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Show StatesmanSpOrtS Friday, Dec. 3, 2010 Page 9 Football readies for season finale By TAVIN STUCK! staff writer DERRVIN SPEIGHT LEADS Utah State in rushing with 753 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Originally slated to be USU's third-string running back, Speight has filled in for injured starter Robet Turbin and backup Michael Smith. Speight led USU in rushing as a freshman in 2006, but injuries since then have hampered his production. TODD JONES photo Swervin' Derrvin saves best for last enough. "I was honestly just happy to get back in pads and travel with the team and play the little role that I did," Speight said. "I knew what I could We've all heard the phrase "good things do, it was just the situation we were in and I come to those who wait," but what about, "good understood that, so I was just patiently waiting." things come to those who work?" For senior Speight's patience paid off. After an offsearunning back Derrvin Speight, both statements son knee injury to star running back Robert are equally applicable, and after four seasons at Turbin and a season ending injury to Michael Utah State, the benefits he's reaped from that Smith, Speight became the starting running hard work and patience are starting to show. back again. "When we came in as coaches, Derrvin was "The way it turned out wasn't actually a good the third-string running back, but that didn't thing, the way Turbin and Michael Smith got faze him," offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin hurt," Speight said. "But that's football, so lucksaid. "He didn't quit and he's worked to get betily this season I got to be the starting running ter. He's been banged up and bruised but he back." never misses a practice." Speight's success though, has been anything In his final season as an Aggie, but lucky. The opportunity preSpeight is getting his chance sented itself to him, but the reason to shine, and he has used his "I knew what I he was able to take full advantage indomitable work ethic to make could do, it was of that opportunity was through his senior year an impressive one. hard work. just the situSpeight has rushed for 753 yards "He just grinds through this season to go along with eight ation we were everything," sophomore teamtouchdowns, both career highs. in and I under- mate Kerwynn Williams said. He's also set his career high for stood that, "Sometimes he's sore and everyTD's in a game and rushing yards so I was just thing, but he just grinds through it in a game, and has consistently and goes out there and plays well. been a leader and catalyst in the patiently waitHe runs the ball hard and he's a ing." Aggie offense. tough g uy." "It's kind of been both the Derrvin Speight, A s h a rd as he works on the opportunity to play and hard USU running back field, off the field Speight is a work. I've been successful just relaxed, laidback guy. Fellow runhaving the opportunity to showning back Williams is with Speight case my talents, to get in there on and off the field, and will be the and play running back; play football," Speight first to tell you what Derrvin's really like outside said. of football. Speight came to USU from MacArthur High "Derrvin's a funny guy," Williams said. "He's School in Irving, Texas, and after redshirting real chill. We'll go over to his house and we just his first year, came in and made a big impact on chill and he'll crack jokes. He's a real laidback the team. During his freshman season, Speight guy. played in 11 games, starting six, and led the That laid-back attitude disappears as soon team with three touchdowns and 504 rushing as Speight steps onto the field. As a senior and yards — the third-most ever for a USU freshman. integral part of the Aggie offense, he is one of After his stellar freshman season, Speight the unquestioned leaders of the team, but his was forced to sit out his entire sophomore year leadership shows up in different ways, mainly with a foot injury. Coming back as a junior, through example and effort rather than pep Derrvin was ready to play, but the team persontalks and speeches. nel had changed, and the once-starter found "Derrvin comes out, practices hard, practices himself as the third running back. That season at full speed and practices with a great attitude," he played in all 12 games and even started two, Baldwin said. "The younger running backs, look but his production took a big hit as he only had to him and say 'OK, if he does this on a daily 42 carries for 210 yards and two TD's. For Speight, just the chance to get back on I See SPEIGHT, page 10 the field again after a year of injury was reward By MARK ISRAELSEN staff writer From an outsider's perspective, the football matchup on Dec. 4 pitting No. 11 Boise State against Utah State might seem like a fight between David and Goliath, but USU defensive coordinator Bill Busch said he doesn't see it that way. "We don't peg it that way. We don't peg it as a one-in-amillion chance," Busch said. "It's just football. You can never play with wide eyes." Until last week's upset to then-No.19 Nevada, the Broncos were ranked fourth in the country. "Boise State