Nov. 15, 2003

Final Stats

LOGAN, Utah (AP) - DeWhitt Betterson set two school records with 230 rushing yards and 46 carries as Troy State defeated Utah State 23-14 Saturday in a matchup of future Sun Belt Conference foes.

Betterson broke Troy State's old rushing mark of 226 yards set by Eddie Brundidge on Nov. 29, 1986, vs. Virginia Union. Betterson's 46 carries were the most since LeBarron Black carried the ball 41 times against Florida Atlantic on Oct. 26, 2002.

The Trojans (5-6) will join the Sun Belt next year, but this game counted in the league standings for Utah State (3-8, 3-3 Sun Belt), which has lost two straight.

The Aggies played almost the entire second half without starting quarterback Travis Cox. He was injured trying to recover a bad snap on the first play of the third quarter. Cox, who completed 14 of 20 passes for 140 yards in the first half, was experiencing neck pain after the injury and was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.

Torre Lankford recovered the fumble by Cox, giving the ball back to Troy State at Utah State's 17-yard line. Seven plays later, Aaron Leak scored on a 2-yard quarterback keeper to give the Trojans their final margin of victory.

The Aggies struggled to move the ball after Cox left, gaining only 115 yards in the second half. They also turned the ball over seven times, the most in a game since committing eight against Nevada in the 1996 season finale. Brian Black replaced Cox at quarterback and was 7-for-17 for 56 yards and three interceptions. After being held to three-and-out on the opening possession of the game, Troy State scored touchdowns on its next two drives to take a 14-0 lead after the first quarter.

The Aggies rallied to tie it at 14-all when they scored on two straight possessions in the second quarter, but the Trojans went into the break with a 17-14 advantage courtesy of a 37-yard field goal by Thomas Olmsted.