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By Earl Scott
With a swarming defense and an efficient offense, the Utah State football team went over, around and through the University of Louisiana-Monroe for a 28-10 victory Saturday in front of 19,215 fans. USU spoiled the return of ULM coach and former USU Head Coach Charlie Weatherbie to Romney Stadium. "I wish it was under different circumstances; I couldn't help but reminisce coming through the canyon last night," Weatherbie said. "I have a lot of fond memories here." Weatherbie was left to hold on to his memories, visiting with 30 members of the 1993 USU team that Weatherbie coached to a Las Vegas Bowl victory who were at the game for a reunion. The Aggies (1-3, 1-0) were making their own, new memories. This was the first conference victory for the team in more than two years, as USU began play in the Sun Belt Conference after spending 2001 and 2002 as an independent. Carrying the offensive load for the Aggies, USU running back David Fiefia darted and weaved 25 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns. "He's been nicked up. He's played behind some good players, but he's always been ready to play and it's nice to see that dedication and hard work pay off," said USU Head Coach Mick Dennehy. "Every time we've needed a game from him, he's given us one; he's that type of player." After a Travis Cox fumble on the Aggie 42-yard line in the first quarter, USU got the ball back the next play when ULM quarterback Steven Jyles' pass was tipped by USU cornerback Reggie Wilson and intercepted by safety Terrance Washington at the USU 11-yard line. Mixing the run and pass, Cox moved USU 89 yards in 16 plays for the first Aggie touchdown. The drive saw Fiefia catch one pass and carry the ball nine times, including a 1-yard plunge for his first touchdown on the day. Fiefia rushed for 44 yards on the scoring drive, which helped keep the pressure off of Cox. "Being able to run the ball really helps our quarterback," Dennehy said. "The offensive line played well." ULM responded the next series with a 14-play, 75-yard drive. Jyles completed a 23-yard pass to Larry Davenport to the USU 20-yard line. After moving the ball to the USU 5, the defense stiffened, holding ULM to a field goal to bring the score to 7-3 to start the second quarter. Fiefia continued to run through the ULM defense, breaking loose for a 25-yard run to the ULM 5 yard line. The next play, Cox ran untouched for the second Aggie touchdown. Kicker Ben Chaet pushed the extra point wide to the left making the score 13-3. ULM then mounted a 16-play, 73-yard touchdown drive of its own, bringing the score to 13-10 with 6:10 to play in the half. Jyles completed a 5-yard pass to Glen Sins in the back of the end zone for ULM's final score of the day. USU came back and scored when Cox completed a 3-yard pass to Jason Stephens in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. USU made the two-point conversion on a Cox-to-Fiefia pass, making the first-half score 21-10. The USU defense took over the game from there. John Chick and Ronald Tupea combined for the first Aggie quarterback sack of the year to end the half. The defense finished with four sacks on the day. "I can't say enough about the defense," Dennehy said. "There were a lot of balls laid on the ground tonight because our guys took it upon themselves to play as physical as they possibly could." It was the lowest point total given up by the Aggie defense in 37 games, dating to a 34-7 win over North Texas in 1999. "We knew we would have to pursue their quarterback; he's the key to their game," said USU linebacker Rodney Wilson. "We sacked him a lot today; he hasn't been sacked that much. That was one of the keys today." USU added a touchdown in the fourth quarter when Ronald Tupea recovered a Jyles fumble on the ULM 2-yard line. Fiefia darted into the end zone on the next play for his second score of the game. Cox had a workman-like day, completing 15 of 22 passes for 121 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. The Aggie offense had 322 total yards. ULM running back Kevin Payne, the Sun Belt Conference leading rusher averaging 92.0 yards a game, was held to 41 yards by the Aggie defense. Former Aggie receiver Jason Deml had a 4-yard reception for UML in the first half. The Aggies next will play at 6 p.m. Saturday at New Mexico. The next home game will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 11 vs. Wyoming.
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