Utah State football: Near must-win situation

It might be Utah State's first conference game of the year, but in a lot of ways tonight's game at New Mexico State can be interpreted as a make-or-break game for the Blue Aggies.

A win sets USU up nicely to make a run toward the top half of the Western Athletic Conference standings and a potential bowl berth.

A loss would leave the team with a 1-4 record and cast some doubt about Utah State's true progress this season.

"This is what we've been working for ever since we started," Utah State coach Gary Andersen said. "We would have liked to win more games before this, but our biggest goal is to win in the WAC."

And New Mexico State — a team that has struggled every bit, if not more, than Utah State over the past decade or two — is up first.

So it stands to reason NMSU views the game in much the same light as Utah State.

And after last year's embarrassing 47-2 tailwhipping in Romney Stadium, the long-suffering Aggies from New Mexico would also like a bit of revenge.

"We have to just come in and be more prepared," New Mexico State cornerback Chris Buckner said. "We have to take this game to the next level. We're starting the WAC conference games, so we can't play like we did last season."

That game was the end of then-NMSU coach Hal Mumme's stay in Las Cruces. He was fired after returning from Logan.

Now, DeWayne Walker, a former USU assistant coach and a finalist for the Utah State job given to Andersen last December, is guiding NMSU's program, and he knows he has his hands full.

Of particular concern is New Mexico State's ability to contain the quick-strike offense of USU.

"From a schematic standpoint, they have a lot of stuff," said Walker, the former defensive coordinator at UCLA and USC. "They do everything. With the two exceptional players they have, it'll be a challenge."

The two players he's referring to are sophomore running back Robert Turbin and junior quarterback Diondre Borel.

The tandem, as well as backup tailback Michael Smith, have shown an impressive ability to break off big chunks of yardage, and NMSU is putting a lot of its defensive focus on limiting the damage Utah State can inflict.

"They are exceptional players," Walker said. "They have other players that can hurt us, but those are the guys that make their offense go."

So far, NMSU has a win over New Mexico and Prairie View A&M to hang their hats on. But a 21-6 season-opening loss to Idaho put them in an early hole as far as the WAC is concerned.

Utah State's offense, despite a lackluster effort at BYU last week, still ranks among the nation's best with 447 yards per game. Turbin is the 17th-best running back in the nation at 105 yards per game on the ground and is also a threat to catch a swing pass from Borel and turn it upfield.