USU scrimmage highlights successful Aggie Football Fun Day

<strong>LOGAN—</strong> The Utah State University football team held its final scrimmage of fall camp Saturday as part of the Aggie Football Fun Day sponsored by Macey’s. The scrimmage involved situational drills and limited contact.

Though the scrimmage had the feel of a show for fans more than a football game, the Aggies did see the return of some starters that had been held of the previous two full-contact scrimmages. Running back Kerwynn Williams, receiver Matt Austin, and safety McKade Brady returned, and showed the fans why the are the starters at their respective positions.

Williams rushed nine times for 58 yards, while Austin hauled in four catches for 75 yards and a touchdown. Austin had back-to-back highlight reel touchdown catches, as his first one was ruled out of bounds (it wasn’t). The next pass went right back to Austin and he hauled it in, as he pulled it away from the defender.

“The first one was good. It was good, but they ruled it out,” Austin said. “But hey, I was glad they came back to it and I did it again.”

Brady also made his presence felt as he picked off Adam Kennedy, and also recorded a tackle for loss. As a whole, the defense recorded three picks on the day, and forced one fumble.

“Yeah, coach (Dave) Aranda and the whole defensive staff has been stressing turnovers,” “We’ve always had opportunities, we just haven’t capitalized on those opportunities. So we have been focusing on that and we did a good job of that today.”

One of the lingering questions of fall camp – and one the Aggies have been hoping to get an answer to for some time – is who will be the starting kicker for the Aggies. With consistent kicking, including makes from 47 and 52 yards, Nick Diaz may have finally pulled away in that competition.

“He (Nick Diaz) is our kicker. That’s the bottom line where it sits right now. Those kids came out today and overall, Nick has been the most consistent. All I can do with the kicker position right now is what I do with the whole football program, and that’s play the kid who is producing at the moment,” USU head coach Gary Andersen said. “Nick produced at the moment he had to today. He’ll go into that game and hopefully he can do what he was recruited to do. He’s been here for two years, so it’s time for him to step up and grow up and be a kicker.”

Senior quarterback Adam Kennedy also had best scrimmage in front of the fans. After his early interception, he rebounded to complete 10-of-18 passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore QB Chuckie Keeton passes for 118 yards and a touchdown, but he also tossed two interceptions on the day.

The Aggies will continue fall camp this week, before concluding Saturday, Aug. 25. The Aggies open the season on Thursday, Aug. 30, at home against Southern Utah.

“We’re a little bit different this week. We’re in camp another week before school starts, but we’re ready to shift gears a little bit. Monday will be completely devoted to Utah. We’ll have two practices, but go into our school mode,” Andersen said.

“We’ll meet in the morning, but then instead of going to school we’ll come out and have a walk-through. We’ll come back in the afternoon at 1:45 and go to our typical in-the-week practice. Then Tuesday we’ll go to Wisconsin, it won’t be a two-a-day. We’ll do a walk-through without the ball, then come back in the afternoon. Wednesday we’ll go right into Southern Utah.”

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