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Logan • After Friday night's meeting at Maverick Stadium, either Utah State or Arkansas State will feel better about its prospects for the rest of the season.

As it stands, the Aggies and the Red Wolves desperately need a win.

Utah State is 1-1 so far. Arkansas State is 0-2. Both come off confidence-crumbling losses to high-profile P5 opponents. Both could use an infusion of belief prior to the start of their conference seasons.

"They have a very similar program to us and our players know that," Aggie coach Matt Wells said. "… It will be a very competitive game — one we're looking forward to, one where we can get back doing what we do best."

Utah State was not at its best last week, when the Aggies lost to USC, 45-7. Special team breakdowns contributed to the lopsided margin, but so did a leaky defense that allowed two Trojan quarterbacks to complete 28 of 37 passes, including four touchdowns.

Utah State junior cornerback Jalen Davis thinks Utah State will play better than it did against USC.

"We didn't have that good of a game," he said. "For the defense, we had a lot of technical errors, a lot of missed coverages, and then we did a poor job of tackling. So, we can easily correct those mistakes and move forward."

A key against the Red Wolves will be getting their offense off the field. USC was 7 for 13 on third down.

"That [was] the big focus this week," Davis said. "We can't be on the field for too long. Their offense was on the field a lot. It was making us tired and winded, so we have to focus on … getting them off their drives and holding them."

Wells expects a close game against Arkansas State, like the one the teams played two years in Jonesboro.

After taking a 14-7 lead late in the third quarter, the Aggies lost in overtime, 21-14. Eighteen players on the current roster played in the heartbreaking loss.

"They remember Arkansas State," Wells said. "They know it's a competitive team and a very skillful team that is going to be very aggressive, especially on offense. …

"The biggest thing I remember is, on offense, we had some red zone issues early in the game and they haunted us later. And we missed a field goal to win it" in regulation.

Arkansas State opened this season with losses to Toledo (31-10) and Auburn (51-14)

After being blasted by the Tigers, Red Wolves coach Blake Anderson said, "We honestly did improve from Week 1. … [But] we still made too many mistakes — self-inflicted mistakes — that have to be cleaned up."

Wells and Anderson are long-time friends. Like Wells, the Arkansas State coach expects "a slugfest for 60 minutes" in a game so important to the future of both teams.

"It's a very even matchup across the board," Anderson said. "… It's a game we can win. But it's a tough win because they are a quality opponent."

Twitter: @sluhm —

Utah State vs. Arkansas State

P At Maverik Stadium, Logan

Kickoff • 7 p.m.

TV • CBS Sports Network

Radio • 610 AM, 1280 AM, 102.1 FM

Records • Utah State 1-1, Arkansas State 0-2

Series • Tied, 3-3

Last meeting • Arkansas State, 21-14 in OT (2014)

About the Aggies • They have beaten Weber State (45-6) and lost at USC (45-7). … They have won 24 of their last 27 home games, including 13 of 16 against non-Mountain West Conference opponents. … Junior QB Kent Myers is 11-5 as the starter. … Leading tacklers are S Dallin Leavitt (21) and LB Leki Uasike (16). … RB Devante Mays and CB Daniel Gray are questionable because of injuries suffered against USC.

About the Red Wolves • They lost to Auburn (51-14) and Toledo (31-10). … They allowed 1,262 yards of offense in those two games. … They have won the Sun Belt Conference four times in the last five years. … The have made five straight bowl appearances. … They return 13 starters from last season, when they finished 9-4 overall, including 8-0 in league play. … Head coach Blake Anderson is 16-12 in three seasons.