facebook-pixel

Utah State University fans can expect scoring barrage when Colorado State comes to town

Mountain West Conference homecoming game features Aggies’ No. 6 nationally ranked offense vs. No. 8 Rams

(Hayne Palmour IV | The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP file) Utah State quarterback Jordan Love throws a pass during the first quarter against San Diego State in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in San Diego.

Memo to the Utah State game operations staff: Make sure you have a surge protector handy for the scoreboard at Merlin Olsen Field on hand Saturday. Odds are, it’s going to see a lot of use.

The sixth-best offense in the nation will meet the eighth-best offense in the nation Saturday at Maverik Stadium when the Aggies hosts Colorado State for homecoming. USU is averaging 562.7 yards per game, while the Rams come in with an average of 552.3

“The defenses have done some good things at times, but the offenses will have more body blows and more haymakers than the defense has had by the numbers. And that would be on both sides,” Aggies coach Gary Andersen said. “So, away we go. We'll sit down and see what happens this Saturday."

While both teams know how to light up the scoreboard, they’ve done so with disparate degrees of success.

USU (2-1, 1-0) bit off a sizable victory last weekend when it took down well-regarded San Diego State, 23-17, on the road in both teams’ conference opener. That was the Aggies’ lowest score this season, in part because it didn’t include a single touchdown from Heisman-trophy-hyped quarterback Jordan Love. Love, a junior, has connected with a receiver in the end zone six times this year and averages 367 yards per game, the fifth-best average in the country. His favorite target continues to be wide receiver Siaosi Mariner, a Utah graduate transfer whose 88.3 yards per game ranks 29th nationally and second in the Mountain West.

With safety Shaq Bonds scoring on a pick-6, running back Jaylen Warren adding a score on an 11-yard scamper and kicker Dominik Eberle added 11 total points, the Aggies found other ways to score, however. Now, barring any major upsets or unexpected performances by opponents, the Aggies could have a straight path to their first conference title if they can dispatch Fresno State on the road on Nov. 9 and Boise State at home on Nov. 23.

Colorado State, meanwhile, is 1-3 and searching for more stable ground as it begins Mountain West Conference play.

“I feel like they’re on the ropes to either have a great season or let it all slide down hill,” Mariner said. “But it’s definitely going to be a matchup for us, so I’m excited to go into this one."

Though Rams haven’t haven’t been held to fewer than 31 points this season, the matchup might not be as potent as it appears on paper. That’s because CSU could be without two of its most prodigious scorers. Running back Marvin Kinsey Jr. and wide receiver Warren Jackson were injured in CSU’s 41-35 loss to Toledo and are considered doubtful against USU.

Kinsey had chewed up at least 180 yards in each of his last three games, including at least one play of 74 yards of more per outing in that span. The 6-foot-1, 206-pounder turned in a 2460-yard, two-touchdown performance against Toledo despite playing with a separated shoulder that eventually sent him to the sideline.

Jackson turned in a career-high 12 catches for 132 yards against Toledo before leaving late with concussion symptoms. The biggest blow for the Rams is that he appeared to be a favorite target of quarterback Patrick O’Brien, who was making his starting debut for the team after Collin Hill tore his ACL for the third time.

O’Brien will likely have to turn to Auburn transfer Nate Craig-Myers as his main weapon at receiver Saturday. Marcus McElroy will likely be called upon if Kinsey is out. Defensive linemen Ellison Hubbard and Toby McBride are also doubtful.

CSU coach Mike Bobo said he expects whatever offense he puts on the field to be able to put the bulbs in the scoreboard to the test.

“That’s the way we’re going to approach things,” Bobo said. “We just lost our quarterback the week before, and it’s next man up. We didn’t change our expectation or our standard of how we expect to move the ball on offense, and that’s not going to change this week.”

One thing that could help the defenses contain these high-octane offenses is rain, which is predicted for the area. If that’s the case, the USU game staff should still seek out that surge protector, as lightning could also be present.

COLORADO STATE AT UTAH STATE

At Maverik Stadium, Logan

Kickoff » Saturday, 5:30 p.m. MT

TV » CBS Sports Network

Radio » 1280 AM, 97.5 FM

Records » USU 2-1, 1-0; CSU 1-3, 0-0

All-time series » CSU leads 39-34-2

Last meeting » USU 29, CSU 24 (Nov. 17, 2018)

About USU » The Aggies have won two straight after losing their opener to Wake Forest. … After its homecoming game against CSU, USU will travel to play No. 4 LSU. … Against SDSU, Aggies QB Jordan Love completed 30 of 47 passes for 293 yards but did not have a touchdown. … In 2018, USU scored at least 40 points in all six games, and won each game by an average margin of 38.2 points.

About CSU » The Rams will open Mountain West play on the road after losing their past two contests. … CSU finished tied for 11th in conference play in 2018. … At home vs. Toledo, backup QB Patrick O’Brien, a transfer from Nebraska, threw for 405 yards and a TD on 32-of-52 passing. … Neither team has had a 300-yard passer in the last 11 meetings.