Utah State’s Chuckie Keeton started the game with a touchdown pass on the very first play. Unfortunately, it was to BYU’s linebacker, Kyle Van Noy. Credit Kyle Van Noy with a very athletic vertical leap allowing him to get a hand on the ball, secure it, and take it to the house.
A knee injury in a subsequent drive prevented Chuckie Keeton from redeeming himself. He did not return. He is questionable for next week’s game in which the Aggies play Boise State.
The real story of this game was the Taysom Hill and Mitch Mathews duo, which was clicking. Mitch Matthews caught the first touchdown of his career on a 30 yard grab. He followed it up by catching the second and third touchdowns of his career as well on plays of 6 and 43 yards.
Taysom threw the ball better today against an Aggie team that was dead set on stopping him from winning with his legs. Taysom Hill was 17 for 32 for 278 yards, only a 53% completion rate. However, he made up for his poor completion rate by tossing the three touchdown passes to Mitch Matthews and by not throwing an interception, though he did hand a touchdown to USU on a silver platter by fumbling on the BYU 15 yard line.
BYU takes a 3-2 record back home where they await Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech, and option team, is likely to struggle against BYU’s defense, which always plays extremely well against the option.
Utah State hopes to have Chuckie Keeton back next Friday against Boise State, another home game. If not, perhaps they can get Craig Harrison, their backup quarterback, a little more prepared.
Let’s all keep the injured Chuckie Keeton in our prayers.
Football Matters in Utah.