RUSTON ? It's reached the point of the season where Louisiana Tech is beginning to see some of its goals within its grasp.
With a 4-3 overall record and 3-1 mark in the Western Athletic Conference, the Bulldogs are moving close to becoming bowl eligible ? six wins will do it ? and remaining in the hunt for the league title.
"We're coming down the stretch," senior quarterback Matt Kubik said. "The end of the season is almost here and some of those things are starting to develop. But we can't look too far ahead."
Which makes today's WAC game against first-year member Utah State (2-5, 1-3) a critical hurdle in Tech's drive to postseason play.
Although the Aggies are in seventh place in the WAC standings, today's game at Romney Stadium presents a stern challenge for the Bulldogs.
"Of course going to a bowl and winning the conference were our goals to start the season, but we have to look at these games one at a time," senior center Marcus Stewart said. "If we don't show respect, you can get beat. I've watched the film of Utah State and they're a real good team. They do some things that give you fits."
The Aggies are a team that has played well at home and the weather conditions ? a high in the low 40s with rain forecasted ? will be in their favor.
Utah State has beaten UNLV and San Jose State at home and last week, after a rough start against Alabama, played well in the final three quarters of a 35-3 loss.
"We had a meeting Sunday and Coach (Jack) Bicknell let us know the importance of this game and the importance of this week," senior safety Alton Bryant said. "We know that and we know we haven't won a game on the road (this year)."
Utah State enters the game on a three-game losing streak, but those losses have come to WAC leaders Fresno State and Boise State, and undefeated Alabama.
Bicknell, the Bulldogs' head man, is happy about his team's two-game roll and where it's positioned, but his vision goes no farther than Logan, Utah. Earlier in the season he felt his team started looking ahead prior to the Nevada game and the Bulldogs returned home from Reno a loser.
"We've made an early step, a huge step, but if we don't take the next step it's not going to matter," Bicknell said.
Bicknell sees Utah State in the same light as San Jose State ? bad record, but not a bad team. In the last two weeks, the Aggies' offense, which struggled early, has produced its two best yardage totals with 295 against Boise State and 309 against Alabama.
They also have two of the top playmakers in the WAC in receivers Kevin Johnson and Tony Pennyman, who are also dangerous in the return game.
The Aggies also have a dual-threat quarterback in Leon Jackson, who has thrown for 1,145 yards and rushed for 255. He has thrown for eight touchdowns and run for one.
"We've played quarterbacks that could run," Bryant said. "(Florida quarterback) Chris Leak could run. The coaches will give us a scheme to stop it. We've just got to execute."
Utah State, under the direction of first-year coach Brent Guy, is also one of the youngest in the country. The Aggies have played 20 freshmen at various times this season, including eight who have started.
"I really feel good about where we are right now with us heading into the rest of our WAC schedule," Guy said. "This is a big game for us and we need to win this game at home. Our battle cry is 'A November to Remember.' "
With a 4-3 overall record and 3-1 mark in the Western Athletic Conference, the Bulldogs are moving close to becoming bowl eligible ? six wins will do it ? and remaining in the hunt for the league title.
"We're coming down the stretch," senior quarterback Matt Kubik said. "The end of the season is almost here and some of those things are starting to develop. But we can't look too far ahead."
Which makes today's WAC game against first-year member Utah State (2-5, 1-3) a critical hurdle in Tech's drive to postseason play.
Although the Aggies are in seventh place in the WAC standings, today's game at Romney Stadium presents a stern challenge for the Bulldogs.
"Of course going to a bowl and winning the conference were our goals to start the season, but we have to look at these games one at a time," senior center Marcus Stewart said. "If we don't show respect, you can get beat. I've watched the film of Utah State and they're a real good team. They do some things that give you fits."
The Aggies are a team that has played well at home and the weather conditions ? a high in the low 40s with rain forecasted ? will be in their favor.
Utah State has beaten UNLV and San Jose State at home and last week, after a rough start against Alabama, played well in the final three quarters of a 35-3 loss.
"We had a meeting Sunday and Coach (Jack) Bicknell let us know the importance of this game and the importance of this week," senior safety Alton Bryant said. "We know that and we know we haven't won a game on the road (this year)."
Utah State enters the game on a three-game losing streak, but those losses have come to WAC leaders Fresno State and Boise State, and undefeated Alabama.
Bicknell, the Bulldogs' head man, is happy about his team's two-game roll and where it's positioned, but his vision goes no farther than Logan, Utah. Earlier in the season he felt his team started looking ahead prior to the Nevada game and the Bulldogs returned home from Reno a loser.
"We've made an early step, a huge step, but if we don't take the next step it's not going to matter," Bicknell said.
Bicknell sees Utah State in the same light as San Jose State ? bad record, but not a bad team. In the last two weeks, the Aggies' offense, which struggled early, has produced its two best yardage totals with 295 against Boise State and 309 against Alabama.
They also have two of the top playmakers in the WAC in receivers Kevin Johnson and Tony Pennyman, who are also dangerous in the return game.
The Aggies also have a dual-threat quarterback in Leon Jackson, who has thrown for 1,145 yards and rushed for 255. He has thrown for eight touchdowns and run for one.
"We've played quarterbacks that could run," Bryant said. "(Florida quarterback) Chris Leak could run. The coaches will give us a scheme to stop it. We've just got to execute."
Utah State, under the direction of first-year coach Brent Guy, is also one of the youngest in the country. The Aggies have played 20 freshmen at various times this season, including eight who have started.
"I really feel good about where we are right now with us heading into the rest of our WAC schedule," Guy said. "This is a big game for us and we need to win this game at home. Our battle cry is 'A November to Remember.' "
