LOGAN, Utah -

USU Game Notes

BYU Game Notes

Mountain West Weekly Release

BRIGHAM YOUNG (1-3) vs. UTAH STATE (2-2, 1-0 MW)
Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 • 6 p.m. (MT) • Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)

GAME 5 INFORMATION
TV: CBS Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Carter Blackburn
• Analyst: Aaron Taylor
• Reporter: Jenny Dell
• Comcast (Utah): Ch. 269/753HD
• DISH: Ch. 158
• DirecTV: Ch. 221

RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard
• Analyst: Kevin Whimpey
• Online: 1280thezone.com / Tunein.com
• National: Sirius 132 / XM 201

SOCIAL MEDIA: #AggiesAllTheWay
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com

AGGIE RADIO NETWORKS
• Every Utah State football game can be heard live on the Aggie Radio Network. Scott Garrard serves as the play-by-play announcer, while former USU all-conference offensive lineman Kevin Whimpey (2012-14) will provide color analysis. Games can also be heard on the Internet (www.UtahStateAggies.com) by clicking on the `Listen Live' link, as well as on the TuneIn App.
• Salt Lake City: KZNS (1280 AM/97.5 FM)
• Logan: KBLU-LP (92.3 FM)
• Cache Valley: KACH (1340 AM/105.5 FM)
• Price: KRPX (95.3 FM)
• Green River: KRPX (102.7 FM)
• Moab: KRPX (100.3 FM)
• Orangeville: KRPX (95.9 FM)

KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State concludes non-conference play by hosting BYU on Friday, Sept. 29, at 6 p.m. USU is 35-48-3 all-time against the Cougars, including an 18-17-2 home record.

• Utah State is 1-0 at home inside Maverik Stadium this season and is 27-6 in its last 33 home games, which includes a 19-6 record under head coach Matt Wells. USU is also 15-3 in its last 18 non-conference home games, including a 7-2 record under Wells. USU has won seven of its last nine home games against in-state opponents dating back to the 2009 season. All-time, Utah State is 139-102 (.577) in Maverik Stadium.

• Utah State and BYU spent 37 years as conference foes as members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference from 1922-37 and the Mountain States/Skyline Conference from 1938-61. As conference foes, USU was 21-13-3 (.608) against BYU.

• Utah State will be looking to start a season 3-2 for the fourth time in five years under Wells, and for the fifth time in the last six years overall.

• Utah State leads the nation with three blocked kicks this season as it has blocked a punt in each of its last three games. Junior LB Louy Compton blocked an Idaho State punt and a San José State punt, and leads the nation with his two blocked kicks this season, while junior QB DJ Nelson blocked a Wake Forest punt. The school record for blocked kicks in a season is six set in 2012. Overall, it is USU's 13th blocked kick under Wells.

• Utah State has won 13 of its last 22 games played during the month of September, including 10 straight at home, and is 6-5 all-time in games played on Sept. 29. USU is also 20-28-1 all-time in games played on Friday, including a 7-5 (.583) record under Wells.

• Utah State has scored 50-plus points in two of its last three games, while its 132 points scored on the season is the most by any team in the Mountain West.

UTAH STATE HOSTS BYU IN FINAL NON-CONFERENCE GAME OF THE SEASON
• Utah State (2-2, 1-0 MW) concludes non-conference play this weekend as it hosts BYU (1-3) on Friday, Sept. 29, at 6 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network (Comcast Ch. 269/753HD, Dish Network 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 at www.UtahStateAggies.com.

COACH TO CURE MD CELEBRATING 10TH SEASON
• This weekend, the two coaching staffs in our game will be wearing special arm patches in honor of the AFCA's Coach to Cure MD program. This is the 10th year coaches around the country join together to raise funds and awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Fans are encouraged to donate by texting "CURE" to 50555 or visiting CoachtoCureMD.org.

A LOOK AT UTAH STATE
• Utah State is 2-2 on the season and 1-0 in Mountain West play following its 61-10 conference road win at San José State last weekend. Offensively, USU is led by senior QB Kent Myers, who is 76-of-114 (.667) passing for 777 yards (194.2 ypg) with four touchdowns and six interceptions. Junior RB Eltoro Allen leads the team in rushing with 209 yards on 52 carries (4.0 ypc) with one touchdown, and junior WR Ron'quavion Tarver has a team-best 19 receptions for 160 yards (8.4 ypr) with two touchdowns. Defensively, junior LB Chase Christiansen leads the team with 28 tackles and one forced fumble, while fellow junior LB Suli Tamaivena has 27 tackles, which includes 1.0 tackle for loss, to go along with one fumble recovery. As a team, Utah State is averaging 33.0 points and 439.0 yards of total offense (264.0 passing, 175.0 rushing), and allowing 32.0 points and 382.8 yards of total offense (196.2 passing, 186.5 rushing).

UTAH STATE PLAYING THREE-STRAIGHT HOME GAMES
• Utah State is playing its first of three-straight home games this weekend as it hosts BYU on Friday, Sept. 29. USU then hosts back-to-back Mountain West games against Colorado State and Wyoming on Saturday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 14, respectively, with both games beginning at 2:30 p.m. The last time USU had three-straight home games was in 1997.

• Utah State began the season by playing three of its first four games away from home and was the only team in the nation to have played in all four time zones in the contiguous United States during its first four weeks as the Aggies began the year at No. 9 Wisconsin (central time zone), then hosted Idaho State (mountain time zone), followed by road games at Wake Forest (eastern time zone) and at San José State (pacific time zone).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS WITH UTAH STATE
• Utah State has won 19 of its last 22 games when it has a 100-yard rusher and 24 of its last 26 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game.

• Utah State has won 37 of its last 38 games dating back to 2011 when scoring at least 30 points. In fact, USU had won 35 straight games when scoring at least 30 points before losing at Nevada, 38-37, last season.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has already forced nine turnovers this season (6 fumbles, 3 interceptions) and is just one turnover shy of tying the team total from all of last season with 10 turnovers (3 fumbles, seven interceptions). Furthermore, USU forced a season-high five turnovers last weekend at San José State (4 fumbles, 1 interception), which are the most in a game since forcing a school-record eight turnovers against Boise State in 2015.

UTAH STATE FOURTH IN THE NATION IN FIRST-TIME STARTERS
• During the first four weeks of the 2017 season, Utah State had 18 first-time starters, which ranks fourth in the nation behind Baylor (21), Ball State (19) and UAB (19). USU had 12 players make their first career at No. 9 Wisconsin in senior TE Damion Hobbs, junior OL Roman Andrus, junior OL Rob Castaneda, junior OL Quin Ficklin, redshirt junior OL Sean Taylor, junior LB Suli Tamaivena, junior NG Gasetoto Schuster, junior BS Aaron Wade, sophomore OL Moroni Iniguez, sophomore DE Jacoby Wildman, redshirt freshman DE Ritisoni Fata and redshirt freshman WR Jordan Nathan. USU then had four more players get their first career start against Idaho State in junior DE Adewale Adeoye, redshirt sophomore TE Dax Raymond, sophomore LB Dalton Baker and redshirt freshman CB Ja'Marcus Ingram. And two more Aggies made their first career start at San José State in junior RB Eltoro Allen and freshman LB Maika Magalei.

