Turn out the lights

Conquering depth problems, Utah State made big plays in a big way for a 35-14 football victory over Hawaii at Aloha Stadium on Saturday night.

Kickoff was an hour earlier than usual. The suspense also ended early, when wideout Ronald Butler’s 44-yard option pass to wide-open running back LaJuan Hunt completed the scoring with 5:11 remaining in the third quarter.

The Aggies, who started a true freshman quarterback, improved to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in the Mountain West Conference.

The Warriors fell to 2-7 and 1-3, ensuring their fourth consecutive losing regular season. But the Warriors’ bowl chances — slim to nada — remain on life support. If they win their four remaining regular-season games, capture the West Division title, then win the MWC title game, and the stars are aligned with Jupiter …

"It was one of those games," said Scott Harding, a UH senior and co-captain. "They just beat us."

The Aggies arrived under-staffed, with their top three quarterbacks — Chuckie Keeton, Darell Garretson and Craig Harrison — out for the season with injuries. During warm-ups, head coach Matt Wells announced slotback JoJo Natson and cornerback Daniel Gray were suspended after violating team rules.

Kent Myers, a Texas-raised freshman from Rowlett (population 58,043), made his first start.

Nervous? "Not at all," Myers said. "I knew my defense was going to play elite defense. I had nothing to worry about."

The Aggies entered with a three-fold plan: 1) Establish the run, 2) hit quick bubble screens, and 3) find the crease in the zone on deep-post patterns.

"My line and my teammates encouraged me throughout the week," Myers said. "This was my chance. I knew I had the support from my fans and my teammates. That really helped me."

Myers completed his first 12 passes, including all 11 in the first half. His first misfire came with 8:03 to play in the third quarter when he over-shot Butler. Myers went 14-for-15 for 186 yards and three touchdowns.

"He threw really well," left tackle Kevin Whimpey said. "He threw really accurately. He was poised. I got bull-rushed. He stepped aside and threw a bomb for a touchdown. Those are veteran things."

Hunt, also a true freshman, rushed 33 times for 150 yards.

"We’re born ready," Hunt said of Utah State’s freshman class. "I was never nervous. This was my breakout game. I’m extremely blessed by that. I couldn’t have done it without God and my linemen."

It was 14-all after the Warriors’ most productive first quarter of the season. Ikaika Woolsey’s 1-yard scoring pass to fullback Justin Vele in the right flat tied it. The Aggies had taken a 14-7 lead on wideout Hunter Sharp’s two scoring catches — a 6-yarder to the right corner of the end zone, and a 70-yarder on a post route past a cover-3 defense.

UH safety Taz Stevenson admittedly jumped too early, missing a potential interception.

"It always comes down to three, four, five plays in a game," Stevenson said. "Whether we do good on other plays, those few plays are what really count."

Indeed, the momentum shifted in the second quarter when Woolsey fumbled on linebacker Zach Vigil’s sack. Safety Devin Centers scooped the football, then scooted 10 yards for a touchdown that gave the Aggies a 21-14 lead they would not relinquish.

"I tried to get the ball out," Woolsey said. "I didn’t get it out quick enough. I can’t take sacks like that. I can’t give up the ball, either. I have to eat it and get to the ground. It was a bad decision by me holding the ball too long."

Later, Butler raced through the three-deep zone for a 39-yard scoring play.

"We should have had a post player who’s deeper than everybody, and that didn’t happen," said UH defensive coordinator Kevin Clune, who was the Aggies’ linebackers coach for the past five seasons.

For the Warriors, even seemingly positive plays were sabotaged by mistakes. In the third quarter, Harding’s apparent punt return for a touchdown was nullified when Gaetano DeMattei ran into punter Jaron Bentrude punting out of the end zone.

"His leg came through and hit me," DeMattei said. "I thought it should have been running into the kicker, not roughing the kicker. It doesn’t matter. I still hit him."

The Aggies parlayed the second chance into a fifth touchdown.

Myers lateraled to Butler on the right side. With defenders approaching, Butler threw across the field to Hunt, who dashed toward the end zone.

"We practice it all the time," Butler said. "The defense ran what we expected. It worked perfectly."

UH defensive end Beau Yap said: "It’s just mental mistakes, like the trick play. We got totally zoned in the fake guy (Butler) on the other side of the field while somebody (Hunt) is running up the sideline. From our standpoint, it’s definitely mental. We’re playing hard. It’s the little things."

The penalties, the missed assignments …

"It seems like it’s a trend," Harding said. "The past four years have been frustrating. I feel we’ve been working toward something really big. … There are no excuses. For some reason, we can’t take ownership and get it done. It’s disappointing."