Aggies Host Mountain West-Foe Colorado State in Homecoming Game Saturday
By Utah State Athletics |
COLORADO STATE (1-3 0-0 MW) vs. UTAH STATE (2-1, 1-0 MW)
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 • 5:30 p.m. (MT) • Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)
GAME 4 INFORMATION
TV: CBS SPORTS NETWORK
• Play-by-Play: Carter Blackburn
• Analyst: Aaron Taylor
• Reporter: Jenny Dell
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 269/753HD
• DISH: Ch. 158
• DirecTV: Ch. 221
RADIO: AGGIE SPORTS NETWORK
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard
• Analyst: Kevin White
• Online: 1280thezone.com / Tunein.com
• National: Internet 985
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State is looking to start its season with a 3-1 record for the second-straight year and for just the fourth time in the last 41 seasons. USU is also looking to go 2-0 in Mountain West play for the fourth time in its seven years in the conference, joining the 2013, 2015 and 2018 teams.
• Utah State is 31-18 (.633) all-time in the Mountain West, including a 17-7 (.708) home record, and has won 42 of its last 60 (.700) league games dating back to 2011. Overall, USU is 10-2 (.833) in its last 12 Mountain West games.
• Utah State has won each of its last eight home games inside Maverik Stadium, including five-straight Mountain West games, and is 36-9 (.800) in its last 45 home games overall. In fact, USU has won each of its last eight home games by double digits. All-time, Utah State is 148-105 (.585) in Maverik Stadium.
• Utah State has scored at least 60 points in five of its last seven home games, including each of its last three. USU has also scored at least 38 points in each of its last eight home games.
• Utah State head coach Gary Andersen is 17-7 (.708) inside Maverik Stadium, including winning each of his last nine home games. In conference games, USU is 8-6 (.571) at home under Andersen, including winning each of its last five league home games.
• Utah State is 18-4 (.818) in its last 22 games under Andersen, which includes a 9-0 home record, and those four losses are by a combined nine points. In league play, USU has won 12-straight conference games under Andersen.
• Utah State has scored 20-or-more points in 20 straight games, which is a school record, and the third-longest active streak in the nation behind Oklahoma (44) and Ohio State (31), and tied with UCF (19).
• Utah State is among the top-40 teams in the nation in 13 statistical categories, including ranking fifth in passing offense (367.0 yards per game), sixth in total offense (562.7 yards per game), seventh in sacks allowed (0.67 per game), 14th in third down conversions (52.2 percent), 22nd in scoring (40.0 points per game) and 30th in red zone defense (72.7 percent).
UTAH STATE HOSTS COLORADO STATE IN HOMECOMING GAME
• Utah State (2-1, 1-0 MW) hosts Mountain West-foe Colorado State (1-3, 0-0 MW) in its annual Homecoming game on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 5:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD), DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221) with Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst) and Jenny Dell (reporter) on the call. Live audio of the game is available on www.UtahStateAggies.com.
• Utah State is 54-32-2 (.625) all-time in Homecoming games, which includes an 8-5-1 record against Colorado State. In fact, CSU is USU's most played Homecoming opponent, ahead of both BYU (7) and Utah (7).
• Utah State has won 19 of its last 30 games played during the month of September and is 3-8 all-time in known games played on Sept. 28.
UTAH STATE RECEIVING VOTES IN COACHES POLL
• For the second time this season, Utah State is receiving votes in the coaches poll as it garnered nine votes this week to rank tied for 35th in the nation, along with Minnesota. USU began the season by receiving 32 votes in the coaches poll and eight votes in The Associated Press poll, to rank 35th and 37th, respectively.
A LOOK AT UTAH STATE
• Utah State is 2-1 on the season following its 23-17 Mountain West road win at San Diego State last weekend. USU began the year with a 38-35 loss at Wake Forest and then posted a 62-7 home win against Stony Brook. Offensively, USU is led by junior QB Jordan Love, who is 88-of-129 (.682) passing for 1,003 yards (334.3 ypg) with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Junior RB Jaylen Warren leads the team in rushing with 320 yards on 45 carries (7.1 ypc/106.7 ypg) with four touchdowns, and senior graduate transfer WR Siaosi Mariner has a team-best 20 receptions for 265 yards (13.2 ypr/88.3 ypg) and two touchdowns. Defensively, junior LB David Woodward leads the team with 41 tackles, which includes 3.5 tackles for loss, while senior CB DJ Williams has 22 tackles. As a team, USU is averaging 40.0 points and 562.7 yards of total offense (367.0 passing, 195.7 rushing), and allowing 20.7 points and 404.7 yards (279.0 passing, 125.7 rushing).
UTAH STATE INSIDE MAVERIK STADIUM
• Utah State was unstoppable at home in 2018 as it posted double-digit wins and scored at least 40 points in all six games, and won each game by an average margin of 38.2 points (59.5-21.3) as it out-scored its opponents 357-128. In fact, USU scored 50-plus points five times and 60-plus points four times at home last season. During its six home games in 2018, USU averaged 59.5 points and 608.0 yards of total offense (370.3 passing, 237.7 rushing), while allowing 21.3 points and 345.2 yards of total offense (201.3 passing, 143.8 rushing).
• During its current eight-game home winning streak, Utah State has outscored its opponents 457-135 (57.1-16.9).
• With a win against Colorado State, Utah State will tie the 1910-12 and 1934-36 teams for the fifth-longest home winning streak in school history.
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 158-180-8 (.468) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 39-26-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 34-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, a 17-7 record vs. UNLV, an 18-20-1 record vs. San José State, a 12-17-1 record vs. Fresno State, a 12-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 10-6 record vs. Hawai`i, a 6-18 record vs. Nevada, a 5-18 record vs. Boise State, a 3-4 record vs. Air Force, and a 2-12 record vs. San Diego State.
