Utah State just can't settle into these games with Division I-AA teams.

Oh, no, the Aggies didn't lose to Cal State Northridge Saturday night in Romney Stadium. They broke a three-game losing streak to I-AA teams with a 57-27 victory.That made USU 2-0 for first time since 1978, and it was the most points scored by the Aggies under second-year coach John L. Smith.

Running back Abu Wilson became the Big West Conference career rushing leader, playing a little over half the game, scoring three times and rushing 19 times for 139 yards. He has five TDs this season and tied the Aggie career rushing TD record.

And Aggie statistics were impressive (649 yards total offense to 229 for CSUN), with Patrick Mullins an unexpected starter at quarterback after spraining an ankle last week. Smith gave him the option of playing until the 11-minute mark of the third period, throwing 13-for-18 - 190 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Sauk (11-for-17-250, two Tds, 1 int.), and Matt Wells (1-1, 19) also played QB. Nakia Jenkins (112 yards, 1 TD) and Shawn Turner (100 yards, two Tds) each caught six passes, and Steve Smith made 122 yards and a touchdown on only four catches.

But it was a sloppy night for both teams, though Northridge might be excused some because it was its season opener. Each team hurt itself with two bad snaps, USU's first one leading to a Northridge TD, Northridge's first leading to a Micah Knorr field goal and USU's second leading to one of two missed PAT kicks. The Aggies also threw an interception, fumbled twice and had 11 penalties for 81 yards.

Also, in the first half, the Ags allowed Northridge 196 yards total offense and two scores.

"I got a little irate at halftime," Smith said. The Ags scored on their first three second-half possessions and held Northridge out until the first Aggie turnover of the game, a deflected-pass interception that was run back 38 yards to the Aggie 4, with a subsequent score to cut USU's lead to 44-19. "We slacked up," admitted Aggie sophomore defensive back Johndale Carty, who got an interception in the second half.

"We really didn't perform the way we wanted to," said Wilson, "but we'll take the win."

"It was a decent game," said Smith, "but not anywhere what we need to be to continue the roll." As for the kicking game, he said, "Sloppy, very sloppy."

Wilson, who left the game with Mullins in the third period, became the Big West career rushing yardage leader with 1:10 to go in the first half on a 4-yard run that gave him 88 for the game at that point and 3,326 for his career, two ahead of former leader Willard Harrell of Pacific (1972-74). He finished the game at 3,378. "I don't know if I'll have time to enjoy that until after the season said Wilson, noting the Ags now have a three-game road swing.

Wilson broke the longest run of his career at 11:01 of the first quarter for the first of his two touchdowns in the first half. He hopped on one foot going around the left side of the line, eluding a tackler, and then ran 61 yards, drawing away from the defense. His second TD of the half was a 1-yard dive, his 28th career rushing TD, leaving him one short of the Aggie record, and giving USU a 21-6 lead.

Wilson got the 29th TD - his third of the game - to tie the USU record at 11:23 of the third period with a 1-yard dive after his own runs of 27, 5, 10 and 6 yards set up the opportunity.

The Aggies' other first-half scores were a 15-yard pass play from Mullins to Turner on a fade and a 17-yarder from Mullins to Jenkins on the play after Wilson became the BWC leader with :51 left in the half. Turner added his second TD catch at 6:06 of the third period, a 40-yard post play with Sauk doing the throwing. Others scoring were a 1-yard run by Melvin Blue and a 30-yard pass play from Sauk to Smith.

*****

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Big West standings

Conf. Overall

Team W L W L

Boise St. 0 0 2 0

Utah St. 0 0 2 0

N. Texas 0 0 1 0

Nevada 0 0 0 1

Idaho 0 0 0 2

N. Mexico St. 0 0 0 2

Saturday's games

Utah St. 57, Northridge St. 27

Oregon 34, Nevada 30

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N. Texas 20, Illinois St. 14

Texas 41, New Mexico St. 7

San Diego St. 40, Idaho 21

Boise St. 33, Portland St. 22

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