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MOSCOW, Idaho — Saturday's game between the Utah State Aggies and Idaho Vandals was by no stretch of the imagination a well played game.
Both defenses struggled to stop the opposition and both offenses had a tendency to put the ball on the ground but as was said last week, all that matters is the 49-42 overtime win and the Aggies have now won three straight for the first time since 2001.
Take a look at the impact players who made this game what it was.
Robert Turbin, Utah State RB: Anyone who has watched Turbin play in even one game knows that he will play on Sunday. He has the strength and smarts to earn a paycheck playing football. Turbin finished this game with 208 yards on 24 carries and three touchdowns. It was the seventh time that the junior has gone over 100 yards this season.
Players like Turbin have to get the ball in every important moment and while he may not be sucessfull at all times (i.e. two-point conversion attempt against Colorado State), at least Aggie-faithful know USU put itself in the best position to win. At least in the overtime periods the Utah State coaching staff did what it needed allowing Turbin to punch in both touchdowns for the win.
Brian Reader, Utah State QB: The Idaho signal- caller had a field day in the loss the Aggies throwing for 275 yards on 27-of-39 passing with a touchdown and an interception.
Utah State has struggled mightily against the pass and Idaho had the game plan to let Reader throw the ball on his Senior Day. The Vandal quarterback found 11 different receivers against the Aggies and had no trouble finding them deep. Reader's receivers took advantage of Utah State's struggling defensive secondary and had long catches of 44, 29, 19 and 17 yards. The senior was also quite elusive while in the pocket as the Aggies put pressure on Reader, wiggling his way out of sacks and getting the ball out of his hands and to his playmakers.
Unfortunately, when the final whistle sounded, he was on the short end of the stick. Reader's only mistake was on fourth-and-goal in the second OT when his pass to the endzone was intercepted by Utah State senior linebacker Bobby Wagner.
Korey Toomer, Idaho LB: While Toomer is listed as a linebacker his biggest impact of the game was on offense. Vandals head coach Robb Akey put the 6-foot-3, 234-pound linebacker in at running back with only a few yards to get into the endzone. Toomer rewarded his coach with three solid touchdown runs. Idaho doesn't exactly have a "power" running back on its roster so Toomer fills that gap. Saturday against the Aggies, he filled in nicely.
Adam Kennedy, Utah State QB: With Kennedy under center, it never will look pretty, but the job gets done. The junior transfer was 13-for-18 for 182 yards and a touchdown in the Aggie victory. Kennedy received quite the tongue-lashing from his offensive coordinator near the end of regulation and surely he used that as motivation to lead his team in the double-overtime win.
Justin McKissick is a KSL.com contributor originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently seeking a Communications degree. Justin has been covering USU sports since 2011. Follow him on Twitter: @justin_sr.
