Nov. 22, 2003

Final Stats

MOSCOW, Idaho - Career days by quarterback Travis Cox and tight end Chris Cooley were not enough as Utah State allowed Idaho to rally from a 13-3 deficit and beat the Aggies 20-13 here in Sun Belt Conference football action on Saturday. The loss dropped USU to 3-9 on the season, including 3-4 in the Sun Belt Conference. Idaho improved to 3-9 and 3-4 in the league. The game was the final one of the season for both teams.

Cox threw for a career high 322 yards and one touchdown, while Cooley pulled in a career-best 10 catches for 125 yards, the second-best yardage total of his career. USU ran up 436 yards of total offense, its second-best yardage total of the season, but Idaho controlled the clock in the second and fourth quarters en route to 393 yards of its own. The Vandals held the ball for 10:11 in the fourth quarter alone.

Idaho scored first with a 35-yard field goal midway through the first quarter before the Aggies scored 13 straight points to lead 13-3 early in the second quarter.

USU's Chris Stallworth scored on a 33-yard pass play in between two Ben Chaet field goals, USU's first field goals since the third game of the year. Chaet hit from 20 and 34 yards before missing a 40-yarder in the second period.

Idaho rallied with a late second quarter touchdown after a 20-play, 77-yard drive that consumed 9:35. Idaho then added a field goal and another touchdown in the fourth quarter to get its first home win of the season.

Cox recorded a season-high 30 completions on 45 attempts. He did not throw an interception for the seventh time in 12 games.

The Aggie defense was led by Rodney Wilson, who recorded a career-best 19 tackles, while Robert Watts added 15 and Terrance Washington 11. Wilson also recovered a fumble in the game.

Notes

o - QB Travis Cox's 41-yard run in the first quarter was the longest by an Aggie quarterback since 1992 (Anthony Calvillo had a 45-yard run).

o - Cox's run was the second-longest rush of the year for USU (Travis Davis had a 69-yard touchdown run against Middle Tennessee).

o - QB Travis Cox had a career best passing yardage mark today (previous best was 308 vs. Arizona State earlier this season). It was his third career 300-yard game (also threw for 301 vs. Middle Tennessee this season).

o - PK Ben Chaet's first quarter field goal was the first for USU since the third game of the year.

o - TE Chris Cooley became the USU career receiving leader among tight ends on his second catch in the first quarter as that gave him his 88th career reception passing Aubrey Thompson who had 87 in 1992 and 1993. Cooley entered today's game with 86 career receptions.

o - Cooley has caught at least two passes in 17 straight games as well as catching at least four in 13 of his last 14 games.

o - Cooley recorded a career high in receptions (previous best was nine against New Mexico State).

o - Cooley recorded his third career 100-yard receiving day (134 vs. Troy State and 105 vs. Middle Tennessee last year).

o - Cooley finished his year with the USU tight end season record for receptions, career record for receptions (set today).

o - QB Travis Cox recorded the eighth most passing yards in a season in school history (he entered the game with 2,469 yards).

o - USU recorded 400 yards of total offense for the third time this year (495 vs. Middle Tennessee and 424 vs. New Mexico State).

o - USU's 96-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter was its longest of the year (89-yarder vs. UL-Monroe).

o - USU's 10 first quarter points were its third-most in the opening quarter this year.

o - USU entered today 0-7 when the opponent scores first, but also 3-1 when leading at the half and 3-0 when leading after three quarters this season.