Oct. 25, 2003
Final Stats
LOGAN, Utah (AP) - - Travis Cox passed for 260 yards and three touchdowns as Utah State snapped a season-high three-game losing streak by defeating Arkansas State 49-0 Saturday afternoon.
Cox was 14-of-21 and threw TD passes of 40, 12 and 14 before leaving with 2:52 to go in the third quarter for the Aggies (2-1 Sun Belt Conference, 2-6), whose 49-point victory was the most since a 76-0 rout over New Mexico State in 1964.
USU recorded its first shut-out win since a 42-0 victory over UNLV on Nov. 11, 1995 - a span of 87 games. The Indians (1-2, 3-5) were shut out for the second consecutive time. Mississippi beat ASU 55-0 on Oct. 11.
Six different USU players intercepted passes by ASU quarterbacks Elliot Jacobs and Nick Noce, who combined to throw for 158 yards on 11-of-32 attempts. The six interceptions by the Aggies were the most since picking off six passes against Louisiana-Lafayette in the 1993 season opener. USU's defense also recovered a fumble by the Indians, while the special teams blocked a punt.
Safety Terrance Washington recorded the first interception for the Aggies. The pass by Jacobs was nowhere near the intended receiver and went straight to Washington, who returned it 26 yards for a TD to give USU a 14-0 lead with 10:23 to go in the first quarter.
David Fiefia rushed for a game-high 86 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries for USU. His 1-yard TD run in the second quarter gave the Aggies a 35-0 lead at halftime.
The closest ASU came to scoring was when it had a second-and-goal from the USU 1 late in the fourth quarter. However, Robert Watts helped preserve the shutout by intercepting a pass by Noce in the end zone.
This was the Aggies' first game since it was announced Thursday that USU would be leaving the Sun Belt following the 2004 season for the Western Athletic Conference.
This is Utah State's first season in the Sun Belt. The Aggies competed as an independent the last two seasons after the Big West Conference quit sponsoring football.
Midway through the second quarter, USU back-up linebacker Jared Johnstun was taken to a local hospital for precautionary X-rays for a possible cervical injury.
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY POSTGAME NOTES vs. Arkansas State, Oct. 25, 2003
o - USU's 49 points were its most in a game since beating beating Weber State 56-43 in the ninth game of 2001. It was the most points against a Division I opponent since beating Idaho 63-17 in 1997.
o - USU recorded its fist shutout since beating UNLV 42-0 in 1995.
o - USU's 49-point victory margin was the 16th largest victory margin in school history as well as the largest since 1964 when USU beat New Mexico State 76-0.
o - QB Travis Cox threw for 260 yards in three quarters of action. That marks the third best passing day of his career (308 vs. Arizona State and 280 vs. Utah this year). His 14 completions were the second fewest of the season for him (13 against New Mexico). He also threw three touchdown passes extending his touchdown passing streak to eight straight games (second most by an Aggie in the last 13 years - Jose Fuentes threw a TD pass in 11 straight games in 2001).
o - USU recorded six interceptions today, its most since picking off six against Louisiana-Lafayette in the 1993 seaosn opener. Aggies that had picks included Terrance Washington (fourth of the year), Mike Rosencrans (first career), Cornelius Lamb (second of the season), Joe Lindsay (first of career), Reggie Willson (first of career), and Robert Watts (first of career). USU entered today with six pickoffs on the season and matched that total today.
o - USU's four touchdown passes were its most in a game since throwing four vs. New Mexico in the seventh game of last year.
o - TB David Fiefia recorded the third best rushing day of his career (116 vs. Fresno State in 2001 and 142 vs. UL-Monroe this season). He also recorded his second multiple rushing touchdown game of the year (two scores against UL-Monroe)
o - WR Jerome Eason recorded a career-long reception as his 47-yarder set up USU's first score. His previous long was 18 yards against Nebraska last year. He added his first career touchdown reception in the second quarter on a 12-yard catch.
o - S Terrance Washington recorded his fourth interception of the year in the first quarter. His 26-yard return for a touchdown marked the first interception return for a touchdown for USU since Jerome Dennis returned a pickoff 75 yards against BYU in the sixth game of last year. It also marked the second straight game the Aggie defense scored a touchdown as John Chick had a 37-yard fumble return for a score at North Texas last Saturday.
o - Washington's four interceptions this season tie for the most by an Aggie in the last six years as Nathan Barber had four in 2001.
o - USU's 21 first quarter points were its most in a quarter since scoring 31 in the second quarter of last year's BYU game (sixth game of the year) and the most first quarter points since netting an identical 21 against Idaho State in the third game of last year.
o - LB Nate Fredrick blocked a punt in the second quarter marking the first punt USU blocked this season (USU blocked one last year).
o - TE Chris Cooley extended his streak of catching at least two passes to 13 straight games.
o - USU LB Jared Johnstun was taken to the hospital in the second quarter for precautionary x-rays for a possible cervical injury.
o - USU's 35 halftime points are already its most in a game this year (beat UL-Monroe 28-10).
o - USU shut out an opponent in a half for the first time since UL-Monroe did not score in the second half in the fourth game of this year.
o - USU's 35-points at halftime were its most in a half since scoring an identical 35 in the second half against Weber State (W 56-35) in the ninth game of 2001.
o - USU's 35-point halftime margin is its biggest at the break since at least 1990 (USU has led by 34 at the half on three occasions since the 1989 season and information in the press box goes back to only 1990).
o - WR Tony Pennyman entered today with three receptions on the year and had three in the first half.
