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Aggies hold off Wolf Pack 21-17
From the archive
Brad Rock: Bowling is more than a step forwardfor USU program – Nov . 26, 2011
Aggies hold off Wolf Pack 21-17 – Nov . 26, 2011
Utah State football: Aggies' roller-coaster ridegame recaps – Nov . 22, 2011
Utah State football: Aggies rally down stretchagain – Nov . 13, 2011
Utah State football: 5 things to know aboutcamp – Aug. 3, 2011
Published: Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011 7:01 p.m. MST
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Utah State football: Aggies beat Nevada, achievebowl eligibilityBy Kraig Williams, For the Deseret News
LOGAN — For the first time since 1997, Utah State could be going bowling.
The Aggies held off Nevada 21-17 Saturday on senior day in Romney Stadium in front of 15,784 Aggie fans to clinch
their sixth win of the season — and with it, bowl eligibility.
"This is the perfect way to go out," said senior linebacker Bobby Wagner about playing his last game at home. "It's a
great win for this program. We are going bowling. I'm excited."
Wagner, the leading candidate for WAC Defensive player of
the Year, helped solidify the victory by coming up with a
crucial fumble recovery late in the game. Defensive lineman
Quinn Garner stripped Nevada quarterback Tyler Lantrip on a
fourth-and-inches play with Nevada driving inside the Utah
State 10.
Following the fumble, Utah State pounded the ball with 11
straight rushes from quarterback Adam Kennedy and running
backs Robert Turbin and Kerwynn Williams. The Aggies ran
the final 5:14 off the clock, with Turbin converting on fourth-
and-1 with just over a minute remaining and Kennedy
scrambling for 12 yards on a keeper on third-and-10 to finish
off Nevada.
"I try to work to be the best running back that I can be, and if
I can't get one yard, we have a problem," said Turbin.
Nevada dominated the line of scrimmage for most of the first
half. The Wolf Pack went into the locker room with 290 total
yards of offense compared to just 134 for Utah State. Despite
outgaining the Aggies by 146 yards, the Wolf Pack had just
10 points to show for their efforts.
While the first half was a defensive struggle, the third quarter
was full of fireworks for both offenses. Utah State struck first
with a 21-yard Matt Austin touchdown reception in the back
of the end zone. The lead was short-lived, as Nevada
responded with a 76-yard touchdown reception from wide
receiver Rishard Matthews just 25 seconds later. Matthews
finished with 12 catches for 205 yards and one touchdown in
the losing effort.
The third quarter ended on a trick play for the Aggies.
Kennedy tossed the ball back to Stanley Morrison, who then
found a wide- open Turbin in the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown pass to give the Aggies a 21-17 lead going into the
fourth quarter.
"Those balls that sit up in the air like that are the hardest ones to catch for some reason," Turbin said about his
game-winning grab. "The only thing you are thinking about is 'hurry up and get down' and not to drop the ball. I knew I
was going to catch it though."
The win gives the Aggies six victories for the first time since reaching the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl against Cincinnati.
"It's a great day to be an Aggie. That was an unbelievable performance by a group of kids that just kept on fighting. All
the credit goes to them," said USU head coach Gary Andersen.
Utah State will finish its regular season next week at New Mexico State with a chance for its first seven-win season
since winning the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl.
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Utah State Aggies safety Walter McClenton (4) and
Utah State Aggies cornerback Cameron Sanders (2)
celebrate in Logan Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011. USU beat
Nevada and is now bowl eligible.
See all 28 photos | Click to enlarge
12/2/11 Utah State football: Aggies beat Nevada, achieve bowl eligibility | Deseret Ne…
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since winning the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl.
"Every game is important, but I'm going to tell you this. I'm not worrying a lick about New Mexico State until
tomorrow," said Andersen. "I am going to enjoy this."
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