Utah State defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Kevin Clune was tabbed the Coordinator of the Week by "Athlon Sports," it was announced Monday by the publication.
Under Clune, the Aggies forced eight turnovers, including seven in the first half alone that led to 35 points, in last Friday night’s dominating 52-26 victory against then-No. 21 Boise State on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.
Clune was also selected as the CoachingSearch Defensive Coordinator of the Week on Sunday.
Prior to Friday’s game, the last Football Bowl Subdivision team to force eight turnovers in a single game was Arkansas State against Idaho during the 2014 campaign.
The eight turnovers by the Broncos were the most in a single game in the program’s FBS history (since 1996) and the most since committing 12 at Montana in 1989. Boise State entered the game having committed just six turnovers in its first six games.
Utah State, which snapped a 12-game losing streak to Boise State, forced those eight turnovers (five fumbles and three interceptions) in nine Boise State possessions between the first and second halves. According to ESPN, the seven turnovers by the Broncos were the most by an FBS team in a first half in 10 years.
The final turnover of the first half resulted in a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior SS Marwin Evans that gave Utah State a commanding 45-10 lead over the Broncos.
The Aggies tied the single-game school record with their eight forced turnovers against Boise State, joining the 1971 team against Idaho (seven interceptions, one fumble), the 1969 team against Idaho (seven interceptions, one fumble) and the 1961 team against New Mexico (seven fumbles, one interception).
Utah State also held the Broncos to just 34 yards rushing (1.1 yards per carry), a season low for an Aggie opponent, and 333 total yards. Furthermore, Boise State had negative 26 yards of total offense following the first quarter.
Coming into Friday’s game, the Broncos had committed only six turnovers all season long and defeated their prior four opponents by a combined 204-24. Freshman quarterback Brett Rypien, who had just one interception in 104 passes coming into the game, was intercepted three times and lost two fumbles.
Prior to taking on the Aggies, Boise State ranked 10th in the nation in scoring (40.7 ppg), 19th in total offense (482.3 ypg) and 44th in rushing (193.7).
The Aggies have now forced 18 turnovers in their last four games as they forced three at Washington, three against Colorado State, four at Fresno State and the eight against Boise State.
The Aggies (4-2, 3-0 Mountain West) return to action on Oct. 23, when they take on San Diego State (4-3, 3-0) at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, in the second of three-consecutive Friday night contests for Utah State. The game kicks off at 8:30 p.m. MT, and will be televised on ESPN2.