Utah State Looking Forward To Raucous Home Crowd Against Idaho State

Sep 5, 2023, 6:43 PM | Updated: Sep 6, 2023, 2:24 pm

Digital Sports Producer

LOGAN, Utah – The Aggies can’t wait to get 2023 started in front of HURD as the USU home crowd stripe Maverik Stadium this weekend.

Utah State opens its home portion of 2023 at Maverik Stadium against the visiting Idaho State Bengals on Saturday, September 9. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (MT).

🎤🤔 Question of the Day: What's the best part of playing at Maverik Stadium?#AggiesAllTheWay | @usuHURD pic.twitter.com/fThoNbnBB0

— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 5, 2023

“We love playing at home,” Anderson said. “The energy you get from playing at home is awesome.”

The Aggies look to extend their recent home opener success. USU is riding a 13-game home opener winning streak. They have also won nine of its last 12 non-conference home games.

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— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 4, 2023

“I love being in front of our home crowd. I know our band and our student section will show up big. Hopefully, the rest of Aggie nation will do the same. That does lift our guys.”

Anderson finished, “It’s gonna be beautiful at six o’clock on Saturday night. Hopefully, Aggie nation will show up in big numbers.”

Utah State Defense Does ‘Tremendous Job’ Against Hawkeyes

The Hawkeyes caught USU flat-footed to begin the first quarter on Saturday, scoring 14 points in the opening seven minutes.

“I was expecting a lot more run,” linebacker MJ Tafisi Jr. said of the Hawkeye offense. “I was caught off guard because I was expecting that as obviously, a bigger team, bigger guys.”

The confusion led to miscommunications that allowed Iowa’s passing game to strike for two quick touchdowns.

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— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 2, 2023

Despite losing sophomore starting linebacker Max Alford on the first play from scrimmage, Tafisi Jr. and the Aggies adjusted admirably, limiting Iowa to just ten points in the final 52 minutes of play.

“I think anytime you hold Iowa to below 100 yards rushing, you did alright,” Anderson said. “Without Hale (Motu’apuaka) in the middle and playing as many new bodies as we did… Our guys did a tremendous job. They gave us a chance to win.”

Avoiding Weber State Style Letdown

364 days before facing the Bengals, USU was heavily favored against another visiting Big Sky team.

“Last year a lot of the team came in thinking it was going to be an easy game against Weber,” offensive lineman Wade Meacham said on Monday. “It turned out to be anything but that.”

Rather than roll over, Weber State throttled the Aggies 35-7. Utah State hopes to avoid a similar fate against the Bengals.

Meacham continued, “(I’m) definitely gonna be making sure that everybody on the team is aware of the fight we have coming this weekend. Idaho State is a good team and we have to take them seriously.

Aggie Depth Report

Senior safety Omari Okeke has been lost for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
DT Hale Motu’apuaka and TE Broc Lane did not play against Iowa.
Blake Anderson states that Lane is ‘day-to-day’ while first-string tight end Josh Sterzer remains ‘a week or two out’.
Sophomore linebacker Max Alford did not return after being injured on the first play from scrimmage. Anderson said Alford suffered a ‘significant injury’. Alford will undergo additional testing this week.
Sophomore Gavin Barthiel and redshirt freshman Bronson Olevao Jr. played the majority of the game in Alford’s stead.

Utah State Aggies (0-1) vs. Idaho State Bengals (0-1)

Saturday, September 9 – Maverik Stadium, Logan, UT

RADIO: Aggie Sports Network

• Scott Garrard & Kevin White

• KSL Sports Zone

TV: KJZZ / Mountain West Network

• Dave Fox, Alema Harrington, & Frank Dolce

• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 3/HD657

• DirecTV (Utah): Ch. 14

• DISH (Utah): Ch. 14

Following The Aggies With KSL Sports Zone

Utah State opens the home portion of the 2023 season with a matchup against the Idaho State Bengals on Saturday, September 9. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (MT). USU is 18-2 all-time against the Bengals.

Utah State football games are found on KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard and former Aggie quarterback Kevin White (1988-89) on the call.

KSL Sports coverage of Utah State University Athletics can be found here.