THIRTY-SEVEN AGGIES PLAY FIRST UTAH STATE GAME IN FIRST THREE WEEKS
• Utah State has had 37 players play in their first-ever Aggie game during the first three weeks of the 2017 season. Twenty-four Aggies saw their first-ever action at No. 9 Wisconsin three weeks ago in redshirt junior OL Sean Taylor, junior RB Eltoro Allen, junior OL Roman Andrus, junior OL Rob Castaneda, junior LB Louy Compton, junior OL Quin Ficklin, junior CB Deante Fortenberry, junior LB Ofa Latu, junior LB Suli Tamaivena, sophomore DE Devon Anderson, sophomore OL Moroni Iniguez, sophomore S Chance Parker, redshirt freshman OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, redshirt freshman DE Ritisoni Fata, redshirt freshman S Baron Gajkowski, redshirt freshman CB Braxton Gunther, redshirt freshman CB Ja'Marcus Ingram, redshirt freshman LB Kevin Meitzenheimer, redshirt freshman WR Jordan Nathan, redshirt freshman LB David Woodward, freshman LB Maika Magalei, freshman WR Savon Scarver, freshman TE Carson Terrell and freshman DE Nami Tuitu'u. Twelve more Aggies played in their first-ever USU game two weeks ago against Idaho State in senior WR Connor McGuire, junior WR Aaren Vaughns, junior TE Emerson Woods, sophomore LB Mason Gajkowski, sophomore LB Braden Harris, sophomore P Zach Lee, sophomore PK Michael Smith, redshirt freshman WR Taylor Compton, redshirt freshman QB Jordan Love, redshirt freshman OL Viliamu McMoore, redshirt freshman DE Jake Pitcher and freshman PK Connor Coles. And one more Aggie played in his first game last weekend at Wake Forest in redshirt freshman DE Logan Lee.

FIRST TIME PLAYERS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE FOR UTAH STATE
• All five of Utah State's starting offensive linemen -- OC Quin Ficklin, RT Sean Taylor, LG Moroni Iniguez, RG Rob Castaneda, LT Roman Andrus -- played in their first career games at USU in the first three weeks of the season. In fact, Taylor is the only member of this group who was on the team last year, as he redshirted. This is the first time in school history that it has started five offensive linemen who had never played a game at USU, minus the Aggies' first-ever team in 1892. Furthermore, Andrus and Ficklin did not even play offensive line at their previous schools, as Andrus was a defensive end at Snow (Utah) JC and Ficklin was a fullback at BYU.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Utah State has out-scored its opponents 41-14 in the first quarter this year and has held three of its four opponents scoreless in the first quarter. USU also holds an 86-45 scoring advantage in the first half this season and held its last opponent, San José State, scoreless in the first half, a first since doing so against Arkansas State early on in the 2016 season.

DID YOU KNOW?
• In its 61-10 Mountain West road win at San José State last weekend, Utah State's defense forced three fumbles, had four fumble recoveries, intercepted a pass, blocked a punt, had three sacks and recorded eight tackles for loss, and recovered on pooched kick. USU had forced fumbles from senior CB Jalen Davis, junior LB Chase Christiansen and redshirt freshman S Baron Gajkowski, while junior WR Ron'quavion Tarver, sophomore DE Jacoby Wildman, freshman LB Maika Magalei and Gajkowski all recovered fumbles. Gajkowski also intercepted a pass in the game, while junior LB Louy Compton blocked a punt. USU also had pass breakups from senior CB Wesley Bailey, sophomore CB Cameron Haney and redshirt freshman CB Ja'Marcus Ingram. Davis, Gajkowski and Wildman each had a sack in the game, while junior LB Derek Larsen, junior LB Suli Tamaivena, sophomore NG Gasetoto Schuster and redshirt freshman DE Ritisoni Fata all had tackles for loss.

SCOUTING BYU
• BYU is 1-3 on the season following its 40-6 home loss to No. 10 Wisconsin two weeks ago. The Cougars are led by junior QB Tanner Mangum, who is 49-of-90 passing for 466 yards (155.3 ypg) with two touchdowns and four interceptions. Junior RB Squally Canada leads the team in rushing with 118 yards on 25 carries (4.7 ypc/29.5 ypg) with one touchdown, and freshman TE Matt Bushman has caught 14 passes for 158 yards (11.3 ypr/39.5 ypg). Defensively, senior LB Fred Warner has a team-best 33 tackles, which includes 3.0 tackles for loss, while junior DE Corbin Kaufusi has 23 tackles, which includes 1.0 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss. As a team, BYU is averaging 9.8 points and 221.8 yards of total offense per game (144.2 passing, 77.5 rushing) and allowing 23.0 points and 405.0 yards of total offense (221.8 passing, 183.2 rushing). BYU returns 12 starters (O-6, D-6) and 58 lettermen (O-21, D-32, S-5) from last year's team that went 9-4 and defeated Wyoming, 24-21, in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. The Cougars are coached by Kalani Sitake, who is 10-7 in his second season as a collegiate head coach at BYU.

AGGIES AND COUGARS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State trails in the all-time series against BYU, 35-48-3, which includes an 18-17-2 home record. The first game played in the series was on Oct. 7, 1922, in Provo with USU winning, 42-3. BYU won last year's meeting in Provo, 28-10, and the Cougars won the last meeting between the two teams in Logan, 51-28, in 2015. The last time USU defeated BYU at home was in 2010 by a final score of 31-16.

MORE ON THE AGGIES AND COUGARS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State's 35 wins against BYU are the second-most in school history behind USU's 38 wins against Wyoming. The USU-BYU series is the second-most played in school history as this weekend's 87th meeting trails only USU's 112 games played against Utah.

BATTLE FOR THE OLD WAGON WHEEL
• Utah State and BYU will be playing for possession of `The Old Wagon Wheel,' the traveling trophy between the two schools, this weekend. The Old Wagon Wheel became part of the rivalry in 1948. Since its inception, BYU holds a 40-23 advantage in the series and BYU currently holds possession of the traveling trophy after its 28-10 win in Provo last year.

UTAH STATE AND BYU SERIES MOVING FORWARD
• Future games currently scheduled between Utah State and BYU include meetings in Provo on Oct. 5, 2018, in Logan on Nov. 2, 2019, and in Provo on Oct. 2, 2020.

UTAH STATE VERSUS FBS INDEPENDENTS
• Utah State is 36-48-3 all-time against current Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Independents with a 35-48-3 record against BYU and a 1-0 record against Army.

