Aggie Fact of the Day:
Senior safety James Brindley enters his senior season No. 2 on USU’s career interception return list with 186 yards on six career interceptions, needing four oskies to crack the top-10 interceptions list.
Aggie Tidbit of the Day:
Utah State’s home-opener against Southern Utah on Sept. 26 is only the second meeting between the Aggies and the Thunderbirds, with the only other meeting coming in 2000, won by USU, 30-14, which was also the Aggies’ home-opener that season... USU’s Homecoming game is also Sept. 26, in which the Aggies are 48-28-2 all-time on Homecoming.
Thursday’s scrimmage was a big difference from the last Utah State football scrimmage held at Romney Stadium, the Blue-White Spring Game, which was controlled and dominated by the offense. On Thursday, the Aggie defense rose to the challenge of head coach Gary Andersen and dominated.
“Obviously, the defense did some good things today, it was kind of a flip-flop from the spring game which the offensively dominated, while today was defensively dominated,” Andersen said in reference to the spring game in which the offense amassed nearly 1,000 yards total between the blue and white teams in ringing up 75 points.
Andersen challenged his defense following Wednesday night’s practice.
“At certain spots, we have the athletes, that just mentally, they’re in a position where they’re not reacting because they’re thinking still. To me, that’s a matter of going home at night and studying your playbooks, and making it important to every kid on the team. Apparently last night we had some kids in the books, where they were able to be in position to make plays today,” Andersen said.
Thursday’s scrimmage saw the defense swarming to the ball, pressuring the quarterback from all directions and limiting the big plays.
A total of 53 points was scored in Thursday’s controlled, situational scrimmage, running 114 total plays, counting special teams. One of the special teams plays was for another touchdown, coming on a 58-yard punt return by sophomore wide receiver/returner Stanley Morrison. Junior placekicker Peter Caldwell also booted six field goals, ranging from 32 yards to 47 yards.
Sophomore defensive end Junior Keiaho played a major part in the defense’s efforts Thursday, as he tallied a sack, another tackle for loss as well as a QB hurry.
The Aggie defense yielded a first down on the first play of the scrimmage, but then put the clamps on the offense, holding them to three-and-out on the next three possessions.
The offense scored on a 52-yard burst by freshman running back Kerwynn Williams, a one-yard dart by junior quarterback Diondre Borel, a 12-yard scamper by sophomore running back Ronald Scott and a 16-yard pass from junior quarterback Jeff Fischer to sophomore tight end Tarren Lloyd.
Scott led the offense with 96 yards rushing, while Fischer passed for 70 yards with the one TD. Redshirt freshman Emmanual Ojeriakhi led the receiving corps with three catches for 22 yards, as 10 different players had at least one catch.
Besides Keiaho, other defensive highlights included junior cornerback Jamaine Olson being in on two tackles for loss, as well as TFL’s by sophomore defensive end Bobby Wagner, junior linebacker Jordan Glass and redshirt-freshman defensive end Robert Tidwell. Junior cornerback Curtis Marsh had an interception while sophomore linebacker Tim Wlodarczyk had a forced fumble, which was recovered by sophomore cornerback Chris Harris.
Andersen hopes that the Aggies’ next scrimmage, on Saturday, Aug. 22, is more balanced between the offense and defense.
“Our next scrimmage can’t be like that, we need to have give-and-take on offense and on defense. Even the three’s (third string) executed decently today, but as far as the one’s and two’s on both sides of the ball, we still have a long way to go. However, we took some big strides today as far as assignment, alignment and our ability to make plays,” Andersen said.
Aggie practices will be closed to the public and media for three of the next four practices, with Monday’s practice the lone open exception.
USU’s final scrimmage of the fall will be in association with Utah State Aggie Football Family Fun Day, sponsored by Macey’s Foods, and will be held on Saturday, August 22 at Romney Stadium. The event provides fans a chance to meet USU football players and coaches, participate in games and activities as well as purchase season tickets.
Activities sponsored by Macey’s Foods will begin at 12 p.m., on the South Concourse of Romney Stadium. USU’s football scrimmage gets underway at 1 p.m.
Andersen and the Aggies return a WAC-leading 19 total starters, including a conference-best 10 on offense, as well as seven on defense and two kickers. Those 19 starters are part of 48 returning lettermen from last season’s 3-9 team. Last year was the first time since 2005 that the Aggies had three wins in a season and USU’s 3-5 WAC record was its best in its four seasons in the league. It was also the first time since 2003 that USU has won three conference games and just the third time in the 2000’s (2000: 4-1 Big West; 2003: 3-4 Big West; 2008: 3-5 WAC).
The Aggies open the 2009 season against Utah on Thursday, Sept. 3. After a bye and a road game at Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 19, USU hosts in-state foe Southern Utah in the Aggies’ home opener on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.
For season and single-game ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.
USU Football Practice Dates, Times and Locations (Practices open-ness and location are subject to change)
Fri., Aug. 14 – CLOSED
Sat., Aug. 15 – CLOSED
Mon., Aug. 17 – 9-10:45 a.m. - Practice Field
Tues., Aug. 18 – CLOSED
Wed., Aug. 19 – 9-10:45 a.m. / 5-6:30 p.m. - Practice Field
Thurs., Aug. 20 – 9-11 a.m. - Practice Field
Fri., Aug. 21 – 9-10:45 a.m. / 5-6:30 p.m. - Practice Field
Sat., Aug. 22 – 1 p.m. ** Scrimmage and Aggie Football Family Fun Day - Romney Stadium
End of training camp