Just like the plains of Wyoming, Utah State’s victory over the Cowboys wasn’t pretty. However, the Aggies got it done 24-16, and a win is a win. The Aggies are still undefeated in conference play, so close to being ranked (27th overall now), and the boys in blue are bowl eligible for another year. Here are three things from Laramie and some other things, too.
Three things from the past: USU at Wyoming
1. You spell it Rocquemore, but it should be Rock-a-More.
Jontrell rocked it some more as he intercepted Wyoming and ran it 20 yards to set up a 3-yard touchdown run for Darwin Thompson. It was the senior’s third straight game with a turnover.
Not only did he have the interception to set up the last touchdown for the Aggies, but he also helped force a fumble earlier in the first half. It seems that Rocquemore has his hand in a lot of big plays for the Aggies, which isn’t all that surprising when you remember he had a 97-yard fumble return in 2015 as a redshirt freshman versus Washington.
He’s a special safety and a special senior we’ve been lucky to have in Logan.
2. The offense struggled, but there were still quick scores
To start the game, right off the bat, the Aggies needed a 30-second possession to score with a 56-yard Thompson run. In the second half, the Aggies cut that number in half and took 15 seconds off the clock for Thompson’s other touchdown. Savon Scarver gave the Aggies their other points on a kickoff return, which took 10 seconds off the clock if you were wondering.
The low-scoring output dropped USU to fourth in the nation in points per game, but the Aggies are third last in the nation in time of possession with an average of 25:06 minutes a game. The scoring drives mentioned above certainly highlight the stat.
Quarterback Jordan Love certainly wasn’t hot in Laramie as he was 12 of 28 for 53 yards. Ouch. He also threw his first interception in over 150 attempts (and his fourth of the season) while not throwing any touchdowns for the first time since the season opener against Michigan State. Ouch, indeed.
It’s more likely the funk stays in Laramie and Love will get back to his lovely ways in Logan this weekend.
3. Wyoming’s curious last possession
Love may not have received the trophy for worst QB play, however, as Tyler Vander Waal, a freshman, started at quarterback for Wyoming and went 7 of 19 for 38 yards and an interception.
The coaching staff decided to switch it up and inserted another freshman, Sean Chambers, to generate some offense. He did. Chambers was more of a rushing threat as he kept the ball 19 times and gathered 100 yards on the ground. He only threw the ball five times but averaged 20 yards a completion. It was Chambers’ first game of the season, but he did good things and gave Wyoming a chance in the fourth quarter.
Curiously, however, Wyoming put Vander Waal back in the game for the final drive with two minutes to go in the game and the Cowboys down by eight. Perhaps thinking the moment may be too big for the newbie, or thinking Chambers wasn’t the passing threat they needed to get down the field, Vander Waal was the man to take the snaps that mattered most.
It didn’t go well. Four straight passes. Four straight incompletions. Four-and-out to end the game. Aggie victory.
Bonus: Something nice for Wyoming
Steve Godfrey Writes 