Matt Wells VERSUS BYU
• Utah State head coach Matt Wells is 1-3 all-time against BYU as a head coach, and has faced the Cougars six times as an assistant, including twice while at Utah State, as well as three times as an assistant at New Mexico and once as an assistant at Tulsa.

UTAH STATE AND BYU CONNECTIONS
• Utah State senior BS Dallin Leavitt began his collegiate career at BYU playing in 2013 and 2014. USU junior OL Quin Ficklin spent three years at BYU, redshirting in 2012 and playing in 2015-16. Ficklin did not play as a redshirt freshman, but appeared in seven games at fullback for the Cougars last season. USU junior OL Roman Andrus spent two years at BYU, redshirting in 2012 and playing in one game on the defensive line in 2015. USU sophomore LB Sialao Mobley spent the 2016 season at BYU as a member of the rugby team. USU junior QB DJ Nelson's older brother, Riley Nelson, played football at both Utah State and BYU. USU redshirt sophomore TE Dax Raymond's father, Ronn, was on BYU's track and field team.

MORE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BYU
• Utah State Assistant AD for Football Operations Waqa Damuni is the brother of BYU Director of Player Personnel Jack Damuni. USU offensive administrative assistant Naufahu Tahi was a running back at BYU (1999, 2003-05). USU defensive administrative assistant Uani `Unga graduated from BYU in 2015 and played linebacker for the Cougars (2012-13). USU special assistant to the head coach Dave Kragthorpe spent 10 years (1970-79) as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at BYU. BYU defensive coordinator and defensive line coach `Ilaisa Tuiaki spent three seasons (2009-11) at Utah State as the running backs and special teams coach. BYU's stadium namesake, LaVell Edwards, is a 1952 Utah State alum, and was a three-year letterman for the Aggies from 1949-51, collecting unanimous all-Skyline Six Conference honors in 1950 at linebacker. Edwards was inducted into USU's Athletics' Hall of Fame in 2011.

PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BYU
• Utah State senior WR Jaren Colston-Green and BYU sophomore RB Austin Kafentzis both attended Arizona Western JC. USU senior TE Damion Hobbs and BYU sophomore DL Wayne Tei-Kirby both transferred to their current schools from Oregon. USU senior OL Jarome Ione attended Bountiful (Utah) High School, as did BYU sophomore LB Rylee Gautavai and freshman OL Brady Christensen. USU senior DE Ian Togiai and BYU freshman DL Lorenzo Fauatea both attended Hunter High School in West Valley City, Utah. USU senior WR Braelon Roberts and BYU junior WR Micah Simon both attended Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas, Texas. USU senior WR Connor McGuire, junior OL Roman Andrus, junior BS Gaje Ferguson, junior LB Ofa Latu, junior TE Emerson Woods, sophomore OL Moroni Iniguez and freshman QB Zach Larson all attended Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, as did BYU senior DL Handsome Tanielu, senior WR Jonah Trinnaman and junior TE Hunter Marshall. USU senior LB Alex Huerta and junior BS Gaje Ferguson both attended Mountain Crest High School in Hyrum, Utah, as did BYU junior WR Moroni Laulu-Pututau. USU junior WR Zach Van Leeuwen and redshirt sophomore TE Dax Raymond both attended Timpview HS in Provo, Utah, as did BYU redshirt junior RB Creed Richardson, junior DL Bronson Kaufusi, sophomore WR Rickey Shumway and freshman DB Chaz Ah You. USU junior LB Chase Christiansen attended Stansbury (Utah) HS, as did BYU junior DB Zayne Anderson. USU junior OL Cody Boyer and BYU freshman QB Kody Wilstead both attended Pine View HS in St. George, Utah. USU junior RB Eltoro Allen and BYU junior DB Isaiah Armstrong both attended Riverside (Calif.) CC. USU junior TE Emerson Woods attended Brighton High School in Sandy, Utah, as did BYU junior RB Brayden El-Bakri, sophomore DL Bracken El-Bakri and freshman LB Isaiah Kaufusi. USU sophomore LB Mason Gajkowski attended Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah, as did BYU sophomore RB Austin Kafentzis. USU sophomore OL Moroni Iniguez and sophomore S Chance Parker both attended Davis HS in Kaysville, Utah, as did BYU senior DB Gavin Fowler. USU sophomore LB Justus Te'i attended Mission Hills HS in San Marcos, Calif., as did BYU senior LB Fred Warner and sophomore DB Troy Warner. USU redshirt freshman DE Connor Meyers and BYU senior OL Keyan Norman both transferred to their current school from Southern Utah. USU sophomore PK Michael Smith and redshirt freshman S Baron Gajkowski both attended Lone Peak HS in Alpine, Utah, as did BYU senior DB Micah Hannemann, senior OL Keyan Norman, sophomore DB Austin McChesney and sophomore WR Talon Shumway. USU redshirt freshman BS Zach Swenson and freshman WR Preston Curtis both attended East HS in Salt Lake City, Utah, as did BYU junior DL Merrill Tailauli, freshman LB Christian Folau, freshman RB Ula Toluta'u and freshman TE Joe Tukuafu. USU freshman OL Chandler Dolphin and BYU sophomore DB Austin Lee both attended Alta HS in Sandy, Utah. USU freshman LB Jamaal Evans and freshman WR Savon Scarver both attended Centennial HS in Las Vegas, Nev., as did BYU sophomore DL Trajan Pili.

STATS FOR AGGIES WITH MULTIPLE GAMES VS. BYU
• The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against BYU in at least two games played. Senior CB Jalen Davis has 12 tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, one interception that he returned 37 yards and a pass breakup in three games. Senior LB Alex Huerta has one tackle in three games. Senior RB LaJuan Hunt has 70 yards rushing and one touchdown on 16 carries (4.4 ypc), two receptions for minus 12 yards, one kickoff return for 14 yards and one tackle in three games. Senior DE Ian Togiai has five tackles, including 1.0 for loss and 1.0 sacks, in three games. Senior WR Braelon Roberts has four catches for 36 yards (9.0 ypc), including a long of 11, in two games. Senior RB Tonny Lindsey Jr. has 71 yards rushing on 10 carries (7.4 ypc), including a long of 24 yards, in two games. Junior P Aaron Dalton has 10 punts for 405 yards (40.5 ypp), including a long of 56, and four downed inside the 20-yard line in two games. Junior LB Derek Larsen has two tackles in two games. Junior QB DJ Nelson has 13 yards rushing on one carry in two games. Junior WR Zach Van Leeuwen has one catch for seven yards in two games.

SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BYU
• The following are series notables between Utah State and BYU dating back to 1993 and encompassing the last 18 meetings in the series.

