Aggies look to hold onto ball vs. Clemson

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Oct 16, 2004 by Jay Hinton Deseret Morning News

CLEMSON, S.C. -- The once small pebble called turnovers in the cleats of the Utah State football team is slowly reaching boulder size.

Through six games this year, the Aggies have 19 turnovers, just 11 shy of last year's mark and 10 fewer than their total in 2002.

It's pretty simple to deduce why the Aggies are just 9-20 in that time, and it's easy to see to Utah State coach Mick Dennehy.

"We've got to hang onto the ball. We've got to catch the ball," he said.

Last week, the Aggies turned the ball over six times in a frustrating 31-23 loss to North Texas.

"In final analysis, some of the little things that end up being reasons why you don't win, are the reasons why we didn't win," he said.

Only one time their last 20 games have the Aggies not turned the ball over at least once, and it was three weeks ago when they beat UNLV, 31-21.

While the Aggies have lost the ball with regularity they haven't been too successful in forcing turnovers defensively either. In their last 20 games, they have forced a total of 56 turnovers while turning it over 78 times.

Today, the Aggies face a team in Clemson that is in a similar situation. The game kicks off at 11 a.m. (MDT).

The Tigers (1-4, 1-3) have 15 turnovers while forcing just five.

"They've suffered through a lot of the same kinds of things we have," Dennehy said. "They haven't done a great job of taking care of the football."

As a result, both teams have struggled putting points on the scoreboard, and both teams have similar records. Granted, Clemson has played a much tougher schedule by losing to three ranked teams in the last three weeks.

"If we don't turn the ball over we're in pretty good shape," Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said.

The Tigers are allowing 31.2 points a game while scoring just 19.8. The Aggies are scoring 18.6 points per game, while giving up 36. In each of the Aggies four losses they have surrendered 31 points or more.

Total yards have suffered also. The Tigers are averaging just 293.2 yards per game, and the Aggies are averaging 305.7.

Defensively, the Tigers allow 421.8 yards per game to Utah State's 397.7.

The Aggies score only 19.8 percent of the time they have the ball. They have had 81 drives and along with the numerous turnovers, the Aggies have punted 33 times, and lost the ball five times on downs and seven times because the half ended.

IN NEED OF A WIN: A win over Clemson would equal Utah State's win total from last year (3) and it would also be their first win over a member of one of the big six conferences since beating Kansas State (then of the Big 8) in 1992.

TRACKING COX: Quarterback Travis Cox needs just 141 passing yards to pass Ron Lopez for seventh on USU's all-time passing list. Cox enters the game with 4.042.

Also, he had thrown at least one touchdown pass in seven straight games, and in 17 of his 18 career starts.

MORE ON COX: The senior signal caller has accounted for 10 of Utah State's 11 touchdowns (eight passing, two rushing). Freshman running back Chris Forbes scored the Aggies' other offensive touchdown.

On the negative side, three of Cox's 13 interceptions and one lost fumble have been returned for touchdowns.

LOGGING THE MILES: In five seasons under Dennehy, the Aggies, including today's game, have played in 15 different states, and will make it 16 later in the year when they play at Arkansas State.

E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com