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LOGAN — Unbeknownst to Utah State football at the time, Sept. 18, 2021, was a day that largely determined its season's success last year.
In a game that had 1,247 combined yards of offense, the Aggies won a 49-45 thriller over Air Force that day. Two months later, both schools finished conference play 6-2, and Utah State's head-to-head win gave it the nod to reach the Mountain West championship game.
"It was definitely a game I don't forget," junior cornerback Michael Anyanwu said. "We needed that win the third week of the season; we didn't think it would help us with the last games of the season to send us to the championship, and it did. The one thing I think about when I think about that game is just resilience and grit."
The divisional rivals reconvene in Cache Valley on Saturday. Air Force (4-1, 1-1) is undoubtedly eager to get revenge against the Utah State (1-4, 0-1 conference). This go around, Utah State fully understands what is at stake.
An abysmal start to the 2022 season has yet to derail the Aggies' Mountain West championship aspirations, but a loss to a divisional opponent to open conference play 0-2 would be tough to overcome. A win, on the other hand, gives Utah State the tiebreaker over the divisional favorite and keeps itself in control of its own destiny.
"The conference is still there for the taking. We haven't played any division games yet, and this is a big week for us," senior defensive tackle Hale Motu'apuaka said. "You know, it's very important for us to come in and do well this game."
"Air Force, obviously, presents tremendous issues for you with the triple (option)," head coach Blake Anderson said. "You see it one time a year, and some days you stone it and some days, like last year, they go up and down the field. So this week is going to tell us a lot about who we are moving forward."
Picked in the MW preseason poll to finish second in the Mountain Division behind Boise State, the Falcons have been one of the few teams in the league to play — for the most part — as advertised.
Ranked first nationally in rushing yards per game (369.8 yards), the Falcons average 32.8 points per game this season. Senior running back Brad Roberts is seventh nationally in rushing yards (573) and junior back John Lee Eldridge III is 41st nationally (408 yards).
By nature, the Falcons don't throw the ball a lot, but senior quarterback Haaziq Daniels' QB rating is 176.0, which is eighth nationally, discounting the sample size. Daniel's 67-yard touchdown pass to David Cormier was the difference in a 13-10 win over Navy last week.
How can the Aggies contain a triple-option attack that averages 6.3 yards per rush and has a veteran quarterback who will beat them with his arm if necessary?
"Air Force is much different from playing anybody else, that type of offense they run; no one else runs that type of offense," Motu'apuaka said. "And as far as the war in the trenches, it's going to be a war. It's very nasty. It's very physical. But you just got to bring it in."
The Aggies defense, which was gashed by the Falcons for 619 yards last year, spent time in the offseason and during the bye week three weeks ago prepping for the triple offense. The team, which last year played a lot of transfers who hadn't seen Air Force prior, believes it's more experienced and prepared this go around.
The focus of the coaching staff this week has been enforcing discipline and assuring everyone does their part.
"So the triple option, I mean, it's hard to beat," Anyanwu said. "But if I'm supposed to take the dive and I take the dive, and my brother's got the pitch and he takes the pitch, and my other brother has a quarterback and he takes a quarterback, it'll work perfectly. So it's all about trusting your brother and doing your job."
Winning the game Saturday may take an asserted defensive effort by the Aggies, simply because the prior season's results suggest Utah State's offense won't score seven touchdowns on the Falcons this go around. The Falcons are 14th nationally in total defense; Utah State is 100th in total offense.
"We were able to get them in space last year and have probably the most explosive game against them all year," Anderson said. "But that's not something you typically see them do.
"I think their formula is shorten the game play, fewer snaps, be more physical than the opponent, and don't make a lot of mistakes. And that tends to be a really good defensive team."
There is good news for Aggies fans, though. Despite the fantastic numbers on both sides of the ball, the jury is still out on the Falcons as they have yet to play a team with a winning record.
They've looked great at times hammering an unraveling Colorado team 41-10 and dominating a rebuilding Nevada team 48-20; they also lost to a rebuilding Wyoming team 17-14 and edged out a 1-3 Navy team 13-10.
Despite an inverse record of the Aggies, Air Force recognizes its fallibility and knows its trip to Logan will be a tough task.
"Really, clearly, hands down (they) were the best team in our league last year," coach Troy Calhoun said in his Tuesday press conference about Utah State. "You could play really, really well this week and it's not always the result that you want — just because you're playing against a team that's just so capable talent-wise."
To practice for Utah State's fast-paced offense that burned them last year, Air Force has two different offensive scout teams rotating in and out of practice to go faster, and have even made the defense turn around during snaps, then force them to find their matchups after the play has started, according to Calhoun.
If practicing for the fast-paced offense becomes worthwhile, it may be a good sign for Utah State — the speed the Aggies like to run has been hard to implement this season due to the offenses' inconsistency. Either way, it's clear both sides remember each other well and are eager to run it back Saturday night.
Prior to the season, it was anticipated to be the biggest Aggies home game of the year. But despite early season outcomes, the low availability of tickets remaining in several sections of Maverik Stadium suggests this is still the case.
Winning on Homecoming Night could largely determine much of the season's success from here on out — and the Aggies know it.
"There's never been a more important game and the guys are getting better," Anderson said. "But they need you. So if you don't have anything to do Saturday, or if you do cancel it, come on out."
