AZTECS SCOUTING REPORT
Utah State and San Diego State meet for the first time in a Mountain West championship game when the teams get together Saturday at noon at Carson’s Dignity Health Sports Park.
No. 21 SDSU (11-1) is aiming for its first conference title since back-toback championships in 2015-16. Utah State (9-3) has never won a title, losing to Fresno State during its only previous appearance in 2013.
Few — make that no one — would have predicted this matchup before the season.
In a preseason media poll, the Aztecs were picked for third place in the West Division and the Aggies were picked for fourth in the Mountain Division.
The Aztecs, who lead the series 13-2, are 51⁄2-point favorites coming into this game.
About the Aggies
Utah State’s football program was tossed for a loss last season. And unlike most programs, the coronavirus pandemic was not the most newsworthy issue for the Aggies.
Head coach Gary Andersen, who returned for a second tour in 2019, was abruptly fired after the Aggies were outscored 114-29 during an 0-3 start.
It included a 38-7 loss to SDSU in which the Aztecs rushed for 407 yards, the ninth-highest total in school history.
Utah State went 1-5 — its lone victory over New Mexico — before the season finale against Colorado State was canceled when a controversy erupted over comments by Utah State University President Noelle Cockett.
Aggies players voted unanimously not to play following the remarks. Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson was hired last December.
In its statement to Stadium, the players made clear this had nothing to do with the hiring of Anderson, saying, “We are sure he is an excellent coach. We look forward to meeting him and his staff. We are highlighting the ongoing problems of inequality and want to create a better future for the
community of Logan and Utah State University.” Anderson set about making things right, although expectations outside of Logan, Utah, were not high with the Aggies picked to finish in the lower half of the standings.
Then they went out and opened the season with a 26-23 win over Washington State.
Utah State won its first three games, including a 49-45 victory over Air Force, before losses to Boise State (27-3) and BYU (3420) brought them to a crossroads. A five-game winning streak followed as the Aggies took control of their Mountain Division destiny before relinquishing it with a 44-17 home loss to Wyoming.
They concluded the regular season last week with a 35-10 win over New Mexico, but still needed SDSU to beat Boise State to clinch a spot in the MW championship game.
An Aggies offense that has averaged 32.2 points a game is most responsible for the success, enabling Anderson to become the only first-year coach in the nation this season to win nine games. The difference between a so-so season and a championship game appearance is going 4-0 in contests decided by less than a touchdown.
The offense
When he arrived in Logan, Anderson brought with him from Arkansas State someone who would soon be celebrated among the
city’s 50,000 citizens — the aptly named Logan Bonner.
The junior quarterback has thrown for 3,242 yards, which ranks 16th in the NCAA. His 32 touchdown passes — five of them last week against New Mexico — is tied for 10th in the nation and also has tied Jordan Love’s school record. The primary beneficiary of Bonner’s presence has been senior wide receiver Deven Thompkins, who leads the nation in receiving with a school-record 1,543 yards. Thompkins’ 87 receptions include nine touchdowns.
Three other Aggies receivers have more than 30 receptions. Senior wide receiver Derek Wright is most notable, with 39 catches for 699 yards and 10 TDs.
Utah State balances the offense with a rushing game led by junior running back Calvin Tyler Jr (153 carries, 752 yards, 5 TDs) and sophomore running back Elelyon Noa (125 carries, 546 yards, 4 TDs), the former Helix High standout.
Notable among all the offensive success is the one game in which
the Aggies sputtered — a loss to Boise State where they were limited to three points on a 22yard field goal.
Poor execution doomed Utah State that day. The Aggies had one field goal attempt blocked and missed another one, committed three turnovers and turned the ball over on downs when a fake punt failed.
The defense
The Aggies’ sparkling record belies a unit that ranks tied for 68th in scoring defense (26.3 ppg) and is 86th against the run (163.8 ypg). Both numbers were adversely impacted by the shootout win over Air Force, which scored 45 points while rushing for 437 yards.
A 44-17 loss to Wyoming also was notable for struggles stopping the run. The Cowboys rushed for 362 yards, including a 98-yard touchdown run.
All this bears watching against an SDSU offense that would like nothing better than to run all day. Individual standouts include Utah State senior defensive end Nick Heninger, who has earned a reputation for knocking quarterbacks down — team-high five sacks — and knocking balls loose — teamhigh five forced fumbles. Linebackers Justin Rice and Ajani Carter and safety Shaq Bond share the team lead in interceptions with three apiece. Rice is far and away the leading tackler with 105. Junior safety Hunter Reynolds is next with 71.