Utah State's Diondre Borel runs out of the grasp of a Fresno State defender Chris Carter during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Fresno, Calif. on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/The Fresno Bee, Mark Crosse) (The Associated Press)

In future seasons, if Utah State is winning close football games by the bushel, perhaps the Aggies can look back fondly on the experience of this year.

But for now, the experience is gut-wrenching.

Time and again, USU finds itself in close games against good teams. Time and again, the Aggies haven't been able to make the plays necessary to win. Nevada, Texas A&M, New Mexico State ... the list is becoming a long one.

On Saturday, Fresno State added itself to the list by beating USU 31-27. Utah State had a lead at halftime, had thrashed the Bulldogs for 27 first-half points, only to see its offense dry up in the second half, and to see Ryan Mathews run loose down the stretch.

"There are only so

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many smoke and mirrors," Aggies coach Gary Andersen said. "You win football games in the front seven on both sides. Those are the facts and that is my belief as a football team. Against a Pat Hill team, you have to be able to stop the run late in the football game because they keep pounding you."

The formula's been the same in every defeat. Play well early on offense, fizzle late. Play exceptionally well defensively, wear down late, especially in the trenches. Much of that has to do with the lack of depth, and that's something that can only be cured by another year of recruiting.

"It comes down to the play of the offensive and defensive lines," Andersen said. "You have to win the line of scrimmage in order

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to win football games. On the defensive side, you have to stop the run. You can't wear down as the game goes on in the run game."

 

The defense

While the front four have struggled down the stretch stopping the run, they have played well overall. The linebackers, led by Bobby Wagner , have been good, but the secondary, especially in conference play, has been superb.

James Brindley and Kejon Murphy are all-WAC candidates. Chris Randle , Rajric Coleman and Curtis Marsh have been very good as well. Utah State leads the league in pass defense.

"Our strength defensively is man coverage," Andersen said. "The kids have done a tremendous job playing on the back end. We just have to get a little imaginative in stopping the run."

tjones@sltrib.com

Utah State at Hawaii

Saturday, 8 p.m.