Dennehy says adversity has hardened his team

LOGAN — Mick Dennehy learned a lot about the makeup of his football team in its 28-10 Sun Belt Conference victory over Louisiana-Monroe Saturday.

Not only was it the Aggies' first conference game, it was their first home game after starting the year 0-3 with losses at Utah, Nebraska and Arizona State.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of our players for battling through a lot of adversity," he said. "Sometimes losing games and being able to come back is difficult."

The Aggies responded in a big way, behind 142 yards from senior tailback David Fiefia and six sacks from a defense that hadn't recorded one in the first three games.

"I think our guys hung in there and persevered and believed in one another," Dennehy said. "(They) believed that good things would happen if they would do that."

Yes, Dennehy was pleased with the defense in holding the Indians to less than 60 yards total offense in the second half, but he still wants to see more consistency from the offense.

After scoring 21 points in the first half, the offense scored only seven in the second half and that was on a one-play two-yard drive following a turnover forced by the defense to put the Aggie "O" on the ULM 2.

"We just didn't execute like we're capable," Dennehy said.

Quarterback Travis Cox threw for 111 yards in the first half and Fiefia rushed for 116, but the offense was limited to just 62 total yards in the second half.

Defensively, the Aggies were solid, so the inability of the offense to move the football didn't hurt, but it is an area of concern for Dennehy.

Ronald Tupea recorded three sacks and was just two yards away from recovering a fumble for a touchdown. John Chick, in his first appearance of the year, added a sack as did Nate Putnam and Justin Jackson.

"The past few weeks Nebraska and Arizona State did it to us (sacks), and it was nice to have the momentum swing in our direction."

The Aggies face back-to-back Mountain West Conference teams beginning Saturday at New Mexico before returning home to face Wyoming Oct. 11.

Utah State will travel to North Texas for its second game of Sun Belt Conference play Oct. 18.

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Game summary

UTAH STATE 28, LA.-MONROE 10

FIRST QUARTER

UTAH STATE 7, LA.-MONROE 0