• Utah State is 2-5 when leading at the half, while BYU is 11-0. USU is also 2-7 when scoring first, while BYU is 8-1 with its only loss coming in 2014. USU has scored first in six of the last eight games, but is just 2-6 in those contests. USU has also led at the half in three of the last seven games, but is 2-5 in those contests. USU has also rushed for more yards in four of the last seven meetings, but is just 2-5 in those games.

• Utah State has gained more yards and controlled the time of possession in two of the last three meetings. Prior to that, BYU had more yards in 14 of the previous 15 meetings and controlled the time of possession in 11 of the previous 15 meetings.

• The team with fewer turnovers has won 13 of the last 18 games.

• Neither team has recorded 500 yards of total offense in the last 10 meetings. However, BYU had 500 yards of total offense six times in the previous eight meetings, while USU had 500 yards twice in the previous eight meetings.

• In the last 18 meetings, BYU has had a 300-yard passer seven times, a 100-yard rusher six times, with two of those players rushing for 200 yards, and a 100-yard receiver 13 times. USU has had a 300-yard passer four times in the last 18 meetings, a 100-yard rusher three times, and a 100-yard receiver seven times.

• In USU's 58-56 win in 1993, BYU tied the NCAA record at the time for most points scored by a losing team, tying Purdue's 56 points against Minnesota that same season.

• USU head coach Matt Wells was 25-of-48 passing for 218 yards for the Aggies against BYU in 1994, and had two tackles, including one for loss, to go along with a fumble recovery as a safety against BYU in 1996.

• USU assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Frank Maile started for the Aggies against BYU in 2006, but did not record any stats, in his only game played against the Cougars.

• USU outside receivers coach Jovon Bouknight had 25 receptions for 270 yards with two touchdowns in four games played for Wyoming against BYU, including seven catches for 87 yards and one touchdown as a senior in 2005 and nine catches for 96 yards as a freshman in 2002. Bouknight also had one career rush against the Cougars for 25 yards.

• USU Assistant AD for Football Operations Waqa Damuni had one reception for 29 yards for the Aggies against BYU in 1996 and did not record any stats against the Cougars in 1997.

• USU offensive administrative assistant Fahu Tahi rushed for 116 yards on 22 carries for BYU against the Aggies in 1999.

• USU defensive administrative assistant Uani `Unga had 17 tackles, to go along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery for BYU against the Aggies in 2013, and one tackle for loss for BYU against the Aggies in 2012.

FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State statistical individual and team performances against BYU over the years.

• Anthony Calvillo tied the USU single-game school record for touchdown passes with five against BYU in 1993... Calvillo also set single-game school records for total offensive plays (72), total offensive yards (537), points responsible for (42), pass attempts (57) and pass attempts without an interception (57) from that 1993 game... Calvillo also threw for 472 yards against BYU in 1993, which ranks as the third-most in school history.

• Tom Larscheid returned a kickoff 102 yards against BYU in 1960, which ranks as the second-longest in school history.

• Aubrey Thompson set the USU single-game school record for receptions by a tight end with 12 for 122 yards against BYU in 1993.

• Roger Fernandez set the USU single-game school record for kickoff return yards with 219 on seven returns against BYU in 2001.

• Hunter Sharp set the USU single-game school record for yards per reception (34.6) at BYU in 2014 as he caught five passes for 173 yards.

• Bob Gagliano threw for 358 yards against BYU in 1980, which ranks 27th all-time in school history.

• Aaron Jones had 195 receiving yards against BYU in 1999, which ranks 17th all-time at USU.

• Nakia Jenkins had 194 receiving yards against BYU in 1997, the 18th-most in school history.

• Jerome Dennis had a 75-yard interception return against BYU in 2002, to rank tied for the 10th-longest interception return in USU history.

• Robert Turbin had an 80-yard run against BYU in 2011, to rank tied for the 12th-longest run in school history.

• James Samuel had a 73-yard run against BYU in 2002, to rank as the 16th-longest in school history.

• Jeff Crosbie hit Aaron Jones on an 87-yard pass against BYU in 1999, to rank as the sixth-longest pass play in school history.

• Diondre Borel hit Xavier Martin on a 79-yard pass against BYU in 2010, to rank tied for the 21st-longest pass play in school history.

• Rusty Carlsen had a 70-yard punt against BYU in 1989, which is tied for the 11th-longest in USU history.

• Brad Bohn kicked a 55-yard field goal against BYU in 1999, the fifth-longest in school history.

• Utah State's 654 yards of total offense against BYU in 1993 ranks fourth all-time in school history, while its 578 yards against BYU in 1972 ranks 18th all-time.

• Utah State's 472 passing yards against BYU in 1993 ranks third all-time in school history, while its 380 yards in 1997 ranks 19th all-time.

• Utah State's 383 rushing yards against BYU in 1961 ranks 14th all-time in school history.

• Utah State limited BYU to just 51 yards of total offense in 1961, which ranks second all-time in school history, 83 yards in 1963, which is tied for the fourth-fewest, and 106 yards in 1960, which ranks as the ninth-fewest in USU history. USU also limited BYU to just 25 passing yards in 1961 to rank as the 11th-fewest in school history.

DID YOU KNOW?
• The winning team in the Utah State vs. BYU series has scored at least 27 points in 27 of the last 28 meetings, with the only exception being BYU's 6-3 win in Provo in 2012, which was the lowest scoring game in series history since a 0-0 tie in 1939 in Logan.

LAST MEETING at BYU
PROVO, Utah - Jamaal Williams rushed for 131 yards and one touchdown as BYU beat Utah State 28-10 in the battle for the Wagon Wheel on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, at LaVell Edwards Stadium. With the loss, the Aggies end the season at 3-9. The Cougars improved to 8-4.

Junior QB Kent Myers was 12-of-23 passing for 103 yards and one interception, and added 42 rushing yards on 12 carries. Junior WR Braelon Roberts and freshman WR Rayshad Lewis had three catches apiece for Utah State. Senior TE Wyatt Houston had two catches for 22 yards. He caught at least one pass in every game this season and finished his stellar Aggie career by catching a pass in 18 straight games. Junior RB Tonny Lindsey, Jr. led USU's ground attack with 47 yards on eight carries.

BYU QB Taysom Hill was 10-of-21 passing for 101 yards and a 10-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell Juergens that gave the Cougars a 21-10 lead late in the third quarter. Hill also had 46 yards rushing on 12 carries, but was injured early in the fourth quarter after landing awkwardly on his elbow. Tanner Mangum replaced Hill and threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Colby Pearson for the game's final score with 12:55 to go.

Utah State finished with a season-low 200 yards of total offense, and only 46 in the second half, as the Aggies had 103 passing yards and 97 yards rushing. BYU recorded 355 total yards, including 249 on the ground. The Cougars dominated the time of possession, 36:48 to 23:12. BYU also had 15 more first downs in the game (26-11), while both teams committed two turnovers in the contest.