• Utah State is in its seventh year as a member of the Mountain West in 2019 and has been a Division I-A/Bowl Championship Series football playing school in each of its 122 seasons of competition. USU joined the Mountain States/Skyline Conference in 1938 until 1961. USU then played as a football independent from 1962-77 when the Aggies became members of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association in 1978. The PCAA changed its name to the Big West Conference in 1988. Following the 2000 season, when the Big West no longer sponsored football, USU spent two years as an independent (2001-02) and two years in the Sun Belt Conference (2003-04), before joining the Western Athletic Conference for eight seasons from 2005-12.
UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 31 of its last 37 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 1-1 record this year, and 34 of its last 37 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game, including a 1-0 record this year. USU has also won 50 of its last 54 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 1-1 record this season.
• Utah State has had a 100-yard rusher in 10 of its last 15 games and in 15 of its last 22 contests overall. Between the 2014 and 2016 seasons, USU had a total of nine 100-yard rushers over a 39-game span.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State head coach Gary Andersen ranks sixth all-time in school history with his 28 wins, while his .528 winning percentage (28-25) ranks as the eighth-best. Andersen is also one of just four head coaches in school history to lead the Aggies to multiple bowl games.
SCOUTING COLORADO STATE
• Colorado State is 1-3 on the season following its 41-35 home loss to Toledo last weekend. The Rams began the year with a 52-31 loss to Colorado, followed by a 38-13 home win against Western Illinois and a 55-34 loss at Arkansas. CSU is led by junior QB Patrick O'Brien, who is 40-of-63 (.635) passing for 540 yards (180.0 ypg) with two touchdowns and one interception. Senior RB Marvin Kinsey Jr. leads the team in rushing with 556 yards on 68 carries (8.2 ypc/139.0 ypg) with three touchdowns, and junior WR Warren Jackson has caught 31 passes for 327 yards (10.5 ypr/81.8 ypg) with three touchdowns. Defensively, senior S Jamal Hicks has a team-best 35 tackles, while sophomore LB Dequan Jackson has 26 tackles. As a team, Colorado State is averaging 34.5 points and 552.2 yards of total offense per game (345.0 passing, 207.2 rushing), and allowing 40.2 points and 439.2 yards of total offense (199.8 passing, 239.5 rushing). Colorado State returns 12 starters (O-5, D-7) and 37 lettermen (O-16, D-19, S-2) from last year's team that went 3-9 overall and 2-6 in Mountain West play to finish fifth in the Mountain Division. The Rams are coached by Mike Bobo, who is 25-30 in his fifth season as a collegiate head coach.
AGGIES AND RAMS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State is 34-39-2 all-time against Colorado State, including an 18-20-1 home record. USU won the last meeting between the two teams with a 29-24 win in Fort Collins last year, while CSU won the last time the two teams played in Logan with a 27-14 win in 2017. Overall, USU has won four of the last seven games played in the series. The first-ever game played between the two teams was in 1902 with CSU winning in Logan, 24-5.
AGGIES AND RAMS HAVE STORIED HISTORY
• Utah State and Colorado State have spent 53 years as league foes and have a storied history dating back to the early 1900s as both schools were members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) from 1916-37 and members of the Mountain States/Skyline Conference from 1938-61. CSU then was a charter member of the Mountain West in 1999, while USU joined the conference in 2013. As members of the RMAC, USU won league championships in 1921 and 1936, and later won league titles in the Mountain States/Skyline Conference in 1946, 1960 and 1961. CSU won team championships in the RMAC in 1915, 1916, 1919, 1920, 1925, 1927, 1933 and 1934, and in the Mountain States Conference in 1955. Overall, the Aggies and Rams faced each other in every season from 1911-79, except in 1912, 1918, 1921, 1943-44 (war), and 1968, even after CSU joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1968. After 1979, the two teams didn't play again until 1994.
AGGIES vs. RAMS SERIES THIRD-MOST PLAYED IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and Colorado State will be meeting for the 76th time in series history this weekend in what is the third-most played rivalry in school history. USU's most played rivalry is Utah (112), followed by Brigham Young (88), Colorado State (75) and Wyoming (69).
ANDERSEN VERSUS COLORADO STATE
• Gary Andersen is 1-2 all-time against Colorado State as a head coach, which includes a 1-1 record at Utah State.
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE STATE OF COLORADO
• Utah State is a combined 72-77-6 (.484) against teams from the state of Colorado, with a 34-39-2 mark versus Colorado State, a 13-19-3 ledger against Denver, a 6-11-1 record against Colorado, a 7-0 mark versus Western State, a 5-4 record against Colorado Mines, a 3-0 record versus Colorado College, a 1-0 mark versus Regis, and a 3-4 record against Air Force.
PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND COLORADO STATE
• There are 10 connections between Utah State and Colorado State players. USU senior DT Devon Anderson and CSU junior OL Keith Williams both attended Overlea HS in Baltimore, Md. USU senior PK Dominik Eberle (Nuremberg) and CSU senior DL Jan-Phillip Bombek (Hamburg) are both from Germany. USU senior CB Cameron Haney and CSU senior CB Marshaun Cameron both attended Cathedral HS in Los Angeles, Calif. USU senior CB DJ Williams and CSU junior OL Keith Williams both attended Independence (Kan.) CC. USU junior CB Terin Adams and CSU senior DE Jalen Bates are both graduate transfers from Arizona State.
AGGIES FROM COLORADO
• Utah State has two players on its roster from Colorado in redshirt freshman LB Ethan Vowles (Arvada/Ralston Valley HS) and freshman OL Logan Wood (Grand Junction/Fruita Monument HS).
ON THIS DATE IN AGGIE FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Utah State posted a 38-0 home win against Wichita State on Sept. 28, 1968. Altie Taylor got the Aggies on the board early as he returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. John Pappas, who was 7-of-9 passing in the game for 134 yards, had touchdown tosses to Mike O'Shea and Frank Nunn. Pappas also scored on a 1-yard run, as did George Tribble. O'Shea caught six passes on the day for 114 yards, while Tribble gained 97 yards on 10 carries, Taylor had 90 yards on 20 carries and Nunn recorded 88 yards on 15 carries. Dana Schulz led the Aggies' defense with 14 tackles. USU finished the game with 540 yards of total offense, including 382 on the ground, as compared to just 96 total yards for the Shockers.
