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Logan • The Utah State Aggies are Darell Garretson's team again, for another week, anyway.

Garretson, the sophomore quarterback who became the starter last season when Chuckie Keeton suffered a season-ending knee injury, will start Saturday when the Aggies play at Arkansas State.

Keeton's left knee is banged up to the point he can't play, but he isn't out for the season, Utah State coach Matt Wells said Monday.

"We'll re-evaluate him before the BYU week," Wells said.

The Aggies are off next week and play at BYU on Oct. 3.

Against Wake Forest on Saturday, Keeton was 20-of-27 for 166 yards passing and a touchdown in the first half with one interception that was returned for a touchdown.

As he has in recent games, Keeton got up from several plays favoring his left leg.

Keeton finished the half then came out of the locker room at halftime out of uniform and on crutches.

In his place, Garretson finished 11-of-16 for 121 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Keeton's injury is bad enough that Wells said there was no debate in whether to try and use him this week.

"He can't go," he said.

The good news is the Aggies have a proven backup in Garretson, who went 6-1 as a starter last season after Keeton suffered his season-ending knee injury against BYU on Oct. 4.

Garretson finished last season completing 126 of 209 passes for 1,446 yards and 10 touchdowns, with seven interceptions.

Wells said using Garretson this season is different than last because the Aggies know what he can do and he is more confident. That familiarity can let the Aggies do some different things with him than they did a year ago.

"He has more confidence in himself, the players have more confidence in him and I know how to game-plan for him better," Wells said. "He was a bit of a wild card last year."

The Aggies were hoping to redshirt Garretson this season but were giving him time with the starters just in case he had to reprise his role of a year ago.

Utah State receiver JoJo Natson said Garretson acts like a more experienced and mature player than he did last season.

"He is more precise," Natson said.

"Last year he came in and stepped in and handled adversity and helped us out big time so it's nothing new to him," Natson added. "He got the job done."

Garretson's first series against Wake Forest ended badly when he threw an interception that set up a Wake Forest touchdown.

But he settled down after that mistake.

Wells joked that he had a longer talk with Garretson after that series than he did in the locker room at halftime, when he first told him to get ready.

Wells said he told Garretson to stay calm, advice that is probably solid for this week too.

"I feel good about Darell," Wells said. "Darell's in a good spot, Chuckie's in a good spot and the team's in a good spot." —

Utah State at Arkansas State

P Jonesboro, Ark.Saturday, 5 p.m. MDT