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By DOUG ALDEN AP Sports Writer
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Despite losing three of four early last season, Utah still had some hope when San Diego State was coming to town.
Just beat the Aztecs, who were 2-4 at the time, and the Utes would avoid slipping below .500 for the first time since 2002. It didn't happen.
Utah gained 592 yards of offense, but still lost to San Diego State 28-19 last October and fell to 3-4. The Utes haven't forgotten.
"They came in here and they beat us last year and beat us pretty good," defensive coordinator Gary Andersen said.
The rematch is Saturday when the Utes (2-1) and Aztecs (0-2) open their Mountain West Conference seasons in San Diego.
"It's league play now," Utah cornerback Eric Shyne said.
San Diego State is winless under Chuck Long, but Andersen expects the first-year coach to get the Aztecs moving the ball like he had Oklahoma rolling when he was the Sooners' offensive coordinator.
"Anybody that's been in this league for very long understands they're extremely athletic," Andersen said. "They're going to be able to run. They're going to be a disciplined crew I'm sure that's going to come and be prepared to play."
The Utes are returning to Southern California, where they lost the season opener 31-10 at UCLA. Utah has responded with two wins, but the competition was Division I-AA Northern Arizona and Utah State, which has been outscored 106-7 this season.
But getting the shutout against the Aggies the week after beating Northern Arizona 45-7 has the Utes feeling confident again.
"We're looking forward to the trip down there," coach Kyle Whittingham said. "If we continue to improve each and every week like we have these first three weeks, then I like our chances to do some good things by the end of the season."
San Diego State quarterback Darren Mougey will be making just his second start for Kevin O'Connell, who is recovering from surgery on his right thumb after injuring it in the season opener against UTEP.
Mougey went 15-for-27 for 102 yards, which was nearly all the offense San Diego State could muster in a 14-0 loss at Wisconsin last week. The Aztecs rushed for just 13 yards on 26 carries and punted 12 times.
Long, a four-year starting quarterback at Iowa in the early 1980s, didn't blame Mougey.
"I liked the way Darren handled himself. It was his first start," Long said. "I told him it was a lot better start than my first start."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-09-22-06 1141MDT