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND COLORADO STATE
The following are series notables between Utah State and Colorado State dating back to 1994 and encompassing the last 11 meetings.
• In the last 11 meetings, Utah State is 4-2 when leading at the half, while Colorado State is 3-0. USU is also 4-2 when scoring first, while CSU is 5-0. USU has scored first and led at the half in five of the last eight games.
• Utah State has rushed for more yards in five of the last eight meetings and is 4-4 in those games. USU has also had more yards of offense in four of the last eight games.
• The team that has had more first downs has lost six of the last 10 games.
• The winning team had not committed a turnover in five straight games before last season, and the team that has fewer turnovers has won seven of the last 10 games.
• Colorado State had 506 yards of total offense last season and 509 yards the year before, marking the only times in the last 11 meetings that either team had 500 yards of total offense.
• Neither team has had a 300-yard passer in the last 11 meetings, while CSU has had a 100-yard rusher five times and a 100-yard receiver five times. USU has had a 100-yard rusher six times and a 100-yard receiver twice in the last 11 meetings.
• Utah State has had a 100-yard rusher in seven of the last 10 games played in the series, with the only exceptions being in the 2014, 2017 and 2018 meetings.
• The winning team has scored at least 30 points in seven of the last 11 meetings, while there have been 29 games where the winning team has scored less than 20 points. There has also been 24 shutouts in series history, 15 by USU's defense and nine by CSU's defense.
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State individual and team statistical performances against Colorado State over the years.
• Aaron Wade returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown in 2018, which is tied for the fifth-longest all-time in school history.
• Louie Giammona rushed for 242 yards against CSU in 1975, which is tied for the eighth-most all-time in school history.
• Kerwynn Williams rushed for 205 yards against CSU in 2012, which is tied for the 24th-most all-time in school history.
• Fred Allen had an 82-yard rush against CSU in 1975, which is tied for the 10th-longest in school history.
• Roy Shivers hit Dave Clark on an 89-yard pass against CSU in 1965, which is tied for the fourth-longest pass play in school history.
• Earsell Mackbee hit Grant Martinsen on an 81-yard pass against CSU in 1964, which is tied for the 13th-longest pass play in school history.
• Rick Parros had a 94-yard kickoff return against CSU in 1978, which is tied for the 11th-longest in school history.
• Micah Knorr made a 54-yard field goal against CSU in 1994, which is tied for the sixth-longest in school history.
• Steve Steinke made a 52-yard field goal against CSU in 1979, which is tied for the 10th-longest in school history.
• Utah State limited Colorado State to 90 yards of total offense (seventh-fewest in school history) in 1961 in a 49-3 win in Fort Collins, while rushing for 389 yards, the most in series history by a USU team and 12th-most in school history.
• Utah State held Colorado State to 115 yards of total offense in 1960, tied for the 14th-fewest in school history.
• Utah State held Colorado State to a school-record one passing yard in 1976.
• Utah State held Colorado State to a school-record zero completions and three pass attempts in 1949.
• Utah State held Colorado State to 15 passing yards in 1961 and 18 passing yards in 1963, the fifth- and eighth-fewest in school history, respectively.
• Utah State has had 12 100-yard rushers and nine 100-yard receivers all-time against Colorado State, the fourth- and sixth-most against any opponent in school history, respectively.
• Utah State has never had a 300-yard passer against Colorado State.
CURRENT AGGIES VERSUS COLORADO STATE
• The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against Colorado State in at least two games played. Redshirt senior P Aaron Dalton has 21 punts for 877 yards (41.7 ypp), including a long of 58, and six punts downed inside the 20-yard line in three games. Senior DE Jacoby Wildman has seven tackles and one quarterback hurry in three games. Senior RB Gerold Bright has 129 yards rushing and one touchdown on 15 carries (8.6 ypc), to go along with three receptions for 23 yards (7.7 ypc) and one kickoff return for 29 yards, in three games. His 29-yard return against the Rams in 2016 is a career high. Senior CB Cameron Haney has eight tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss, in three games. His 2.0 tackles for loss against the Rams in 2018 is a career high. Senior DT Devon Anderson has three tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, in two games. Senior PK Dominik Eberle has kicked off nine times for 540 yards (60.0 ypk) and six touchbacks in two games. He is also a perfect 6-for-6 on field goal attempts, including 2-of-2 from 20-29 yards, 2-of-2 from 30-39 yards and 2-of-2 from 40-49 yards. Senior DT Christopher Unga has eight tackles, including a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss, in two games. Senior DE Dalton Baker has eight tackles and one quarterback hurry in two games. Junior QB Jordan Love has competed 16 of 29 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown, to go along with 19 yards rushing on two carries, in two games. Junior WR Savon Scarver has five kickoff returns for 126 yards (25.2 ypr), including a long of 51 in 2018, in two games. Redshirt junior DE Justus Te'i has five tackles and one quarterback hurry in two games. Junior TE Carson Terrell has one catch for 16 yards in two games. And, redshirt junior OL Mohelika Uasike has five tackles in two games.
UTAH STATE HAS SIX BOWL TEAMS ON ITS 2019 SCHEDULE
• Utah State's 2019 schedule features six teams that played in bowl games a year ago as Wake Forest played in the Birmingham Bowl (W, 37-34 vs. Memphis); San Diego State played in the DXL Frisco Bowl (L, 27-0 vs. Ohio); LSU played in the Fiesta Bowl (W, 40-32 vs. UCF); Nevada played in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl (W, 16-13 OT vs. Arkansas State); BYU played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (W, 49-18 vs. Western Michigan); and Boise State played in the First Responders Bowl (Canceled vs. Boston College). Furthermore, Stony Brook played in the NCAA Division I Football Championship (L, 28-14 vs. Southeast Missouri).
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 38 players in its program from the Beehive State, while Colorado State has 33 players on its roster from The Centennial State.
• Utah State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Sanford and Colorado State defensive line coach Keith Gilmore were on staff at Notre Dame during the 2015-16 seasons.
