Still A Fourth-Quarter Team

The Utah State Aggies were a fourth-quarter football team.

It was just four weeks ago that the Aggies were a 2-5 program — having lost each of their games in the fourth quarter.

Then something happened. Since USU’s Nov. 6 game versus Hawaii, a new team has been stepping onto the gridiron.

And they’re still a fourth-quarter football team.

“Now we are winning” said running back Kerwynn Williams.

The Aggies have now won their last four games in the quarter that was once labeled as “cursed” by newspapers and fans alike in Logan. The Aggies have also clinched a bowl bid for the first time since 1997.

The most recent win came when the Aggies defeated Nevada last week, 21-17.

The Aggies were losing 14-17 in the third quarter when running back Robert Turbin caught a 34-yard pass for a touchdown to take the lead 21-17. The Aggies held the Wolf Pack scoreless in fourth quarter.

So what changed in the last four weeks?

Running back Williams thinks the attitude of the entire team has improved.

“I feel like we started to gain more confidence as the season went on,” Williams said. “We made the decision that we weren’t going to lose in the fourth anymore.”

Williams had 71 yards rushing and one touchdown against Nevada.

Another reason for the team’s recent success is new starting quarterback Adam Kennedy.

Kennedy has thrown for 740 yards and seven touchdowns in his last four games and has been a key factor in every win.

“I think he had done a great job managing the game and stepping up when he was called on to preform,” Williams said.

Kennedy replaced former starter Chuckie Keeton after Keeton was injured in the first half of the Hawaii game.

Not only has fourth-quarter dominance given the Aggies four straight wins, but it has also made them bowl eligible for the first time in 14 years. On Monday USU Director of Athletics Scott Barnes and Aggies’ football head coach Gary Anderson announced that they had accepted an invitation to play in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Williams said that being invited to a bowl game has brought back some respect to USU football.

“I do believe we are gaining a little more respect within the state,” Williams said.

Indeed.

“They have stopped making mistakes late in the game and have stepped up to play in the fourth,” said Andrew Herrin, a junior at USU. “They just look more confident and ready to win now.”

The Aggies look to maintain their fourth-quarter success when they face New Mexico State this Saturday.

(r.wabel)