Defensively, the Aggies were led by senior LB Anthony Williams, who had a game-best 12 tackles, including 1.0 sack, to end the season with four-straight double-digit tackle outings. Redshirt sophomore BS Gaje Ferguson added eight stops and senior LB Brock Carmen recorded seven tackles.

Playing against his former team, redshirt junior BS Dallin Leavitt had one of two interceptions by the Aggies. Junior CB Jalen Davis had the other.

Utah State cracked the scoreboard first when senior PK Brock Warren drilled a 28-yard field goal with 9:39 left in the opening quarter. The Aggies had a chance to make it 6-0 on their next possession, but redshirt freshman PK Dominik Eberle missed a 46-yard field goal attempt into the wind wide right.

Sophomore P Aaron Dalton punted six times for 261 yards (43.5 ypp), with a season-long of 56 yards as two of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.

The Cougars opened a 14-3 second-quarter lead following a 2-yard touchdown run by Williams and a 52-yard fumble recovery for a score by Michael Shelton.

With BYU leading 7-3 and the Aggies facing fourth-and-1 from midfield, junior QB Damion Hobbs picked up the first down on a rush up the middle. However, when it appeared as if his forward progress was stopped, BYU's defense pushed Hobbs back and stripped the ball. Shelton scooped it up and returned it for the score.

Utah State got some much-needed momentum back, though, when Davis intercepted a pass by Hill that bounced off a BYU receiver. Davis returned it 37 yards to the Cougars' 6-yard line. Two plays later, Hobbs scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with just 42 seconds remaining in the second. The Aggies trailed 14-10 at the break.

LAST MEETING vs. BYU IN LOGAN
LOGAN, Utah - Redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton set a Utah State record for career touchdown passes, but it still wasn't enough as the Aggies closed out the regular season with a 51-28 home loss to BYU on Nov. 28, 2015.

Keeton, who completed 20 passes on a career-high 45 attempts for 243 yards, eclipsed Jose Fuentes on the career touchdown list when he hit senior WR Hunter Sharp with a 24-yard touchdown pass to give the Aggies (6-6) a 21-10 lead with exactly three minutes left in the first half.

Keeton, who also rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, entered the game tied with Fuentes at 60 career touchdown passes. It was Keeton's 19th career 200-yard passing game.

Sharp finished with a game-best seven receptions for 100 yards, marking his second 100-yard receiving game this year and the sixth of his career.

BYU freshman QB Tanner Mangum completed 16-of-30 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns. His favorite target on the afternoon was senior WR Mitch Mathews, who caught six passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns for the Cougars (9-3).

Keeton gave the Aggies a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game when he kept the ball on an option read and ran untouched into the end zone from 52 yards out.

Utah State's early lead was short-lived, though. BYU junior RB Algernon Brown scored on an 8-yard touchdown run to tie it at 7-all with 10:08 remaining in the first. The Cougars then took their first lead when senior PK Trevor Samson booted a 41-yard field goal to make it 10-7 late in the quarter.

The Aggies moved back in front when sophomore RB LaJuan Hunt scored on a 6-yard touchdown run to make it 14-10 with 7:05 remaining in the second quarter. After Sharp caught Keeton's record-setting touchdown pass, the game turned in favor of the Cougars.

BYU answered right back on the very first play of the ensuing possession. Mathews got behind the Utah State secondary and Mangum hit him in stride for a 72-yard touchdown pass, pulling the Cougars within 21-17.

Disaster struck again for the Aggies right before the end of the half. While scrambling out of the pocket, Keeton fumbled the ball and BYU sophomore DE Tomasi Laulile picked it up and rumbled 37 yards into the end zone, giving the Cougars a 24-21 lead at the break.

BYU tacked on two more touchdowns in the third quarter to make it 38-21 before junior LB Nick Vigil stopped the bleeding with a 2-yard touchdown run early in the fourth, making it 38-28. It was Vigil's first rushing touchdown of the season and the fourth of his career.

But that's as close as the Aggies, who had two field goals blocked and had another hit off the uprights during the game, would get.

Mangum threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes to give the Cougars their final margin of victory.

Senior SS Marwin Evans led Utah State with a career-high 14 tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss. Vigil added nine stops for the Aggies.

Utah State finished the game with 445 total yards (243 passing, 202 rushing), while BYU finished with 358 total yards (284 passing, 74 rushing). The Aggies won the time of possession battle as they had the ball for nearly 33 minutes.

GAME 4 RECAP vs. SAN JOSÉ STATE
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Senior QB Kent Myers accounted for 265 yards of total offense and a career-high-tying four touchdowns as Utah State opened Mountain West play with a dominating 61-10 win over San José State on Saturday, Sept. 23, at CEFCU Stadium.

With the victory, the Aggies (2-2, 1-0 Mountain West) extended their winning streak to seven over the Spartans (1-4, 0-1 MW), including four in a row on the road.

Myers completed 18-of-24 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with 84 rushing yards and two more scores. He scored on a career-long 68-yard run in the third quarter to give the Aggies their largest lead of the game, 55-0.

Thirteen different Aggies caught a pass in the game, led by junior WR Ron'quavion Tarver, who had five receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman WR Jordan Nathan also caught five passes for 34 yards. Senior WR Braelon Roberts and sophomore WR Gerold Bright were on the receiving end of Myers' touchdown passes. Roberts hauled in a 19-yarder, while Bright went for 43 yards on a fourth-and-3 play.

Junior RB Eltoro Allen led Utah State's ground game with 89 yards and 18 carries. As a team, the Aggies finished with 318 yards on 57 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per rush. Senior RB LaJuan Hunt added 63 yards on 10 carries, including a 29-yard touchdown run to open the game's scoring with 9:26 to go in the first quarter.

Utah State racked up 589 yards of total offense, including 307 in the first half alone, on an eye-popping 98 plays. The Aggies led 38-0 at intermission.

Even the defense got into the scoring act as senior CB Jalen Davis sacked Josh Love, causing the Spartans' quarterback to fumble. Freshman LB Maika Magalei scooped up the ball and returned it 38 yards, making it 28-0 for the Aggies with 10:26 left in the second.

On the ensuing kickoff, SJSU fumbled a pooch kick by Utah State sophomore PK Dominik Eberle and Tarver recovered it at the Spartans' 28-yard line. Eight plays later, the Aggies were in the end zone again as redshirt freshman QB Jordan Love threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Tarver, giving the visitors a 35-0 lead.

Another special teams play set up Utah State's final score of the half as junior LB Louy Compton blocked a punt, which junior QB DJ Nelson recovered. A week ago at Wake Forest, Nelson blocked a punt of his own.

The Aggies cashed in on the block as Eberle connected on a 23-yard field goal. Later in the third quarter, Eberle drilled a career-long 52-yarder that gave USU a 48-0 lead.

