3 keys to a Utah State homecoming victory


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LOGAN — The Utah State Aggies kick off Mountain West Conference play Saturday with a critical matchup against the Colorado State Rams. Head coach Matt Wells knows how important to start conference play right.

"We want to get off to the right start, 1-0. It doesn't matter who it is. Maybe it puts a little bit more of an emphasis because it's a divisional game, but our guys know what time it is now getting into league play," Wells said. "All league games count, this one might count a bit more because it's head-to-head in your division, but our guys are going to be excited to play."

Here are the three keys to Utah State bouncing back from a rough start to the season and walk out of Maverik Stadium homecoming kings.

1. Win the turnover battle

Through the first four games, Colorado State has forced just five turnovers while giving away 11. With the Aggie offense struggling, Utah State's defense needs to step up. Providing the offense with short fields and more opportunities might just be the jumpstart this anemic offense needs.

The Rams' running backs have had a particularly hard time holding onto the ball, fumbling nine times, losing six. This Aggie defense needs to come away with a few turnovers to put Utah State in a position to win.

2. Contain Rashard Higgins

So far this year CSU's All-American wide receiver Rashard Higgins is averaging 6.7 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown per game.

Wells spoke to just how incredible Higgins is in Monday's press conference.

"He makes the key catch; he makes the acrobatic catch; he makes the impossible catch," Wells said. "A year ago, we had guys draped over him, and he's making catches. He has our respect; he has our players' respect and he has our attention."

Higgins is such an athlete that stopping him completely — similar to Utah's Devontae Booker — will be impossible. The Aggie secondary needs to contain Higgins and keep him from having big plays. Taking away Colorado State quarterback Nick Stevens' safety net will cause him to force more plays resulting in more chances at creating turnovers.

3. Run the ball

It's that simple: Run the ball. Utah State has won 17 straight games when it has a 100-yard rusher. Additionally, USU has won 19 of 20 when rushing at least 40 times in a game. It seems pretty clear: Run the ball, win the game.

Wells spoke about how the Aggies can run the ball better than they have in the first games of the season.

"It's a little bit of schematics, what we're doing and coaches calling things that our kids are better at doing, and players communicating and playing a little better," he said. "There's a mix of both, and I've addressed that. We'll look out Saturday night and see how we move the football."

The Aggies need to lean on their stable of capable backs in Lajuan Hunt, Devonte Mays and Tonny Lindsey.

Running the ball efficiently will all the Aggies to control the pace of the game, sustain long drives and beat CSU.

The game kicks off at 5 p.m. MT. Parker Robertson is a graduate of Utah State University, a freelance contributor and an avid fan of sports. Follow me on Twitter @ParkerRob78 Email: ParkerRobertson18@gmail.com

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