Aggies Finish Season With Blowout Win In New Mexico Bowl
Dec 15, 2018, 4:04 PM | Updated: Dec 17, 2018, 11:21 am
Albuquerque, N.M. – The Utah State Aggies tied a school record with their 11th win of the season in a season-ending 52-13 victory over North Texas.
North Texas had a difficult time getting things going after they lost its star quarterback, Mason Fine, to an apparent leg injury. After he left in the game in the first half, Utah State played both stifling defense and high-octane offense to dominate the game.
How It Played Out
It took just 40 seconds for Utah State’s high-scoring offense to find the end zone. Jordan Love found Aaren Vaughns on a 72-yard touchdown pass to set a New Mexico Bowl record for fastest touchdown. The Aggies took a 7-0 lead.
This 72-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love to Aaren Vaughns just 40 seconds into the game is the fastest score in @NMBowl history. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/soQDc2WMV2
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) December 15, 2018
North Texas responded by scoring on a 2-yard rush by DeAndre Torrey to knot up the score at 7-all. The Mean Green’s scoring drive was assisted by pair of personal fouls by Utah State, including one roughing the punter penalty that enabled North Texas to extend the possession all the way to the end zone.
Utah State retook the lead soon thereafter on a 26-yard rush by Gerold Bright to give the Aggies a 14-7 lead.
The lead was extended 21-7 on the Aggies’ first possession of the second quarter on a 9-yard rush by Love.
.@USUFootball receiver Aaren Vaughns has two catches for 109 yards in the 1st half. Both catches are touchdowns including this one where he puts a defender on skates. #AggiesAllTheWay @NMBowl @KSL5TV #NewMexicoBowl pic.twitter.com/D0RvnlV325
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) December 15, 2018
Love and Vaughns connected again for another score as the Aggies scored their 21st unanswered point on a 37-yard TD reception. The Aggies led 28-7.
After DJ Williams got the ball back by picking off a pass by North Texas QB Quinn Shanbour, Utah State scored its fourth touchdown on a drive of a minute or less. Love found a wide open Jalen Greene for a 67 yard score to give Utah State a 35-7 lead.
Dominick Eberle put a cap on the first half with a 42-yard field goal as time expire to give Utah State a 38-7 lead.
North Texas scored on the opening play of the second on a 75-yard pass from Kason Martin to Jalen Guyton. It was the final score of the game for the Mean Green as the point after was blocked.
Utah State added two more scores in the second half, a 3-yard run by Bright in the third and a pass from Love to Ron’quavion Tarver in the fourth.
With that touchdown by Gerald Bright @USUFootball has set a @MountainWest record for points in a season. They are now at 611 and counting (old record was 608)
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) December 15, 2018
Most Valuable Players
For his performance which included 359 yards and four touchdown passes, Love was named the offensive player of the game.
DJ Williams, who hauled in two of the Aggies’ four interceptions, was named the defensive player of the game.
Maile Appreciates Dedication Of Players During Challenging Period
Champs 🏆#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/9X3rRmCvQh
— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 15, 2018
The victory capped off what had been a couple of weeks of dramatic change for the Aggies. Head coach Matt Wells left for the Texas Tech head coaching job and took several key assistants with him. In the wake of the changes in the coaching staff, defensive line coach Frank Maile was given the interim role and tasked with the job of getting Utah State ready for the bowl. Clearly, there was little trouble in getting the win in Albuquerque.
“I appreciate these players right here,” said Maile during the postgame trophy ceremony. “I got the best players in the country, their loyalty to me, Aggie Nation, Aggie family, I appreciate them.”