LAST MEETING vs. COLORADO STATE
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Senior WR Aaren Vaughns caught the go-ahead touchdown with 43 seconds to play and No. 14 Utah State (10-1, 7-0 MW) survived a wild finish to post a 29-24 win at Colorado State (3-8, 2-5 MW) on a snowy and cold afternoon at Canvas Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018.
After Vaughns hauled in sophomore QB Jordan Love's 33-yard touchdown pass, the Rams took over on their own 25. Quarterback Collin Hill, aided by a personal foul call on USU, moved CSU down to the USU 30 with 15 seconds to go. Following a sack by USU senior DE Adewale Adeoye, the Rams had one play left to try pull off the miracle – and they did.
Almost. On third-and-five from the Aggies' 34, Hill threw a Hail Mary to the right corner of the end zone, where Preston Williams answered the prayer for a 30-29 upset victory. CSU's celebration was short-lived, though. The touchdown was negated by penalty, allowing the Aggies to win their school-record 10th consecutive game. Utah State's 10-1 start to the season is the best in school history and its unblemished 7-0 record in the Mountain West is the best start the Aggies have ever had in league play.
Williams was flagged for illegal touching after it was determined he had stepped out of bounds and was the first to touch the ball when he came back in bounds.
Senior S Jontrell Rocquemore was one of two Aggies to return an interception for a touchdown as his 32-yard pick six gave the visitors a 20-10 lead with 2:37 left in the third quarter. Senior S Aaron Wade returned an interception 95 yards for a score early in the second quarter, which is tied for the fifth-longest in school history.
Vaughns' touchdown was the lone offensive score for Utah State, which finished with just 310 total yards (169 passing, 141 rushing) and possessed the ball just 17:55 of the game.
Love was 15-of-24 passing for 169 yards, while junior RB Gerold Bright rushed for 89 yards on 13 carries. Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver caught six passes for 69 yards.
Hill was 24-of-37 passing for 296 yards and two touchdowns – both to Williams. The Rams' Olabisi Johnson led all receivers in the game with seven catches for 107 yards. The 506 total yards gained by Colorado State are the most allowed by USU this season.
Utah State sophomore LB David Woodward racked up a game- and career-high 20 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. It was the most tackles by an Aggie since the 2015 campaign.
Utah State scored the first 10 points of the game as junior PK Dominik Eberle kicked a 23-yard field goal, followed by Wade's pick-six. Eberle accounted for 11 total points as he also kicked field goals of 26 and 37 yards, respectively, and made both of his extra points.
After Wade's touchdown, CSU answered with a five-play, 80-yard drive to pull within 10-7 with 9:51 left in the second quarter.
After the Rams forced the Aggies to punt to start the second half, they marched 61 yards in 13 plays to tie the game at 10-all courtesy of a 22-yard field goal.
Utah State regained the lead on Eberle's 26-yard field goal with 4:03 left in the third, and the Aggies made it 20-10 less than two minutes later thanks to Rocquemore's pick-six.
A successful fake punt set up Williams' first touchdown early in the fourth to cut the deficit to 20-17. Eberle then connected from 37 yards out to make it 23-17 with seven minutes left.
With less than three minutes to go and USU looking to get the ball back, the Aggies fumbled a punt and CSU recovered on the visitor's 20. Three plays later, the Rams had their first lead following a 17-yard touchdown pass from Hill to Williams, making it 24-23.
LAST HOME MEETING vs. COLORADO STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State LB Suli Tamaivena and BS Gaje Ferguson combined for 27 tackles, and backup QB DJ Nelson scored the first touchdown of his career on a blocked punt, but it still wasn't enough in the Aggies' 27-14 Mountain West loss to Colorado State on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.
Tamaivena, a junior, recorded a career-best 14 tackles, while Ferguson, also a junior, added a career-high 13 stops for Utah State (3-3, 1-1 MW), which had its two-game winning streak snapped. Tamaivena also had two quarterback hurries and 0.5 tackles for loss in the game. Sophomore DE Jacoby Wildman and sophomore LB Dalton Baker both added a career-high seven tackles, while senior CB Jalen Davis had a season-high six stops to go along with one pass breakup.
In all, Utah State finished the game with six tackles for loss as sophomore NG Christopher Unga had a career-high 1.5 TFL's, while senior DE Ian Togiai, junior NG Gasetoto Schuster, junior LB Chase Christiansen and sophomore CB Cameron Haney each added 1.0 TFL. Schuster also added a forced fumble in the contest.
Colorado State limited the Aggies to just 212 yards of total offense. Senior QB Kent Myers was 17-of-29 passing for 152 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown pass to senior RB LaJuan Hunt that pulled the home team to within 27-14 with 1:37 to go in the game. Myers finished the game with a career-high-tying 16 carries, but netted just six yards, as he was sacked seven times on the day.
Hunt led Utah State in rushing with 19 yards on eight carries. He matched his career high in catches with four for 30 yards. Redshirt sophomore TE Dax Raymond was the Aggies' top receiver on the day with a career-best six catches for 45 yards, while junior RB Eltoro Allen had five receptions for 45 yards, both career highs.
Following Hunt's first touchdown reception since the second game of the 2015 campaign, Utah State successfully converted the ensuing on-side kick. Sophomore PK Dominik Eberle got the perfect bounce on his kick and Hunt recovered it.
However, Colorado State did not allow the Aggies to move the ball and Utah State turned it over on downs with 1:09 remaining.
Rams QB Nick Stevens completed 22-of-31 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns to help Colorado State (4-2, 2-0 Mountain West) remain perfect in the Mountain Division of the conference.
Colorado State scored the first 24 points of the game and it was a special teams play that finally got Utah State on the board. Nelson took matters into his own hands as he blocked a punt by the Rams' Ryan Stonehouse, scooped it up and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, pulling the Aggies to within 24-7 with 6:08 left until halftime.
Neither team committed a turnover in the game as Utah State had forced 12 takeaways in its previous two outings. For USU, it was the first time in 10 games it had not committed a turnover on offense.
