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Albuquerque • Unlike many coaches, Utah State's Matt Wells doesn't mind emphasizing personal goals with his athletes, believing any individual success is going to help the team.

To that end then the Aggies can only hope linebacker Zach Vigil has a record-breaking day Saturday when USU (9-4) takes on UTEP (7-5) in the New Mexico Bowl.

Vigil has been the driving force behind a defense that is holding teams to just 20.8 points a game and 129.3 yards rushing a game.

Already named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and a second-team All-American by USA Today, Vigil needs just one tackle for loss to tie the Mountain West single-season record of 20.5 shared by Boise State's Demarcus Lawrence and CSU's Shaquil Barrett. He needs just 2.5 to tie USU's single-season record set by Jermaine Younger in 1993.

This season he has a team-leading 145 tackles, including 19.5 tackles for loss. Vigil is tied for first on the team with nine sacks and ranks second on the team with five quarterback hurries. He also has three pass breakups and one interception he returned 35 yards for a touchdown.

Wells has had nothing but praise for Vigil and his efforts on the field and in leading the team. He, like many, would like to see Vigil leave with the records.

"If he breaks a couple more records on the way out, it's awesome," Wells said. "But he doesn't need those two records for me to say, 'yeah, he's one of the best. There's no question he's one of the best to ever play here in my opinion. He doesn't need those two records to legitimize that."

As expected, Vigil downplayed his shot at the records by saying it was more important for the team to get the win.

"We want to go out with a bowl win," he said of the seniors.

But it's certainly feasible, and probably expected, that the two would go hand-in-hand.

The Miners are led by a strong run game with Aaron Jones rushing 217 times for 1,233 yards and 11 touchdowns.

While Jones will be the main focus, quarterback Jameill Showers can't be overlooked, Wells cautioned.

Showers is 146 of 262 passing for 1,732 yards and 12 touchdowns.

"He won seven games and he's done a good job leading them," Wells said. "When the throws have presented themselves, down int he red zone especially, he's able to give them some good balls. He's done a good job."

The Aggie defense is still smarting from its poor performance against Boise State, one in which Broncos' back Jay Ajayi rushed for 229 yards and five touchdowns.

They can't do anything about that 50-19 loss now, the Aggies can end the season on a good note with a strong defensive performance Saturday, Vigil said.

"We need to be more physical than we were against Boise State," he said. "We don't want it to end that way so hopefully we can go out there one last time and rally around each other and play well."

And if the records come in the process, that is a bonus, said Vigil and Wells.

"You ask the kid, all he's worried about is winning a bowl game," Wells said. "That's what's cool about him. He cares more about his teammates and our team success than he does his individual success." —

New Mexico Bowl

P USU (9-4) vs. UTEP (7-5)

Saturday, 12:25 p.m.

TV • ESPN