Oct. 18, 2003
DENTON, Texas -
David Fiefia rushed for 83 yards and had a career-high nine receptions for 37 more yards as Utah State lost 37-27 in a Sun Belt Conference game at North Texas on Saturday. With the loss, the Aggies fell to 1-6 on the year and 1-1 in Sun Belt Conference play, while North Texas won its 14th consecutive conference game and improved to 4-3 overall and 3-0 in the Sun Belt.
The two teams produced the highest scoring first quarter of an USU game this year as the Mean Green led USU 21-14. The teams continued the high scoring pace in the second quarter as UNT took a 34-21 lead into halftime.
North Texas scored touchdowns on its first two possesions as well as five touchdowns on its first six possessions. The Mean Green took advantage of a bad punt snap that gave them the ball on the USU one yard line just one minute into the game. UNT scored on a one yard run on its first play to go ahead 7-0.
UNT's next possession started on the USU 46 and resulted in another touchdown to go ahead 14-0 less than seven minutes into the game.
USU then responded with back to back touchdowns on its next two possesions as Chris Cooley pulled in a 20-yard pass from Travis Cox to cap a nine-play 70-yard drive. However Justin Hamblin missed the extra point. USU then scored two minutes later as defensive tackle John Chick returned a fumble 37 yards for a score. A two-point conversion later and USU tied the score at 14 with 2:36 remaining in the first quarter.
UNT was led by running back Patrick Cobbs, who rushed 36 times for 205 yards and three touchdowns. UNT gained 209 yards rushing on the day and was eight of 12 passing for 109 yards.
USU's Travis Cox completed 26 of 38 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, including a 43-yarder to Raymond Hicks.
Utah State will return to Logan to host back to back home games against Arkansas State on Oct. 25 at 1:05 p.m. and Middle Tennessee on Nov. 1 at 1:05 p.m.
UTAH STATE POSTGAME NOTES at North Texas, Oct. 18, 2003
o - TB David Fiefia recorded his third best rushing game of the year (142 yards vs. UL-Monroe and 86 vs. Wyoming last week), while also recording a career-high in receptions (six on three previous occasions, including six for 82 yards against Arizona State this year). His eight catches matched the most by an Aggie this season (TE Chris Cooley had eight against Arizona State and eight more today).
o - QB Travis Cox recorded 200-plus passing yards for the second straight game (202 vs. Wyoming) and the fourth time in seven games this year.
o - USU's 27 points were its second most in a game this season (28) in a 28-10 win against UL-Monroe.
o - TE Chris Cooley recorded his second and third touchdown receptions of the year (seventh and eighth of his career). He also extended his streak of catching at least two passes to 12 consecutive games as well as his streak of at least four receptions to nine straight games.
o - Cooley matched his career receptions high (had eight vs. Arizona State earlier this year).
o - DT John Chick returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown marking USU's first defensive touchdown this season (had a safety vs. Utah in the season opener). It was the first fumble return for a score for the Aggies since Jorge Tapia returned a fumble 15 yards against Idaho State in the third game of last year. It was the first defensive score for USU since Jerome Dennis returned an interception 75 yards against BYU in the sixth game of last season.
o - USU's missed extra point after its first touchdown dropped USU to 18 of 22 on PATs at that point of the year.
o - USU's 14 first quarter points matched its most in a quarter this season (14 in second quarter vs. UL-Monroe).
o - UNT's 21 first quarter points were the most allowed in a quarter by USU this season and the most since Boise State scored an identical 21 points in the first, second and fourth quarter of a 63-38 win against USU in the fifth game of last year.
o - Entering today's game USU opponents had traveled less than 50 yards on 18 of its previous 32 scoring drives. In the first half North Texas scored on drives of one, 46, 35, 47 and nine yards.
o - The first seven touchdowns of the game were scored by players whose last names all begin with the letter "C"
o - P Ben Chaet recorded a career-long punt with his 70-yarder in the second quarter (previous long was a 63-yarder vs. UL-Monroe). It matched the 11th longest punt in USU history.
o - USU used three different long snappers in the first half, including Jaison Carriger, Chris Cooley and Nick George.
o - WR Jerome Eason made his first catch since the season opener at Utah (missed four games due to injury).
o - WR Raymond Hicks' 43-yard touchdown reception marked Hick's first career touchdown as well as his career long (15 yards was previous long).
o - USU has had seven different players score its last seven touchdowns, including three today.
o - USU's 21 first-half points matched a season high (led UL-Monroe 21-7 at the break earlier this season).
o - UNT's 31 first-half points were the most allowed by the Aggies in a half since Boise State scored 42 in the first half of the fifth game last year (BSU led 42-24).
o - USU has thrown at least one touchdown pass in nine straight games.
Utah St. 14 7 0 6-27North Texas 21 13 3 0-37
First Quarter
NT- Cobbs 1 run (Bazaldua kick), 13:58.
NT- Claborn 11 pass from Hall (Bazaldua kick), 8:44.
UT- Cooley 20 pass from Cox (kick failed), 4:22.
UT- Chick 37 fumble return (Higginson pass), 2:36.
NT- Cobbs 3 run (Bazaldua kick), :15.
Second Quarter
NT- Cobbs 4 run (Bazaldua kick), 13:03.
NT- Claborn 5 pass from Hall (kick failed), 8:05.
UT- Hicks 43 pass from Cox (Chaet kick), :55.
Third Quarter
NT- FG Bazaldua 20, 11:48.
Fourth Quarter
UT- Cooley 2 pass from Cox (pass failed), 2:29.
A-17,239.
UT NTFirst downs 19 20Rushes-yards 25-78 49-209Passing 230 109Comp-Att-Int 26-38-1 8-14-0Return Yards 38 81Punts-Avg. 8-30 5-35Fumbles-Lost 3-1 3-2Penalties-Yards 12-106 12-126Time of Possession 29:49 30:11
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Utah St., Fiefia 13-83, Cox 12-(minus 5). North Texas, Cobbs 36-205, Hall 9-11, Smith 2-(minus 2), Branch 2-(minus 5).
PASSING-Utah St., Cox 26-38-1-230. North Texas, Hall 8-12-0-109, Smith 0-2-0-0.
RECEIVING-Utah St., Cooley 8-78, Fiefia 9-37, Hicks 3-59, Coleman 3-29, Eason 2-22, Stephens 1-5, Tupea 1-4. North Texas, Claborn 4-37, Quinn 2-47, Branch 2-25.
