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San Diego State’s two most recent visits to Utah State were a rousing success when it came to rushing.
SDSU ran for 407 yards there in 2020 and 400 yards in 2016. Those rushing performances rank ninth and 10th, respectively, on the Aztecs’ single-game list.
The teams get together again this weekend in Logan. The Aggies still are struggling to stop the run. They’re allowing 230.2 yards a game, which ranks 130th in the nation.
Whether SDSU running back Marquez Cooper and the Aztecs can take advantage of that will be among the storylines for the Mountain West matchup.
SDSU (3-7, 2-3 MW) opened as a 4 1/2-point underdog against Utah State (3-7, 2-3) for Saturday’s game. Kickoff is 12:30 p.m. PT for a game that will air on CBS Sports Network from Maverik Stadium.
About the Aggies
Utah State’s program was blindsided two months before the season began, when coach Blake Anderson was fired over “significant violations of his contractual obligations” after an investigation found that he failed to comply with Title IX requirements in relation to reporting of sexual misconduct cases.
Defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling became interim head coach.
Expectations were not high for the Aggies to begin with. The Aggies were picked for seventh place in a preseason Mountain West media poll. Turmoil within the program only added to the challenge.
Anderson’s tenure began with unprecedented success. The Aggies defeated SDSU for the 2021 Mountain West championship, then defeated Oregon State in the LA Bowl to complete an 11-3 season.
A pair of 6-7 seasons followed.
Then Anderson’s preseason dismissal threw everyone for a loop.
Utah State opened the season with a win over Robert Morris. Six straight losses followed.
The slide started with a 48-0 loss to USC. Utah State was defeated by Utah and Temple the next two weeks. The Aggies allowed an average of 44 points in the three games.
It got even worse when Mountain West play began with losses to Boise State, UNLV and New Mexico. The Aggies allowed an average of 54 points a game in those contests.
Utah State has rebounded in recent weeks, with wins over Wyoming (27-25) and Hawaii (55-10) bookending a loss to Washington State (49-28).
“They did a great job competing, fighting and being opportunistic generating (five) turnovers,” SDSU coach Sean Lewis said of Utah State’s victory last week over Hawaii. “Anytime that you score 55 points, you’re doing some things right.
“We’ve seen a ton of them throughout the course of the season on crossover tape. Their quarterback, Spencer Petras, has unbelievable arm talent and does a really good job spreading the football around. They’ve got dynamic play makers in all three phases.
“They’re a very, very dangerous opponent and a worthy competitor and we’re looking forward to going up there and competing.”
The offense
Utah State’s late-season surge has boosted the scoring average to 30.5 points per game.
This week is one of the rare times that SDSU isn’t going up against a dual-threat quarterback.
Petras (209-for-320, 2,288 yards, 17 TDs/10 INTs) has rushed for only 44 yards this season. He is completing 65 percent of his passes, though, so the Aztecs need to get some pressure on him nonetheless.
Petras’ favorite target is wide receiver Jalen Royals (55 catches, 834 yards, 6 TDs), though teammates Kyrese White (36 catches, 450 yards, 3 TDs) and Otto Tia (36 catches, 342 yards, 4 TDs) are among others who have been productive.
Running back Rahsul Faison (177 carries, 991 yards, 17 TDs) needs just nine yards to reach 1,000 yards for the season. He has gained more than half the team’s 1,773 rushing yards and nearly half its 17 rushing TDs.
The defense
The Aggies haven’t given up as many points the past three weeks, but they’re still allowing an average of 39.1 points a game. That ranks 131st in the nation. There are 134 FBS teams.
The Aggies defense had its best showing of the season against Hawaii, picking off five passes while allowing a season-low 10 points.
Safeties Jordan Vincent and Ike Larsen have been the defensive standouts, leading the team with 91 and 69 tackles, respectively. Vincent has a team-high four interceptions and Larsen a team-high eight pass breakups.
Cornerback DJ Graham II has two interceptions and has forced three fumbles. The player to watch up front is defensive end Cian Slone, who has seven of the team’s 23 sacks.
Did you know?
Lewis crossed paths with Utah State five years ago, when he was head coach at Kent State. He guided the Golden Flashes to a 51-41 victory over Utah State in the 2019 Frisco Bowl. It is the only bowl victory in Kent State football history.
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