Don’t let the 0-3 record deceive you. The Aggies of Utah State need to be taken seriously if the Ducks want to come out of Romney Stadium with a win Saturday.
Third-team All-American Emmett White stands in Oregon’s way of its first 4-0 start in three years. With 322 yards rushing in one game, 578 all-purpose yards in one game and 238.9 all-purpose yards per game, White carries the Aggie offense on his shoulders. He is sixth on the all-time NCAA all-purpose yards list and a three-year letterman.
Utah State head coach Mick Dennehy has flooded his star back with praise.
“I am running out of adjectives to describe this kid,” Dennehy said. “He does the type of things that amaze you and leave your mouth open.”
Despite White rushing for 463 yards in 71 carries and three touchdowns (he also has 93 yards and one touchdown receiving) in its first three games, Utah State has lost all of those contests. The Aggies fell 23-19 to Utah on Sept. 1, to LSU 31-14 in week two and last Saturday lost a nailbiter at home to Wyoming, 43-42. In that loss, the Aggies had a chance to tie the game with an extra point, but because of a 15-yard celebration penalty after the touchdown, the kick was blocked.
Dennehy said his team is playing just well enough to lose.
“As well as we are playing and as good of a football team as we are capable of being, we are still not doing things quite right enough to beat the opponents that are on our schedule,” he said.
When the ball isn’t in White’s hands, quarterback Jose Fuentes looks for wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who leads the nation in receptions per game and is third in receiving yards with 130.
The offense is capable of putting up big numbers, but the Aggie defense will most likely give them up. In the first three games, they have allowed 97 points, but they have yet to show their best stuff.
“I think we are a better defense than we showed. I don’t think we played near our capabilities,” Dennehy said.
History is not on the side of the Utah State, as they have lost the last seven games they have played against ranked opponents. The No. 6 Ducks are the highest ranked team ever to play in Romney Stadium.
“The challenge for us obviously is to line up and not be intimidated by who they are or how they are perceived, but to play our game as well as we can play it,” Dennehy said.
Other than White, Curtis and Fuentes, who has thrown for at least 200 yards in eight straight games, the Ducks need to watch out for linebacker Tony Newson and Joe Solosabal on special teams.
Fuentes sprained his ankle in the loss to Wyoming, but he should be ready for the Duck game.