2 of MWC's best meet as Aggies host Colorado State


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LOGAN — Utah State begins league play this weekend as Colorado State (2-2), the team it tied with for second in the Mountain West Conference Mountain Division in 2014, comes to town.

Last year's matchup featured a demoralizing ending for the Aggies as the Rams looked poised to run out the clock and take the game to overtime. Instead a 17-yard run with less than 20 seconds to play was followed by a Colorado State timeout, and quarterback Garrett Grayson hit All-American Rashard Higgins on the next play for 46 yards to set up the game-winning field goal as time expired.

Utah State only managed 13 points that day — a point total that could've been greater had both of the Aggies' red-zone possessions not ended in field goals, and, perhaps, they didn't have to replace yet another starting quarterback when Darell Garretson injured his right arm on their first possession of the second half.

The Aggies got their biggest play of the game on the ground via a 59-yard Joe Hill touchdown scamper, but never really devoted consistent play-calling to establishing an effective rushing attack the rest of the way.

Utah State's defense, however, did more than enough to come out with a road win, sacking Grayson — the third quarterback selected in this past April's NFL draft behind Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota — eight times and limiting him and the Colorado State offense to 318 total yards.

With the Aggies in the midst of another quarterback change and coming off a loss in which they managed a measly 83 yards on 30 carries, the defense will likely need to be stout if Utah State is to emerge victorious.

Sophomore Kent Myers replaces Chuckie Keeton this time in a contest that will play a pivotal role in determining the divisional representative to play in the conference championship.

Craig Harrison was the next signal-caller up when Garretson went down in Fort Collins, Colorado, last season, but Myers filled in for an injured Harrison the very next game and ended up going 5-1 as the starter.

Many fans have been calling for Myers this season, as Keeton never looked fully healthy, and they'll get their wish Saturday at Maverik Stadium.

Myers was unmistakably sharp during his freshman campaign, leading Utah State into its final game of the regular season with a chance to earn a berth in the MWC championship. But any expectations of him quickly becoming Keeton 2.0 should be tempered. Myers is yet to eclipse 200 yards passing in a single game and never really got into a rhythm during his last game action, going 5 for 12 for 68 yards and an interception in the Aggies' bowl win over UTEP.

The sophomore from Rowlett, Texas, is a remarkably gifted athlete, though, and ran for 310 yards and five touchdowns on 56 attempts (5.5 yards per carry), including 60- and 48-yard scoring rushes, in six games.

It appears the offensive line protecting Myers and creating running lanes for LaJuan Hunt and company could be set to receive a big boost in the form of Tyshon Mosley. The sophomore and senior defensive back Bryant Hayes were both eligible to return from their suspensions against Washington but reportedly did not do enough in coach Matt Wells' opinion to be reinstated. Kyle Spencer is a freelance journalist residing in Orem. You can find him on Twitter @kyledspencer or reach him by email at kspence04@gmail.com.

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