Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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LOGAN — With its 21-17 win over Nevada Saturday, the Utah State Aggie football team has won four in a row and is bowl eligible for the first time since the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl.
Aggie head coach Gary Andersen and junior quarterback Adam Kennedy refused to allow Utah State to lose these last four games.
Observation 1:
With freshman Chuckie Keeton under center the Aggies certainly had a lot of talent and a lot of potential, they just weren't winning. Now with Kennedy taking the snaps Utah State is winning and showing people they know how to finish football games. It's hard to say that it isn't due to Kennedy's play seeing as he's the only thing to change in Logan.
Observation 2:
The Utah State defensive secondary struggles to stop a decent passing attack. The Wolf Pack aren't exactly the Green Bay Packers, but they have playmakers in freshman quarterback Cody Fajardo and senior wide receiver Rishard Matthews and they consistently beat the Aggies downfield. Matthews finished with 12 catches for an incredible 205 yards. Matthews' lone touchdown was 76-yard bomb from senior quarterback Tyler Lantrip, who replaced Fajardo in the third after an apparent ankle injury. It has hurt Utah State this year, but the defense has found ways to keep the opposing offense out of the end zone just enough to let the Aggies offense get the win.
Observation 3:
It seems to be a struggle week in and week out for Aggie offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin to figure out what works for Utah State and what doesn't. It seems apparent to the arm-chair-coordinator that they Aggies should look to Robert Turbin between 20-25 times a game and hit the intermediate/deep routes when the defense begins to creep forward to stop the big junior back. Baldwin called timeout with two seconds remaining in the third quarter only to come out with a wide receiver reverse pass for a 34-yard touchdown from junior wide receiver Stanley Morrison to Turbin. It does show that critics have been correct in saying that Baldwin needs to stay aggressive for all 60 minutes for the Aggies to win football games.
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.
