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By DOUG ALDEN AP Sports Writer
LOGAN, Utah (AP) -- Utah State is 0-2 and coming off a 20-0 shutout at Arkansas.
And the Aggies' offense hasn't scored a touchdown this season. This may not be the best week to play Utah, which the Aggies haven't beaten since 1997.
"The kids are still with us. They are fine," coach Brent Guy said at his weekly news conference Monday. "They are frustrated like the coaches are."
The bright spot for the Aggies is they are playing their home opener after trips to Wyoming and Arkansas. The Aggies did show some improvement against the Razorbacks, although it was overshadowed by failing to score.
The Aggies went from committing nine penalties in the season opener to just three last week at Arkansas. But they haven't scored since Antonio Taylor returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter against Wyoming.
The offense is averaging just 189 yards per game and the defense has allowed an average of 458.5 yards.
Special teams have also been lacking. The Aggies have just two punt returns this season for a total of minus-3 yards and Wyoming and Arkansas both started their opening drives outside the 30-yard line.
"I think we're all right. We're just trying to learn from the mistakes that we have made," safety Terrance Washington said. "That's going to happen with a young team, but obviously we do need to correct those things."
The Aggies have lost eight straight in the state rivalry with the Utes.
"Since I've been here, we haven't been too successful against them, but we are pretty poised and grateful to have this opportunity to play our in-state rivals at home," quarterback Leon Jackson III said.
But having not scored in six quarters, Jackson said the Aggies can't fall behind again against the Utes, who have averaged 45 points in the last three meetings.
"It will be big, just to get some points on the board, especially for the offense and for the crowd," Jackson said. "We not only want to start fast and have that kind of start, but we want to be able to maintain it the entire game and put ourselves in position to win the game in the fourth quarter."
Despite everything that has gone against Utah State so far, Guy notes there have been positives too. The Aggies didn't allow a sack last week and have just one turnover. Utah State has also used eight freshman so far, so Guy expects some early mistakes from the inexperienced Aggies.
"I feel good about our kids believing in what we are doing," Guy said.
On the Net: www.utahstateaggies.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-09-11-06 1614MDT