is a tremendous team. Obviously they had a tough game last week," USU head coach Gary Anderson said. "We expect to come out and play at a very high level and compete at a high level." Although Busch said respect is due to a football program of Boise's caliber, his Aggie defense will have to play extremely well to stop an offense that averages 46 points per game. "What stirs them is their quarterback," Busch said. "(Kellen Moore) is almost flawless. BSU junior Moore is a finalist for this year's Manning Award, which is given to the best college quarterback in the nation. He currently has a passing efficiency rating of 188.0, which is two points higher than the NCAA record. USU junior linebacker and team tackles leader Bobby Wagner said if the Aggie defense can put pressure on Moore they will have a chance. "I want to make sure they know who we are, who I am," Wagner said. "We'll scheme from the inside out. They can be stopped. We need to play sound football." Busch said there is more to the Bronco offense than just the quarterback "They have every weapon you want," Busch said. "Very multiple." The plethora of potent offensive weapons Boise State has include a tandem of wide receivers in Titus Young and Austin Pettis. The pair has combined for 1,860 yards on the season and 17 touchdowns. USU senior cornerback Curtis Marsh said he has faced receivers on other teams with the same or better ability than Young and Pettis. "Just have to be aggressive and challenge their receivers," Marsh said. With Boise, always expect their best game." The Broncos have capable rushing ability, junior Doug Martin and senior Jeremy Avery being the premier backs. Martin has over 1,000 yards on the season and the backfield duo has combined for 21 touchdowns. USU defensive end Levi Koskan said the game will be a chance for the Aggies to show themselves. "The energy in the locker room is to prove ourselves and our potential to be greater than our record shows," Koskan said. "We'll have to raise our effort and energy to their degree or higher. "We'll have to match their meticulous execution; they don't mess up," Koskan said. Facing Boise State for the second time as Aggie head coach, Anderson will look to bring defensive pressure on the Broncos. Boise State has only allowed seven sacks all year, two of those coming at the hands of Nevada last week. "It is going to be huge. Another reason he doesn't get sacked is because they have a good offensive line and they protect him," Anderson said. "You are not going to get to Kellen Moore very often, and he is going to make good decisions and get rid of the football, which is one reason he doesn't get sacked ... it is always important to get good pressure with your defensive ends." Anderson also said Boise State has a tremendous team with a stadium that is a difficult place to play. "I don't think anyone has won there for the last 35 years. I don't know the exact date but it has been a while," Anderson said. "We are excited about the opportunity. It is the last time we will be together as a team. There is nothing after next Saturday for this football team, and we understand that." The game will begin at 1 p.m. on Dec. 4 and televised on CW30. — tavin.stucki@aggiemail. usu.edu Record: woman take down UVU continued from page 8 times that our bench actually extended the lead." Senior Alice Coddington had a career high 11 assists. This was the second time in as many games the 5-foot-10 guard from Canberra, Australia has improved her personal best in that category. "(Coddington) just captained her team very smartly," Pebley said. "She's been playing the way we need her to the last three games. Jenna Johnson also played smart and gave a lot of leadership and composure." The Aggies used that leadership to their advantage and took a commanding 15-point lead at halftime, 43-28. UVU would only come back to within 10 during the final minute of play. Wolverine head coach Cathy Nixon said her team dug themselves into too big of a hole. "We really do some great things when we're all clicking and all focusing on the process," Nixon said. "I think we are a pretty good basketball team when we are motivated but we are not good enough to turn it on and off when we want. If we compete for all 40 minutes we will be successful." The win is Utah State's third straight, all corning against instate rivals and two of those victories coming on the road. "It takes confidence to win on the road and I think those last two wins gave us that," Pebley said. "It definitely gives us confidence to have won two of the last three on road. Most definitely." Pebley expects it will be much easier going to play Northern Arizona after the wins than it would be coming off of a loss. "NAU very good team," Pebley said. We have to play well to beat them on their court." The game will be played Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. MST in Flagstaff, Arizona. — tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu Ta 55 East 2000 North North Logan 755-9997 COMPLETE CAR CARE www.tunex.corn ff PACK H EAT WITH CACHE FIREARMS CACHE VALLEYS ONLY DEDICATED FIREARMS STORE WE DO IT ALL! 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