Utah State football was blown out again. Is there reason for hope or none at all?

UNLV wide receiver Ricky White III (11) runs downfield as Utah State safety Ike Larsen (6) defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Logan, Utah. | Eli Lucero

Another game, the same story for Utah State football.

Or was it?

Utah State lost to UNLV at home Friday night, 50-34.

The Aggies trailed 41-7 at halftime before rallying in the second half to make the score look somewhat respectable.

Now 1-5 on the year and 0-2 in Mountain West Conference play, Utah State is an inconsistent team that has shown flashes of good play, though those flashes overwhelmingly have been overshadowed by a porous defense, a mistake-prone offense and largely uncomplimentary football.

“That is just where we are at right now,” interim head coach Nate Dreiling said.

Right now being the key phrase.

There is still — somehow — hope in Logan. Measured hope. Maybe even faint hope. But hope nonetheless.

Hope that was buoyed by the Aggies’ performance against UNLV.

“We’re so much better than how we’re playing,” Dreiling said. “We do silly things to stop ourselves on offense — stupid turnovers, unsportsmanlike conducts, defense not getting lined up because we’re not focused.

“Then in the second half, you see the team that we teach with love, integrity and toughness, and they go out there and perform and beat the heck out of a team that has a legit chance to go to the College Football Playoff.”

Through two quarters Friday night, Utah State looked like an awful football team, and awful may be too kind.

Beginning with the opening offensive series of the game for UNLV, Utah State’s defense couldn’t stop anyone or anything. Barely a minute into the game the Rebels led 7-0. That lead that ballooned to 14-0 by the midway mark in the quarter, and then in the second quarter things really fell…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/utah-state-football-blown-again-070115867.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2024-10-12 07:01:15

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.