Turnovers continue to hurt Aggies

BOISE — With just one turnover in a 49-10 loss to No. 13 Boise State on Saturday, Utah State has turned the ball over 10 times in its past four games, and the problem is becoming an epidemic for the Aggies, who have lost five straight games.

"It seems to be having a snowball effect," Utah State quarterback Riley Nelson said. "We turn the ball over and something bad happens and they score and then we come back and can't do anything and turn the ball over again or go three-and-out.

"It's a bit of negative energy we've got going or something. We've got to turn it around."

The one turnover was the fewest the Aggies have allowed in the four games, but the Broncos (11-0, 7-0) managed to make the Aggies (1-10, 1-6) pay by scoring a touchdown.

"It's just killing us," Utah State football coach Brent Guy said. "We've created some on defense, but we can't create enough to overcome what we are doing."

In the four games, the Aggies have allowed 38 points off turnovers while being outscored 202-55.

FORTY-PLUS FOUR TIMES: For the first time since 1904, the Aggies have allowed 40 points in four straight games: Boise (49), Nevada (42), Hawaii (63) and Louisiana Tech (48).

LACK OF RUSHING: For the first time in seven games, the Aggies were held to less than 100 yards rushing (98). It was the Aggies' longest streak of 100-yard games since producing at least 100 yards in all 11 games in 1997.

MAKING THE STOPS: Paul Igboeli, who forced the fumble that led to Devon Hall's 65-yard fumble return for a touchdown, led the Aggies with 10 tackles and a sack. Daryl Field added eight tackles, and Antonio Taylor, E.J. Reid and Terrance Washington had six each.

Taylor leads the team with 70 tackles and is bidding to become the first player other than a linebacker to lead the team in tackles since 1978, when DT Rulon Jones led the team in stops.

THIRD-DOWN CONVERSIONS: The Aggies went 2-of-13 on third-down conversions while Boise State went 8-of-12 on third down.

GO FOR IT: Entering Saturday's game, the Broncos led the nation in fourth-down conversions by going 12-for-13. They will maintain that mark, as they went 2-for-2 against Utah State.

0-FER: For the second time in the past 18 years, the Aggies finish the season 0-7 on the road.

ENTERING THE RED ZONE: The Aggies scored just three points on two trips inside the Boise 20-yard line; the Broncos scored on 5-of-6 tries. The Broncos score 91.5 percent of the time when entering the opponents' red zone (54-of-59). They have scored 43 touchdowns and kicked 11 field goals.

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E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com