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Logan • Even in the moments immediately after Saturday's 31-17 loss at Washington, Utah State coach Matt Wells chuckled.
Asked if the Aggies' upcoming bye week comes at a good time, Wells said, "It's great timing … [But] I don't know any coach who ever says it's not a great time for a bye."
In Utah State's case, however, the truism might actually be fact.
The Aggies are 1-2 after consecutive losses to Utah (24-14) and Washington. They open Mountain West Conference play on Oct. 3 against Colorado State.
"It will come with reflection, starting with me as the head coach," Wells said, turning serious. "Am I giving our staff and am I giving our players a good enough chance to be successful? … What it's going to do is cause a lot of internal reflection on who we are."
Despite the losses to the Utes and Huskies, Utah State's top priority remains intact.
"The No. 1 goal for our program," Wells said, "is to compete for a Mountain West championship and our kids know that. … That has not been our focus so far. But it will become our focus. We'll be energized when we get back to work — the kids will — and we'll learn from this. To me, it's about how we move forward in the Mountain West."
Utah State's players sound ready for the challenge.
"I know we have it in us," said running back LaJuan Hunt. "We've just got to keep playing hard. We've got to keep up the juice for all four quarters — all 60 minutes — like coach says. Once we do that, we'll be a complete team and it'll turn out different than it did" against Utah and Washington.
Said free safety Devin Centers: "We've got Mountain West play to look forward to and our team's going to be ready. That's where we're at right now."
Utah State struggled offensively against Washington. It drove for only one touchdown. The Aggies' other scores came on a field goal following Hunter Sharp's 60-yard kickoff return and a 97-yard fumble return by freshman safety Jontrell Rocquemore.
The Aggies finished with 254 total yards, including only 83 on the ground. Hunt was their leading rusher. It took him 13 carries to gain 42 yards.
"Just inconsistent," Wells said. "You look at it and we don't get a good run game established. For whatever reason, it wasn't established and then you get behind and you kind of go away from it. But I don't think we did a good job of establishing the run up front. … It was hit-and-miss up on the front line."
In the third quarter, backup quarterback Damion Hobbs replaced Chuckie Keeton for a handful of snaps.
"Just to get a different guy running the ball," Wells said. "Just give Chuckie a breather and change things up a little bit."
Twitter:@sluhm —
Rest before Rams
• Utah State, now 1-2 after a 31-17 loss at Washington on Saturday, has a bye this week. The Aggies play Colorado State on Oct. 3.
• With 193 yards against Washington, Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton moved into second place on the school's career list with 8,233.
• Keeton hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since the second quarter against Utah. He remains tied for first on the USU all-time list with 60.