Utah State struggles both early and late

LOGAN — Utah State's failure to close games out can be traced to the way it starts them.

For the fourth straight game, the offense failed to score points of any kind in the first quarter in the 23-20 homecoming loss to San Jose State on Saturday.

The Aggies had 41 yards of offense in the first quarter in the loss to the Spartans and didn't record a first down. Last week in a 54-3 loss at then-No. 3 Oklahoma, the Aggies managed just one first down on 29 yards of offense.

Utah State had its best offensive first quarter in its 23-16 season-opening loss to UNLV, when it had 78 yards and five first downs.

The Aggies, who had a chance to beat UNLV and Wyoming in the fourth quarter, have scored a combined 13 points in the final quarter and have combined for just 133 yards total offense.

BOO BIRDS: The Romney Stadium crowd of 13,685 didn't conceal their displeasure with the inept Utah State offense when it booed the team — or the coaches — three times in the first half for not going for a first down on a fourth-and-one inside SJSU territory, for a futile running play on a second-and-16 and, finally, after a middle screen on a third-and-11.

GOAL-LINE FAILURES: The Aggies faced a third-and-goal from the 1-yard line against the Spartans and were stopped for a 4-yard loss, eventually settling for a Peter Caldwell field goal. It marked the third time this season that the Aggies were inside the 5 and failed to score. The other two came in a 32-18 loss to Wyoming.

JACKSON MILESTONE: With his 8-yard completion to Kevin Robinson midway through the first quarter, senior quarterback Leon Jackson III went over 3,000 passing yards in his career.

MAKING THE STOPS: De'von Hall led the Aggies with 11 tackles, while Kejon Murphy, Caleb Taylor and Jake Hutton had nine each. Taylor had an interception, as did Roy Hurst.

HANKY, HANKY: The Aggies were penalized 10 times for 86 yards, while San Jose State drew eight flags for 64 yards.

In one San Jose touchdown drive that went for 83 yards on three plays, the Aggies were penalized three times for 35 yards.

PACEMAKER: Offensive lineman Pace Jorgensen made his team-high 31st career start, but cramps in his back didn't allow him to finish the game.

NO MCCORMICK: Sophomore QB Jase McCormick was available for Saturday's game but did not play. He played last week in the 54-3 loss to Oklahoma, and Utah State coach Brent Guy said earlier in the week that he was planning on using two QBs against San Jose but elected to stay with Jackson only.

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E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com