Junior P Aaron Dalton also had a solid day on special teams for Utah State as he punted 10 times for an average of 42.9, including a long of 54 yards and three of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 • 5:30 p.m. (MT) • Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)
GAME 4 INFORMATION
TV: CBS SPORTS NETWORK
• Play-by-Play: Carter Blackburn
• Analyst: Aaron Taylor
• Reporter: Jenny Dell
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 269/753HD
• DISH: Ch. 158
• DirecTV: Ch. 221
RADIO: AGGIE SPORTS NETWORK
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard
• Analyst: Kevin White
• Online: 1280thezone.com / Tunein.com
• National: Internet 985
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State is looking to start its season with a 3-1 record for the second-straight year and for just the fourth time in the last 41 seasons. USU is also looking to go 2-0 in Mountain West play for the fourth time in its seven years in the conference, joining the 2013, 2015 and 2018 teams.
• Utah State is 31-18 (.633) all-time in the Mountain West, including a 17-7 (.708) home record, and has won 42 of its last 60 (.700) league games dating back to 2011. Overall, USU is 10-2 (.833) in its last 12 Mountain West games.
• Utah State has won each of its last eight home games inside Maverik Stadium, including five-straight Mountain West games, and is 36-9 (.800) in its last 45 home games overall. In fact, USU has won each of its last eight home games by double digits. All-time, Utah State is 148-105 (.585) in Maverik Stadium.
• Utah State has scored at least 60 points in five of its last seven home games, including each of its last three. USU has also scored at least 38 points in each of its last eight home games.
• Utah State head coach Gary Andersen is 17-7 (.708) inside Maverik Stadium, including winning each of his last nine home games. In conference games, USU is 8-6 (.571) at home under Andersen, including winning each of its last five league home games.
• Utah State is 18-4 (.818) in its last 22 games under Andersen, which includes a 9-0 home record, and those four losses are by a combined nine points. In league play, USU has won 12-straight conference games under Andersen.
• Utah State has scored 20-or-more points in 20 straight games, which is a school record, and the third-longest active streak in the nation behind Oklahoma (44) and Ohio State (31), and tied with UCF (19).
• Utah State is among the top-40 teams in the nation in 13 statistical categories, including ranking fifth in passing offense (367.0 yards per game), sixth in total offense (562.7 yards per game), seventh in sacks allowed (0.67 per game), 14th in third down conversions (52.2 percent), 22nd in scoring (40.0 points per game) and 30th in red zone defense (72.7 percent).
UTAH STATE HOSTS COLORADO STATE IN HOMECOMING GAME
• Utah State (2-1, 1-0 MW) hosts Mountain West-foe Colorado State (1-3, 0-0 MW) in its annual Homecoming game on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 5:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD), DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221) with Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst) and Jenny Dell (reporter) on the call. Live audio of the game is available on www.UtahStateAggies.com.
• Utah State is 54-32-2 (.625) all-time in Homecoming games, which includes an 8-5-1 record against Colorado State. In fact, CSU is USU's most played Homecoming opponent, ahead of both BYU (7) and Utah (7).
• Utah State has won 19 of its last 30 games played during the month of September and is 3-8 all-time in known games played on Sept. 28.
UTAH STATE RECEIVING VOTES IN COACHES POLL
• For the second time this season, Utah State is receiving votes in the coaches poll as it garnered nine votes this week to rank tied for 35th in the nation, along with Minnesota. USU began the season by receiving 32 votes in the coaches poll and eight votes in The Associated Press poll, to rank 35th and 37th, respectively.
A LOOK AT UTAH STATE
• Utah State is 2-1 on the season following its 23-17 Mountain West road win at San Diego State last weekend. USU began the year with a 38-35 loss at Wake Forest and then posted a 62-7 home win against Stony Brook. Offensively, USU is led by junior QB Jordan Love, who is 88-of-129 (.682) passing for 1,003 yards (334.3 ypg) with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Junior RB Jaylen Warren leads the team in rushing with 320 yards on 45 carries (7.1 ypc/106.7 ypg) with four touchdowns, and senior graduate transfer WR Siaosi Mariner has a team-best 20 receptions for 265 yards (13.2 ypr/88.3 ypg) and two touchdowns. Defensively, junior LB David Woodward leads the team with 41 tackles, which includes 3.5 tackles for loss, while senior CB DJ Williams has 22 tackles. As a team, USU is averaging 40.0 points and 562.7 yards of total offense (367.0 passing, 195.7 rushing), and allowing 20.7 points and 404.7 yards (279.0 passing, 125.7 rushing).
UTAH STATE INSIDE MAVERIK STADIUM
• Utah State was unstoppable at home in 2018 as it posted double-digit wins and scored at least 40 points in all six games, and won each game by an average margin of 38.2 points (59.5-21.3) as it out-scored its opponents 357-128. In fact, USU scored 50-plus points five times and 60-plus points four times at home last season. During its six home games in 2018, USU averaged 59.5 points and 608.0 yards of total offense (370.3 passing, 237.7 rushing), while allowing 21.3 points and 345.2 yards of total offense (201.3 passing, 143.8 rushing).
• During its current eight-game home winning streak, Utah State has outscored its opponents 457-135 (57.1-16.9).
• With a win against Colorado State, Utah State will tie the 1910-12 and 1934-36 teams for the fifth-longest home winning streak in school history.
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 158-180-8 (.468) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 39-26-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 34-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, a 17-7 record vs. UNLV, an 18-20-1 record vs. San José State, a 12-17-1 record vs. Fresno State, a 12-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 10-6 record vs. Hawai`i, a 6-18 record vs. Nevada, a 5-18 record vs. Boise State, a 3-4 record vs. Air Force, and a 2-12 record vs. San Diego State.
• Utah State is in its seventh year as a member of the Mountain West in 2019 and has been a Division I-A/Bowl Championship Series football playing school in each of its 122 seasons of competition. USU joined the Mountain States/Skyline Conference in 1938 until 1961. USU then played as a football independent from 1962-77 when the Aggies became members of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association in 1978. The PCAA changed its name to the Big West Conference in 1988. Following the 2000 season, when the Big West no longer sponsored football, USU spent two years as an independent (2001-02) and two years in the Sun Belt Conference (2003-04), before joining the Western Athletic Conference for eight seasons from 2005-12.
UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 31 of its last 37 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 1-1 record this year, and 34 of its last 37 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game, including a 1-0 record this year. USU has also won 50 of its last 54 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 1-1 record this season.
• Utah State has had a 100-yard rusher in 10 of its last 15 games and in 15 of its last 22 contests overall. Between the 2014 and 2016 seasons, USU had a total of nine 100-yard rushers over a 39-game span.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State head coach Gary Andersen ranks sixth all-time in school history with his 28 wins, while his .528 winning percentage (28-25) ranks as the eighth-best. Andersen is also one of just four head coaches in school history to lead the Aggies to multiple bowl games.
SCOUTING COLORADO STATE
• Colorado State is 1-3 on the season following its 41-35 home loss to Toledo last weekend. The Rams began the year with a 52-31 loss to Colorado, followed by a 38-13 home win against Western Illinois and a 55-34 loss at Arkansas. CSU is led by junior QB Patrick O'Brien, who is 40-of-63 (.635) passing for 540 yards (180.0 ypg) with two touchdowns and one interception. Senior RB Marvin Kinsey Jr. leads the team in rushing with 556 yards on 68 carries (8.2 ypc/139.0 ypg) with three touchdowns, and junior WR Warren Jackson has caught 31 passes for 327 yards (10.5 ypr/81.8 ypg) with three touchdowns. Defensively, senior S Jamal Hicks has a team-best 35 tackles, while sophomore LB Dequan Jackson has 26 tackles. As a team, Colorado State is averaging 34.5 points and 552.2 yards of total offense per game (345.0 passing, 207.2 rushing), and allowing 40.2 points and 439.2 yards of total offense (199.8 passing, 239.5 rushing). Colorado State returns 12 starters (O-5, D-7) and 37 lettermen (O-16, D-19, S-2) from last year's team that went 3-9 overall and 2-6 in Mountain West play to finish fifth in the Mountain Division. The Rams are coached by Mike Bobo, who is 25-30 in his fifth season as a collegiate head coach.
AGGIES AND RAMS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State is 34-39-2 all-time against Colorado State, including an 18-20-1 home record. USU won the last meeting between the two teams with a 29-24 win in Fort Collins last year, while CSU won the last time the two teams played in Logan with a 27-14 win in 2017. Overall, USU has won four of the last seven games played in the series. The first-ever game played between the two teams was in 1902 with CSU winning in Logan, 24-5.
AGGIES AND RAMS HAVE STORIED HISTORY
• Utah State and Colorado State have spent 53 years as league foes and have a storied history dating back to the early 1900s as both schools were members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) from 1916-37 and members of the Mountain States/Skyline Conference from 1938-61. CSU then was a charter member of the Mountain West in 1999, while USU joined the conference in 2013. As members of the RMAC, USU won league championships in 1921 and 1936, and later won league titles in the Mountain States/Skyline Conference in 1946, 1960 and 1961. CSU won team championships in the RMAC in 1915, 1916, 1919, 1920, 1925, 1927, 1933 and 1934, and in the Mountain States Conference in 1955. Overall, the Aggies and Rams faced each other in every season from 1911-79, except in 1912, 1918, 1921, 1943-44 (war), and 1968, even after CSU joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1968. After 1979, the two teams didn't play again until 1994.
AGGIES vs. RAMS SERIES THIRD-MOST PLAYED IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and Colorado State will be meeting for the 76th time in series history this weekend in what is the third-most played rivalry in school history. USU's most played rivalry is Utah (112), followed by Brigham Young (88), Colorado State (75) and Wyoming (69).
ANDERSEN VERSUS COLORADO STATE
• Gary Andersen is 1-2 all-time against Colorado State as a head coach, which includes a 1-1 record at Utah State.
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE STATE OF COLORADO
• Utah State is a combined 72-77-6 (.484) against teams from the state of Colorado, with a 34-39-2 mark versus Colorado State, a 13-19-3 ledger against Denver, a 6-11-1 record against Colorado, a 7-0 mark versus Western State, a 5-4 record against Colorado Mines, a 3-0 record versus Colorado College, a 1-0 mark versus Regis, and a 3-4 record against Air Force.
PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND COLORADO STATE
• There are 10 connections between Utah State and Colorado State players. USU senior DT Devon Anderson and CSU junior OL Keith Williams both attended Overlea HS in Baltimore, Md. USU senior PK Dominik Eberle (Nuremberg) and CSU senior DL Jan-Phillip Bombek (Hamburg) are both from Germany. USU senior CB Cameron Haney and CSU senior CB Marshaun Cameron both attended Cathedral HS in Los Angeles, Calif. USU senior CB DJ Williams and CSU junior OL Keith Williams both attended Independence (Kan.) CC. USU junior CB Terin Adams and CSU senior DE Jalen Bates are both graduate transfers from Arizona State.
AGGIES FROM COLORADO
• Utah State has two players on its roster from Colorado in redshirt freshman LB Ethan Vowles (Arvada/Ralston Valley HS) and freshman OL Logan Wood (Grand Junction/Fruita Monument HS).
ON THIS DATE IN AGGIE FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Utah State posted a 38-0 home win against Wichita State on Sept. 28, 1968. Altie Taylor got the Aggies on the board early as he returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. John Pappas, who was 7-of-9 passing in the game for 134 yards, had touchdown tosses to Mike O'Shea and Frank Nunn. Pappas also scored on a 1-yard run, as did George Tribble. O'Shea caught six passes on the day for 114 yards, while Tribble gained 97 yards on 10 carries, Taylor had 90 yards on 20 carries and Nunn recorded 88 yards on 15 carries. Dana Schulz led the Aggies' defense with 14 tackles. USU finished the game with 540 yards of total offense, including 382 on the ground, as compared to just 96 total yards for the Shockers.