Eberle was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals as he made good on a 20- and 27-yarder in the fourth quarter. His 19 points set a school record for points in a game by a kicker.

Defensively, the Aggies limited the Spartans to just 162 yards of total offense on 59 plays. All 10 of San José State's points came courtesy of two Aggie turnovers, including a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jermaine Kelly in the third quarter.

Junior LB Chase Christiansen led Utah State with eight tackles, to go along with a forced fumble. Redshirt freshman S Baron Gajkowski had three tackles, including 1.0 sacks, to go along with one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception.

Sophomore DE Jacoby Wildman finished with five tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks, and a fumble recovery. The Aggies forced five turnovers in the game, the most since the eight they had against Boise State during the 2015 season.

UTAH STATE RUNS ROUGHSHOD AGAINST SAN JOSÉ STATE
• Utah State had one of its most dominating performances in school history last weekend in its 61-10 road win at San José State. Overall, the 61 points are the second-most under head coach Matt Wells, trailing USU's 70-6 home win against Weber State in 2013. It was also the most points scored in a conference game since 1997, when USU posted a 63-17 road win at Idaho. The 51-point margin of victory was the 17th-largest in school history and largest since its 64-point win against Weber State in 2013. It is also the third-largest road win in school history and largest since posting a 56-point win (62-6) at Montana in 1963. And, it is the second-largest conference road win, trailing only its 57-0 win at Wyoming in 1917.

• Offensively, Utah State ran 98 plays, which are the second-most in school history behind the 99 plays ran against Arkansas State in 1995. USU finished the game with 589 yards, which are its second-most in a game this season, and the 16th most in school history. USU also held the ball for 39:41, which is its most since Nov. 24, 2001, at South Florida when it possessed the ball for 40:14.

• Defensively, Utah State limited San José State to 162 yards, including just 54 passing yards, and 10 first downs, all of which are season lows for an Aggie opponent. In fact, USU's defense held SJSU to just three points as the Spartans' touchdown was on a 68-yard interception return, while its 53-yard field goal followed a USU fumble where the defense held SJSU to a three-and-out.

• In fact, San José State only crossed midfield three times in the game, with one of those drives starting in Aggies territory following a fumble recovery, and the Spartans never snapped the ball in the red zone, which is a first for an Aggie opponent since 2013 when USU held Weber State out of the red zone the entire game. USU also did not allow a single explosive play for San José State, a first for the Aggies since their 2013 game against Weber State.

UTAH STATE THROWS KITCHEN SINK AT SPARTANS IN SECOND QUARTER
• Utah State literally threw the kitchen sink at San José State during a 24-point second quarter in its 61-10 road win last weekend. During its first series of the quarter, USU scored on a 43-yard touchdown pass from senior QB Kent Myers to sophomore WR Gerold Bright on fourth-and-3. On the next series, senior CB Jalen Davis sacked SJSU QB Josh Love and freshman LB Maika Magalei picked up the loose ball and ran 38 yards for the touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, sophomore PK Dominik Eberle did a pooch kick that was recovered by junior WR Ron'quavion Tarver. Eight plays later, redshirt freshman QB Jordan Love connected with Tarver on a 23-yard touchdown pass. And on the next SJSU series, junior LB Louy Compton blocked a Spartan punt that resulted in a 23-yard field goal by Eberle.

AGGIES SCORE TWO TOUCHDOWNS ON FOURTH DOWN AGAINST SPARTANS
• Utah State was a perfect 3-of-3 on fourth-down plays last weekend at San José State, and even scored a pair of touchdowns on two of those fourth-down conversions. USU's first score on fourth down was on a 29-yard run by senior RB LaJuan Hunt on a fourth-and-1 play in the first quarter. Its second score on fourth down was on a 43-yard pass from senior QB Kent Myers to sophomore WR Gerold Bright on a fourth-and-3 play in the second quarter.

• In fact, all six of the touchdowns that were scored by the Aggies' offense came on either third or fourth down. For the season, USU is now 6-for-8 (.750) on fourth-down plays, to rank second in the Mountain West and 18th in the nation. Last year, USU was 9-of-19 (,474) on fourth down plays.

EBERLE SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR POINTS BY A KICKER
• Sophomore PK Dominik Eberle set a school record for points by a kicker with 19 last weekend at San José State. Eberle was 7-of-7 on extra points and 4-of-4 on field goals (23, 52, 20, 27), both of which are career highs. His 52-yard field goal was also a career long and tied for the 10th-longest in school history. The previous record was held by Brad Bohn (1997-2000) who scored 18 points (5 FG, 3 PATs) against New Mexico in 1998. Eberle's 19 points are also the second-most by a kicker in Mountain West history and the most by a non-senior.

• For Eberle, he is now 8-of-8 on the season and 11-of-13 in his career on field goal attempts, including 5-of-5 this year and 7-of-7 in his career from 20-29 yards, and 1-of-1 in his career from 50-59 yards. Eberle currently ranks tied for first in the nation in field goal percentage, tied for second in the MW and tied for sixth in the nation in field goals made per game (2.0), and fourth in the MW and 29th in the nation in scoring (9.8 ppg).

MYERS TIES CAREER HIGH WITH FOUR TOUCHDOWNS AGAINST SAN JOSÉ STATE
• Senior QB Kent Myers accounted for four touchdowns at San José State last weekend with two passing and two rushing scores. Overall, it is the fifth time in his career that Myers has accounted for four touchdowns in a game. Against the Spartans, Myers was 18-of-24 passing for 181 yards, and rushed for 84 yards on 15 carries. His touchdown throws were from 19 and 43 yards, while his touchdown runs were from 1 and 68 yards, which is his career-long rush.

• For Myers, it is the eighth time in his career he has had multiple touchdown passes and the fifth time he has had multiple rushing touchdowns in a game. It is also the second time this year and in his career he has had multiple passing and rushing touchdowns in the same game, as he also had two touchdown passes and two touchdown runs against Idaho State. And finally, it is the eighth time in his career that he has rushed and passed for a touchdown in the same game.

MYERS RANKS 19TH ALL-TIME IN RUSHING
• Senior QB Kent Myers has rushed for 1,299 yards on 290 carries (4.5 ypc) during his career to rank 19th all-time in school history, including third all-time among quarterbacks, trailing Chuckie Keeton (2011-15), who ranks 14th all-time with 1,415 yards and Diondre Borel (2007-10), who ranks 16th all-time with 1,398 rushing yards. Myers has one career 100-yard rushing game as he set a school record for quarterbacks with 191 yards on 16 carries against Colorado State in 2015.

MYERS HAS 18 CAREER RUSHING TDs
• Senior QB Kent Myers has 18 rushing touchdowns in his career, to rank tied for ninth all-time in school history along with Roy Shivers (1964-65).

• Myers has five games with multiple rushing touchdowns as he had a career-high three against San José State in 2014 and two against both Colorado State and Nevada in 2016, and two against both Idaho State and San José State this year.

