being sacked. The Aggie offensive line is good, but they are still looking to gel together and put together the complete game.
Overall Offense: A-
They won. The USU offense turned the ball over four times but they still put more points on the board then the other team and that's what an offense is judged upon. It wasn't pretty, at some times it was painful to watch but they won.
Defensive Line: B+
The USU defensive line struggled. They shut down the run (with help from the linebackers) but there was very little pressure on SJSU senior quarterback Matt Faulker. Defensive end Levi Koskan recorded a sack as the game progressed, but the D-lineman for the Aggies need to put pressure on the opposing QB to help the defensive secondary. As was stated before though, the linebackers were able to clog the running lanes due to the linemen eating up tackles and that is really what head coach (and defensive coordinator) Gary Andersen wants.
Linebackers: A
The Utah State linebackers are in the argument for most talented squad on the team. If it wasn't for the running backs, this group led by seniors Bobby Wagner and Kyle Gallagher would run away with that title. Late in the game the linebackers were everywhere. Wagner was making tackles on the edge while Gallagher broke up several late game passes. This is the group that held the Spartans to four field goals instead of four touchdowns. It may not always be easy to see, but the USU defense is made around this group. Game ball goes to these guys.
Defensive Backs: C-
The Aggie defensive backs will not be high quality this year, and Aggie- faithful should not expect them to be. What they should hope for is that the secondary doesn't get burned too many times. Junior safety McKade Brady is the only playmaker Coach Andersen has among his defensive backs and Brady delivered big hits when he needed to but when a team can complete passes of 38, 34 and 21 yards, the secondary needs help. San Jose State quarterback Matt Faulkner threw for 340 yards against the Aggies and that should say everything that needs to be said about this group. They need help.
Overall Defense: A-
The scoreboard made this defense look like it played worse than it did. The offense turned the ball over four times and the special teams muffed away another turnover and still the Spartan offense only managed two touchdowns. If Coach Andersen could bring together his secondary this would be a monster of a defense.
Special Teams: C+
Freshman placekicker Josh Thompson set the single-season PAT record for Utah State, but missed a chip shot field goal from 27-yards out. Junior punter Tyler Bennett punted only twice for an average of 42.5 yards per kick, which included a punt that went for just 31 yards. Junior Stanley Morrison had a muffed punt return that San Jose State recovered. After taking the lead on a Turbin touchdown run, the Aggie kick-off team let SJSU freshman returner Tyler Ervin go for 95-yards and a score. Coach Andersen knows this is an area of his team he must improve. The saving grace of the Aggie special teams was junior Chuck Jacobs who was consistently able to return kicks and give Utah State good field position. Jacobs returned six kicks for 181 yards and a long of 45 yards. Although he lost about 12 yards running backwards after getting to the USU 23 and being tackled at the USU 11 yard line, he still played well enough to get a game ball from us.
Overall Team: B
No matter how a team plays for 59 minutes, it's the last minute that makes or breaks a winner. The Aggies played from behind for 59:13 of the game but pulled out the big time win. Utah State is now just two wins away from being bowl eligible. Some would say it's easy to judge how a coach performs based on his victories, but this has been a season of ups and downs for Gary Andersen. The season is now looking up in Logan.