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND COLORADO STATE
The following are series notables between Utah State and Colorado State dating back to 1994 and encompassing the last 11 meetings.
• In the last 11 meetings, Utah State is 4-2 when leading at the half, while Colorado State is 3-0. USU is also 4-2 when scoring first, while CSU is 5-0. USU has scored first and led at the half in five of the last eight games.
• Utah State has rushed for more yards in five of the last eight meetings and is 4-4 in those games. USU has also had more yards of offense in four of the last eight games.
• The team that has had more first downs has lost six of the last 10 games.
• The winning team had not committed a turnover in five straight games before last season, and the team that has fewer turnovers has won seven of the last 10 games.
• Colorado State had 506 yards of total offense last season and 509 yards the year before, marking the only times in the last 11 meetings that either team had 500 yards of total offense.
• Neither team has had a 300-yard passer in the last 11 meetings, while CSU has had a 100-yard rusher five times and a 100-yard receiver five times. USU has had a 100-yard rusher six times and a 100-yard receiver twice in the last 11 meetings.
• Utah State has had a 100-yard rusher in seven of the last 10 games played in the series, with the only exceptions being in the 2014, 2017 and 2018 meetings.
• The winning team has scored at least 30 points in seven of the last 11 meetings, while there have been 29 games where the winning team has scored less than 20 points. There has also been 24 shutouts in series history, 15 by USU's defense and nine by CSU's defense.
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State individual and team statistical performances against Colorado State over the years.
• Aaron Wade returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown in 2018, which is tied for the fifth-longest all-time in school history.
• Louie Giammona rushed for 242 yards against CSU in 1975, which is tied for the eighth-most all-time in school history.
• Kerwynn Williams rushed for 205 yards against CSU in 2012, which is tied for the 24th-most all-time in school history.
• Fred Allen had an 82-yard rush against CSU in 1975, which is tied for the 10th-longest in school history.
• Roy Shivers hit Dave Clark on an 89-yard pass against CSU in 1965, which is tied for the fourth-longest pass play in school history.
• Earsell Mackbee hit Grant Martinsen on an 81-yard pass against CSU in 1964, which is tied for the 13th-longest pass play in school history.
• Rick Parros had a 94-yard kickoff return against CSU in 1978, which is tied for the 11th-longest in school history.
• Micah Knorr made a 54-yard field goal against CSU in 1994, which is tied for the sixth-longest in school history.
• Steve Steinke made a 52-yard field goal against CSU in 1979, which is tied for the 10th-longest in school history.
• Utah State limited Colorado State to 90 yards of total offense (seventh-fewest in school history) in 1961 in a 49-3 win in Fort Collins, while rushing for 389 yards, the most in series history by a USU team and 12th-most in school history.
• Utah State held Colorado State to 115 yards of total offense in 1960, tied for the 14th-fewest in school history.
• Utah State held Colorado State to a school-record one passing yard in 1976.
• Utah State held Colorado State to a school-record zero completions and three pass attempts in 1949.
• Utah State held Colorado State to 15 passing yards in 1961 and 18 passing yards in 1963, the fifth- and eighth-fewest in school history, respectively.
• Utah State has had 12 100-yard rushers and nine 100-yard receivers all-time against Colorado State, the fourth- and sixth-most against any opponent in school history, respectively.
• Utah State has never had a 300-yard passer against Colorado State.
CURRENT AGGIES VERSUS COLORADO STATE
• The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against Colorado State in at least two games played. Redshirt senior P Aaron Dalton has 21 punts for 877 yards (41.7 ypp), including a long of 58, and six punts downed inside the 20-yard line in three games. Senior DE Jacoby Wildman has seven tackles and one quarterback hurry in three games. Senior RB Gerold Bright has 129 yards rushing and one touchdown on 15 carries (8.6 ypc), to go along with three receptions for 23 yards (7.7 ypc) and one kickoff return for 29 yards, in three games. His 29-yard return against the Rams in 2016 is a career high. Senior CB Cameron Haney has eight tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss, in three games. His 2.0 tackles for loss against the Rams in 2018 is a career high. Senior DT Devon Anderson has three tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks, in two games. Senior PK Dominik Eberle has kicked off nine times for 540 yards (60.0 ypk) and six touchbacks in two games. He is also a perfect 6-for-6 on field goal attempts, including 2-of-2 from 20-29 yards, 2-of-2 from 30-39 yards and 2-of-2 from 40-49 yards. Senior DT Christopher Unga has eight tackles, including a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss, in two games. Senior DE Dalton Baker has eight tackles and one quarterback hurry in two games. Junior QB Jordan Love has competed 16 of 29 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown, to go along with 19 yards rushing on two carries, in two games. Junior WR Savon Scarver has five kickoff returns for 126 yards (25.2 ypr), including a long of 51 in 2018, in two games. Redshirt junior DE Justus Te'i has five tackles and one quarterback hurry in two games. Junior TE Carson Terrell has one catch for 16 yards in two games. And, redshirt junior OL Mohelika Uasike has five tackles in two games.
UTAH STATE HAS SIX BOWL TEAMS ON ITS 2019 SCHEDULE
• Utah State's 2019 schedule features six teams that played in bowl games a year ago as Wake Forest played in the Birmingham Bowl (W, 37-34 vs. Memphis); San Diego State played in the DXL Frisco Bowl (L, 27-0 vs. Ohio); LSU played in the Fiesta Bowl (W, 40-32 vs. UCF); Nevada played in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl (W, 16-13 OT vs. Arkansas State); BYU played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (W, 49-18 vs. Western Michigan); and Boise State played in the First Responders Bowl (Canceled vs. Boston College). Furthermore, Stony Brook played in the NCAA Division I Football Championship (L, 28-14 vs. Southeast Missouri).
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 38 players in its program from the Beehive State, while Colorado State has 33 players on its roster from The Centennial State.
• Utah State offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Sanford and Colorado State defensive line coach Keith Gilmore were on staff at Notre Dame during the 2015-16 seasons.
