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Logan • Utah State coach Matt Wells expects another close game Saturday night, when the Aggies play Fresno State at Maverik Stadium.
Why not?
Utah State is 0-3 in the Mountain West Conference, after losses by a combined 25 points to Air Force (27-20), Boise State (21-10) and Colorado State (31-24).
The Aggies owned a 10-3 lead in the second quarter against the Falcons, trailed 7-3 at halftime against the 14th-ranked Broncos and squandered a 24-10 halftime lead over the Rams.
"I said in July I didn't think there was a team on this schedule we couldn't beat and a team that couldn't beat us," Wells said. "There is a lot of parity. … It's a dogfight."
Close games have been a characteristic of other Mountain West games, too.
Not counting West Division leader San Diego State's 17-3 win over Fresno State, four games last week were decided by 17 points.
"You have to find a way to win close games," Wells said. " We have not done that in three straight weeks. We haven't done it. … If I had all the answers, I would sprinkle that out there. [But] that's where we're at."
Former Aggie coaches now at Fresno
Six assistant coaches left Wells' staff after last season, including Mark Weber and Dave Ungerer, who took jobs at Fresno State.
Weber was the offensive line/assistant head coach for the Aggies. Ungerer was the running backs coach and special teams coordinator.
According to Wells, however, the fact Weber and Ungerer are familiar with the Aggies' tendencies and signals from the sideline doesn't change much.
"It's going to come down to the 22 guys on the field," he said. "… Maybe you do things on offense and defense to try and get away from those tendencies a little bit. But I also know this: It's going to come down to the kids executing."
Aggies won't change after their bye
Wells, who is from Sallisaw, Okla., was 12 years old in 1985, when his favorite college football team finished 11-1 behind the play of quarterback Jamelle Holieway.
When he was asked if Utah State made any major changes on offense during its bye week, Wells referenced the OU team that ran the wishbone and won the national championship.
"I've been watching tape of the '85 Sooners," he said. "… We're going with that."
Seriously, Wells said, "You aren't going to make major changes. … A coach isn't going to do that now unless there are major, major issues."
Obviously, Wells doesn't believe the Aggies have "major issues," other than closing out close games.
"There isn't a bigger fan of Utah State football than Matt Wells," he said. "I want to win, too."
Twitter: @sluhm —
Fresno State at Utah State
P Saturday, 8:30 p.m.
TV • CBS Sports Network