Utah State football: Aggies miss on opportunities, fall to Fresno State

Utah State vs. Fresno State boxscore

College football standings

LOGAN — It was a sight all too familiar for Aggie fans.

After spending much of the game in the driver's seat the Aggies managed to give away a very winnable game to Fresno State falling 41-24.

"This is certainly a game we should have won," junior linebacker Bobby Wagner said after the game. "I feel like it slipped away."

Everything was looking good for the Aggies to start the game. Following a Fresno State turnover Diondre Borel was able to turn a certain sack into an 8-yard touchdown pass to Dontel Watkins to open up the scoring early in the first quarter.

After trading points in the 2nd quarter the problems the Aggies have had on special teams all season began to rear their ugly head. With just less than two minutes left in the half Fresno State return man Rashad Evans took a 46-yard punt all the way back to the Utah State 7-yard line setting up a tying touchdown for Fresno State going into halftime.

"We have big time issues on special teams," USU coach Gary Andersen commented during his post game press conference "We gave up 210 return yards. That allowed them to control field position."

Unfortunately for the Utah State faithful the special team's issues were just beginning.

The second half started out as promising as the first for Utah State, as defensive end Quinn Garner intercepted Fresno State quarter back Ryan Colburn just 3 plays into the second half. In a sign of things to come however, the Aggie offense sputtered out and could not capitalize on the good field position and had to settle for a 37-yard field goal attempt that was partially blocked by Fresno State's Kenny Wiggins and sailed wide right.

The struggles on special teams continued at the end of the 3rd quarter when Fresno State's Jamel Hamler blocked a Utah State punt and flipped the field position battle in favor of the Bulldogs again.

"(Fresno State) came out in the second half and they took control on offense, defense, and special teams in my mind." Andersen said. "In the second half we didn't play well on offense or defense, and that is on me. That is my problem. It's not on the kids"

Fresno State was only able to get a field goal out of that drive, but the damage had been done and Utah State had seen their share of the lead for the last time.