Ags can't accomplish much

NORMAN, Okla. — As a 46-point underdog to No. 3 Oklahoma on Saturday, the chances of Utah State pulling off an Appalachian State-type upset was highly unlikely, but the Aggies still had the chance to pick up the proverbial moral victory.

They couldn't even get that.

Utah State coach Brent Guy warned his team that big plays would be the difference, and Oklahoma's big plays haunted the Aggies early in their 54-3 loss — their ninth straight loss overall and ninth consecutive road loss.

The Sooners scored their first two touchdowns on a 35-yard run by Jauquin Iglesias and a 27-yard pass from Sam Bradford to Malcom Kelly. Their third score, an 8-yard pass from Bradford to Joe Jon Finley, was aided by four consecutive plays of 12 yards or more.

Oklahoma's fourth score of the half came on a 69-yard touchdown run by Allen Patrick.

"I'm really disappointed in the big plays. That was a thing we worked on a lot and were concerned about," Guy said.

Utah State safety Caleb Taylor agreed: "It was a big emphasis in practice in what we had to do to have a chance and we didn't get that done."

"I didn't feel good about the way we responded and I told them that," Guy said. "We didn't come in here and do the things that we had set as goals to do. We needed to execute and not do silly things."

By design, the Aggies (0-3) did get their first look at sophomore quarterback Jase McCormick.

McCormick, who prepped at Northridge High, saw his first football action of any kind since 2002 when he entered for the first series of the second quarter, and he led the Aggies to their only points. Utah State starter Leon Jackson III led the Aggies to just 29 yards on 11 plays in the first quarter before giving way to McCormick.

On his second series of the quarter, McCormick engineered a 10-play, 46-yard drive, resulting in 30-yard field goal by freshman Peter Caldwell.

Bradford was intercepted for the first time this season, and the Roy Hurst pick eventually led to points for the Aggies.

McCormick's third drive was only one play as he fumbled.

Oklahoma (3-0) worked the ball to Utah State 15 and kicker Garrett Hartley drilled a 32-yard field goal to give the Sooners a 38-3 lead at the break.