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Logan • David Moala might be Utah State's most valuable player, which is unusual because he's a nose tackle.

Defensive linemen rarely emerge as an irreplaceable piece to a team's puzzle, but some numbers speak to Moala's impact on the Aggies.

A senior from Gardena, Calif., Moala missed games against San Diego State and Wyoming because of a sprained knee. The Aztecs and Cowboys rushed for a total of 606 yards.

In Saturday's 14-13 loss at New Mexico, Moala returned from his injury and helped limit the Lobos to 132 rushing yards on 48 attempts. That's an average of 2.8 yards per carry.

New Mexico entered the game with the No. 2 rushing offense in the Mountain West Conference, but the Lobos went three-and-out seven times.

Obviously, Moala had plenty of help, including some from defensive end Ricky Ali'ifua, who returned from a one-game absence after a shoulder injury. But his presence was a key to the Aggies' ability to stop the run.

"David Moala played very well," coach Matt Wells said. "He [occupies] O-linemen. He takes up his gap. He's twitchy. He beats one-on-one blocks. He's been excellent this season. … It makes a big difference having him in there. He's a good football player."

When Moala plays well, Utah State's other defenders seem to follow.

"Sometimes individual efforts lift the other players," Wells said. "Does his level of play lift all of us? Absolutely. … Shoot, when you have a guy playing at a high level like [he] is, they all respond because he's making plays."

Punt game solid

with Dalton

Aaron Dalton, a redshirt freshman from Viewmont High School in Bountiful, averaged 46.5 yards on six punts against New Mexico. Four kicks were downed inside the 20-yard line on a blustery afternoon.

"We did an excellent job in terms of field position in those conditions," Wells said. "I don't know the miles-per-hour on the wind, but it was consistent through warm-ups and the whole game. It never changed. It kind of swirled at times and I thought Aaron Dalton was really good. … I thought he gave us a chance."

Living with the call

The most controversial call of the Utah State-New Mexico game did not go the Aggies' way.

After Brock Warren's field goal made it 14-13 with 11:47 remaining, New Mexico's Carlos Wiggins fumbled the ensuing kickoff at the Lobo 25.

Utah State had the first shot at the football and, immediately, an official raced to the pile of players and signaled it was the Aggies' ball.

After a scrum, however, New Mexico's Daniel Anaya stood up and raised the ball over his head. The officials gave possession to the Lobos. The call withstood a lengthy video review and discussion with Wells on the sideline.

What did the officials tell him?

"Not much," Wells said. "It was an emphatic 'our ball.' But they made [another] call and it went to replay and it stood. So that's about all I can tell you."

Twitter:@sluhm —

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