HUNT RANKS 25TH ALL-TIME IN RUSHING
• Senior RB LaJuan Hunt has rushed for 1,164 yards on 296 carries (4.0 ypc) to rank 25th all-time in school history. Hunt has one 100-yard rushing game in his career as he set a true freshman school record with 34 carries for 145 yards against Hawai'i in 2014.

MYERS RANKS AMONG TOP 10 QBS ALL-TIME IN GAMES PLAYED AND STARTED
• Senior QB Kent Myers started his 30th career game and played in his 32nd last weekend, both of which rank sixth all-time in school history for quarterbacks, respectively. Chuckie Keeton (2011-15) holds the school record for games started by a quarterback with 35, while Diondre Borel (2007-10) holds the school record for games played by a quarterback with 44.

MYERS THIRD ALL-TIME IN COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
• Senior QB Kent Myers is 487-of-793 (.614) passing for 5,625 yards with 35 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in his career, and that completion percentage ranks third all-time in school history behind Darell Garretson (.631) and Chuckie Keeton (.629).

• For his career, Myers has an interception percentage of just 0.025, which ranks third all-time in school history behind Chuckie Keeton (.022) and Anthony Calvillo (0.23), with his 35 touchdowns and 20 interceptions on 793 career attempts. Myers has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 18 of his last 24 games and multiple touchdowns eight times in his career, which includes five games with three or more touchdown passes. In his career, Myers has 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions at home, and 17 touchdowns and 13 interceptions on the road.

MYERS MOVES UP IN CAREER RANKINGS IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES
• Senior QB Kent Myers moved up the career rankings in several categories following his performance last weekend at San José State. With his two touchdown passes, Myers moved ahead of Eric Hipple (1976-79, 34) and into a tie with Anthony Calvillo (1992-93) for sixth all-time in school history with 35 career touchdown passes. Myers was also 18-of-24 passing and has now completed 487 passes in his career, moving ahead of Brent Snyder (1987-88, 472) and into fourth all-time in school history. Myers added two rushing touchdowns, giving him 18 in his career, as he moved ahead of Diondre Borel (2007-10, 17) and is now tied with Roy Shivers (1964-65) for the ninth most in school history. Myers also rushed for 84 yards, giving him 1,299 rushing yards in his career as he moved ahead of Devante Mays (2015-16, 1,225), Archie Gibson (1972-73, 1,235) and Demetrius Brown (1986-89, 1,252) and into 19th place all-time in school history.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State's starting running back and leading rusher from the previous season has been injured in each of the last two years. In 2016, Devante Mays played in just six games and rushed for just 259 yards on 37 carries with three touchdowns after leading the team as a junior in 2015 as he gained 966 yards on 165 carries (5.9 ypc) with nine touchdowns. Mays is currently in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. This season, Tonny Lindsey Jr. gained 28 yards on six carries in the season opener at No. 9 Wisconsin before suffering a season-ending injury. In 2016, Lindsey Jr. rushed for 763 yards on 148 carries (5.2 ypc) and six touchdowns.

UTAH STATE RANKS SECOND IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN SCORING OFFENSE
• Through the first four games of the season, Utah State is averaging 33.0 points per game to rank tied for second in the Mountain West and tied for 53rd in the nation. USU also ranks third in the MW and 47th nationally in completion percentage (.629), fourth in the conference and 48th in the nation in passing offense (264.0 ypg), fourth in the MW and 54th nationally in total offense (439.0 ypg), sixth in the MW and 57th in the nation in rushing offense (175.0 ypg), eight in the conference and 74th in the nation in sacks allowed (2.25 pg), and ninth in the MW and 87th in the nation in passing efficiency (125.5).

• Utah State's offense also ranks second in the MW and 18th in the nation in fourth down conversions (.750) as it has been successful on six of its eight fourth down attempts this year, and third in the MW and 39th in the nation in first downs (21.5 pg).

AGGIES RANK 41ST NATIONALLY IN PASSING DEFENSE
• Utah State's defense is allowing 196.2 passing yards per game to rank fourth in the Mountain West and 41st in the nation. USU also ranks tied for fourth in the conference and tied for 54th nationally in sacks allowed (2.25 pg), seventh in the MW and 66th in the nation in total defense (382.8 ypg), seventh in the MW and 83rd in the nation in passing efficiency defense (131.8), eighth in the conference in scoring defense (32.0 ppg), and ninth in the MW and 93rd in the nation in rushing defense (186.5 ypg).

UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE RANKS THIRD NATIONALLY IN FUMBLES RECOVERED
• Utah State's defense has recovered six fumbles this season, which ranks first in the Mountain West and third in the nation. USU has also intercepted three passes this season, which ranks sixth in the MW and 59th nationally, while its nine total forced turnovers on the year ranks second in the MW and 13th nationally.

• Utah State has forced nine turnovers this season (six fumbles, three interceptions) and has now forced 119 turnovers in its last 66 games, including at least one turnover in 51 of its last 66 games. USU has also recorded 56 interceptions in its last 53 games, including at least one pick in 28 of its last 53 games and multiple interceptions in 17 of its last 53 games. Overall, USU has forced three or more turnovers in 13 of its last 42 games.

UTAH STATE ALREADY HAS TWO DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS THIS SEASON
• Utah State's defense has already scored two touchdowns this year as senior CB Jalen Davis returned an interception 25 yards for a score against Idaho State, while freshman LB Maika Magalei returned a fumble 38 yards for a score against San José State. Those two defensive touchdowns rank first in the Mountain West and eighth in the nation. Overall, USU has now scored 13 defensive touchdowns in its last 50 games.

UTAH STATE RANKS 18TH IN THE NATION IN KICKOFF RETURN DEFENSE
• Utah State ranks fourth in the Mountain West and 18th in the nation in kickoff return defense (16.4 ypr), third in the conference and 34th in the nation in punt returns (11.8 ypr), seventh in the MW and 74th nationally in turnover margin (-0.25), seventh in the MW and 95th in the nation in net punting (36.0 ypp), and ninth in the conference in kickoff returns (17.9 ypr).

DAVIS RANKS NATIONALLY IN PASSES DEFENDED AND INTERCEPTIONS
• Senior CB Jalen Davis ranks among the top 25 players nationally in both passes defended and interceptions. On the season, Davis has four pass breakups and two interceptions for six passes defended, which ranks first in the Mountain West and 20th nationally. Davis also ranks tied for first in the MW and tied for 24th nationally with his two interceptions, and is tied for seventh in the MW with two sacks (0.5 spg).

MYERS LEADING THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
• Senior QB Kent Myers leads the Mountain West and ranks 23rd in the nation in completion percentage (.667). Myers also ranks third in the conference and 37th in the nation with his four rushing touchdowns, third in the MW and 42nd in the nation in completions (19.0 pg), third in the MW and 60th in the nation in total offense (240.0 ypg), third in the MW and 68th in the nation in passing yards (198.4.2 ypg), and fifth in the MW in passing efficiency (125.0).