LAST MEETING vs. COLORADO STATE
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Senior WR Aaren Vaughns caught the go-ahead touchdown with 43 seconds to play and No. 14 Utah State (10-1, 7-0 MW) survived a wild finish to post a 29-24 win at Colorado State (3-8, 2-5 MW) on a snowy and cold afternoon at Canvas Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018.
After Vaughns hauled in sophomore QB Jordan Love's 33-yard touchdown pass, the Rams took over on their own 25. Quarterback Collin Hill, aided by a personal foul call on USU, moved CSU down to the USU 30 with 15 seconds to go. Following a sack by USU senior DE Adewale Adeoye, the Rams had one play left to try pull off the miracle – and they did.
Almost. On third-and-five from the Aggies' 34, Hill threw a Hail Mary to the right corner of the end zone, where Preston Williams answered the prayer for a 30-29 upset victory. CSU's celebration was short-lived, though. The touchdown was negated by penalty, allowing the Aggies to win their school-record 10th consecutive game. Utah State's 10-1 start to the season is the best in school history and its unblemished 7-0 record in the Mountain West is the best start the Aggies have ever had in league play.
Williams was flagged for illegal touching after it was determined he had stepped out of bounds and was the first to touch the ball when he came back in bounds.
Senior S Jontrell Rocquemore was one of two Aggies to return an interception for a touchdown as his 32-yard pick six gave the visitors a 20-10 lead with 2:37 left in the third quarter. Senior S Aaron Wade returned an interception 95 yards for a score early in the second quarter, which is tied for the fifth-longest in school history.
Vaughns' touchdown was the lone offensive score for Utah State, which finished with just 310 total yards (169 passing, 141 rushing) and possessed the ball just 17:55 of the game.
Love was 15-of-24 passing for 169 yards, while junior RB Gerold Bright rushed for 89 yards on 13 carries. Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver caught six passes for 69 yards.
Hill was 24-of-37 passing for 296 yards and two touchdowns – both to Williams. The Rams' Olabisi Johnson led all receivers in the game with seven catches for 107 yards. The 506 total yards gained by Colorado State are the most allowed by USU this season.
Utah State sophomore LB David Woodward racked up a game- and career-high 20 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. It was the most tackles by an Aggie since the 2015 campaign.
Utah State scored the first 10 points of the game as junior PK Dominik Eberle kicked a 23-yard field goal, followed by Wade's pick-six. Eberle accounted for 11 total points as he also kicked field goals of 26 and 37 yards, respectively, and made both of his extra points.
After Wade's touchdown, CSU answered with a five-play, 80-yard drive to pull within 10-7 with 9:51 left in the second quarter.
After the Rams forced the Aggies to punt to start the second half, they marched 61 yards in 13 plays to tie the game at 10-all courtesy of a 22-yard field goal.
Utah State regained the lead on Eberle's 26-yard field goal with 4:03 left in the third, and the Aggies made it 20-10 less than two minutes later thanks to Rocquemore's pick-six.
A successful fake punt set up Williams' first touchdown early in the fourth to cut the deficit to 20-17. Eberle then connected from 37 yards out to make it 23-17 with seven minutes left.
With less than three minutes to go and USU looking to get the ball back, the Aggies fumbled a punt and CSU recovered on the visitor's 20. Three plays later, the Rams had their first lead following a 17-yard touchdown pass from Hill to Williams, making it 24-23.
LAST HOME MEETING vs. COLORADO STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State LB Suli Tamaivena and BS Gaje Ferguson combined for 27 tackles, and backup QB DJ Nelson scored the first touchdown of his career on a blocked punt, but it still wasn't enough in the Aggies' 27-14 Mountain West loss to Colorado State on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.
Tamaivena, a junior, recorded a career-best 14 tackles, while Ferguson, also a junior, added a career-high 13 stops for Utah State (3-3, 1-1 MW), which had its two-game winning streak snapped. Tamaivena also had two quarterback hurries and 0.5 tackles for loss in the game. Sophomore DE Jacoby Wildman and sophomore LB Dalton Baker both added a career-high seven tackles, while senior CB Jalen Davis had a season-high six stops to go along with one pass breakup.
In all, Utah State finished the game with six tackles for loss as sophomore NG Christopher Unga had a career-high 1.5 TFL's, while senior DE Ian Togiai, junior NG Gasetoto Schuster, junior LB Chase Christiansen and sophomore CB Cameron Haney each added 1.0 TFL. Schuster also added a forced fumble in the contest.
Colorado State limited the Aggies to just 212 yards of total offense. Senior QB Kent Myers was 17-of-29 passing for 152 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown pass to senior RB LaJuan Hunt that pulled the home team to within 27-14 with 1:37 to go in the game. Myers finished the game with a career-high-tying 16 carries, but netted just six yards, as he was sacked seven times on the day.
Hunt led Utah State in rushing with 19 yards on eight carries. He matched his career high in catches with four for 30 yards. Redshirt sophomore TE Dax Raymond was the Aggies' top receiver on the day with a career-best six catches for 45 yards, while junior RB Eltoro Allen had five receptions for 45 yards, both career highs.
Following Hunt's first touchdown reception since the second game of the 2015 campaign, Utah State successfully converted the ensuing on-side kick. Sophomore PK Dominik Eberle got the perfect bounce on his kick and Hunt recovered it.
However, Colorado State did not allow the Aggies to move the ball and Utah State turned it over on downs with 1:09 remaining.
Rams QB Nick Stevens completed 22-of-31 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns to help Colorado State (4-2, 2-0 Mountain West) remain perfect in the Mountain Division of the conference.
Colorado State scored the first 24 points of the game and it was a special teams play that finally got Utah State on the board. Nelson took matters into his own hands as he blocked a punt by the Rams' Ryan Stonehouse, scooped it up and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, pulling the Aggies to within 24-7 with 6:08 left until halftime.
Neither team committed a turnover in the game as Utah State had forced 12 takeaways in its previous two outings. For USU, it was the first time in 10 games it had not committed a turnover on offense.
Junior P Aaron Dalton also had a solid day on special teams for Utah State as he punted 10 times for an average of 42.9, including a long of 54 yards and three of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.
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