Nov. 15, 2008

Final Stats | Notes

Ruston, La. - Utah State battled back from a 35-17 deficit and took a 38-35 fourth-quarter lead only to be overtaken by Louisiana Tech, losing 45-38, Saturday in a hard-fought Western Athletic Conference battle.

The Aggies fall to 2-9 overall and 2-5 in WAC action while the Bulldogs became bowl eligible with the win, improving to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in WAC play.

USU out-gained LTU, 368-345, including 99 rushing yards and three TD's by redshirt-freshman Robert Turbin, becoming the first Aggie running back since Emmett White in 2001 with three rushing TD's. Turbin scored on a one-yard TD, a 47-yard scamper for a score and a two-yard run.

Freshman LB Bobby Wagner led the Aggie defense with 10 tackles, while senior LB Jake Hutton added nine stops. Senior S De'von Hall, junior DT Alan Bishop and junior DE Antonio May tallied seven tackles each, as May notched a sack.

Sophomore QB Diondre Borel added 56 yards rushing and two TD's as well a throwing for 204 yards on 12-of-18 passing. However, Borel threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns in the first half, as La Tech built a 28-17 halftime lead.

The Bulldogs tacked on a TD early in the third quarter to go up 35-17, before the Aggies rebounded with an 11-yard run by Borel. On LTU's next possession, redshirt-freshman DE Junior Keiaho blasted La Tech QB Ross Jenkins, forcing a fumble that senior DE Ben Calderwood recovered, giving USU the ball at the LTU 18.

Two plays later, Turbin bulled in for a two-yard rush, but USU's two-point conversion came up short, leaving the Aggies down, 35-30.

The USU defense held LTU to a three-and-out to get the ball back going into the fourth quarter. Borel spearheaded the Aggies' drive and capped it with a 13-yard scamper for a score and then darted in for the two-point conversion, his second of the season.

USU's 38-35 lead was short-lived though, as LTU countered with a six-play scoring drive that Daniel Porter ended with a 22-yard TD run to put the Bulldogs back ahead, 42-38.

However, the USU offense couldn't counterattack, punting it away. The Aggie defense bent but didn't break and held the Bulldogs to a field goal to open a 45-38 lead. On USU's ensuing possession, Borel's pass was intercepted by LTU and the Bulldogs took three knee's to end the game.

The Aggies have their second bye week of the season next week before returning to the friendly confines of Romney Stadium to host New Mexico State in the Aggies' home and season-finale on Saturday, Nov. 29. USU will honor its 17 seniors in a pre-game ceremony.

Aggie football tickets are available in person through the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on "tickets" in left column, or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.