OTHER AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
• Junior LB Louy Compton ranks first nationally with his two blocked kicks. Freshman LB Maika Magalei ranks tied for seventh in the MW in sacks (0.5 pg). Junior WR Ron'quavion Tarver ranks seventh in the MW and 86th in the nation in receptions per game (4.8). Junior RB Eltoro Allen ranks 10th in the MW in rushing (52.2 ypg). Junior LB Chase Christiansen ranks tied for 17th in the MW in tackles (7.0 pg). Junior LB Suli Tamaivena ranks 20th in the MW in tackles (6.8 pg). Junior BS Gaje Ferguson ranks tied for 29th in the MW in tackles (5.8 pg). Senior BS Dallin Leavitt ranks tied for 36th in the MW in tackles (5.5 pg). Sophomore PK Dominik Eberle ranks tied for first in the nation in field goal percentage as he is 8-for-8 on the season. Eberle also ranks tied for second in the MW and tied for sixth in the nation in field goals made (2.0 pg), and fourth in the MW and 29th in the nation in scoring (9.8 ppg). And, junior P Aaron Dalton ranks sixth in the MW and 61st in the nation in punting (41.5 ypp).

WHAT'S RETURNING IN 2017
• Utah State returns 14 starters (O-6, D-8) and 38 letterwinners (O-16, D-20, S-2) from last year's team that went 3-9 and finished in sixth place in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 1-7 record. Highlighting Utah State's returners in 2017 is senior quarterback Kent Myers, who earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors as a sophomore in 2015. Utah State returns five other starters on offense in senior OT Preston Brooksby, senior RB Tonny Lindsey Jr., junior WR Ron'quavion Tarver, junior OG KJ Uluave and junior WR Zach Van Leeuwen. USU also returns eight starters on defense in senior CB Wesley Bailey, senior CB Jalen Davis, senior LB Alex Huerta, senior BS Dallin Leavitt, senior DE Ian Togiai, junior BS Gaje Ferguson, junior LB Derek Larsen and junior FS Jontell Rocquemore, to go along with two specialists returning in senior LS Emmett Odegard and junior P Aaron Dalton.

WHAT UTAH STATE MUST REPLACE FROM 2016
• Utah State must replace six players who earned various all-Mountain West honors in 2016, including NG Travis Seefeldt, who earned second-team honors, and OL Austin Albrecht, DE Ricky Ali'ifua, TE Wyatt Houston, OL Jake Simonich and OC Austin Stephens, who were all named to the honorable mention team. Other offensive starters lost include OL Jude Hockel, WR Andrew Rodriquez and WR Rayshad Lewis, and other defensive starters lost include LB Brock Carmen, FS Devin Centers, DE Edmund Faimalo, CB Daniel Gray and LB Anthony Williams.

AGGIES IN OVERTIME
• Utah State is 6-5 all-time in overtime, winning three of its last four. All-time, USU is 4-2 in single-overtime games, 2-2 in double-overtime games, and 0-1 in triple-overtime games. USU's last overtime game was a 21-14 loss at Arkansas State on Sept. 20, 2014.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Of Utah State's seven Mountain West losses in 2016, five were by a combined 29 points (5.8 ppg) as USU lost at home to Air Force by seven points (27-20), at No. 24 Boise State by 11 points (21-10), at Colorado State by seven points (31-24), to New Mexico by three points (24-21), and at Nevada by one point (38-37). Furthermore, USU surrendered three double-digit leads in the second half of the 2016 season at Colorado State (14 points), against New Mexico at home (15 points), and at Nevada (13 points), not to mention a seven-point second-quarter lead at home against Air Force.

UTAH STATE COACHING CHANGES FOR 2017
• Utah State's coaching staff had two changes during the offseason as fifth-year head coach Matt Wells hired David Yost as the offensive coordinator working with the quarterbacks, and Mark Tommerdahl as the special teams coordinator and running backs coach. Coaches who left the USU program following the 2016 season include assistant head coach/running backs/tight ends coach Mike Canales, who went to Tennessee, and linebackers coach David Kotulski, who went to Mercyhurst University.

UTAH STATE THE ONLY PROGRAM WITH NEW OFFENSIVE COORDINATORS FOUR YEARS IN A ROW WITH SAME HEAD COACH
• Utah State is the only FBS program to have a new offensive coordinator in each of the past four seasons under the same head coach. In 2014, Kevin McGiven was the offensive coordinator. In 2015, Josh Heupel was the offensive coordinator. In 2016, Jovon Bouknight and Luke Wells were co-offensive coordinators. And in 2017, David Yost is the offensive coordinator. Kansas has had a new offensive coordinator in each of the past five seasons under different head coaches and Pittsburgh has had new offensive coordinators in each of the last four seasons under different head coaches.

WELLS' 30 WINS FIFTH-MOST IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State head coach Matt Wells' 30 wins rank fifth all-time in school history, while his 52.6 winning percentage (30-27) ranks seventh all-time with a minimum of 15 games coached.

MORE ON UTAH STATE'S HEAD COACH Matt Wells
• Utah State head coach Matt Wells is in his fifth season in charge of the Aggie football program and is the longest tenured head coach since Mick Dennehy (2000-04) also spent five years at USU. In fact, Wells is tied with Dennehy and George P. Campbell (1902-06) as the sixth-longest tenured head coaches in 120 seasons of Utah State football.

• Matt Wells coached in his third bowl game in 2015 to set the school record for most bowl games by a head coach. E. Lowell `Dick' Romney (1946, 1947), John Ralston (1960, 1961) and Gary Andersen (2011, 2012) all coached the Aggies in two bowl games, while Charlie Weatherbie (1993) and John L. Smith (1997) each coached one bowl game at USU.

• Matt Wells, the 2013 Mountain West Coach of the Year, is one of just 21 coaches to lead his alma mater. He is also just the second Utah State graduate to be appointed its head football coach, joining Chris Pella, who graduated from USU in 1965 and coached the Aggies from 1983-85.

WELLS ONE OF 21 FBS HEAD COACHES AT HIS ALMA MATER
• Utah State head coach Matt Wells is one of the 21 current FBS head coaches who are the head coaches at their alma mater, joining John Bonamego (Central Michigan), Troy Calhoun (Air Force), Paul Chryst (Wisconsin), Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Bryan Harsin (Boise State), Paul Haynes (Kent State), Kliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech), Sean Kugler (UTEP), Tim Lester (Western Michigan), Mike Neu (Ball State), Barry Odum (Missouri), Mark Richt (Miami), Nick Rolovich (Hawai'i), Scott Satterfield (Appalachian State), David Shaw (Stanford), Kalani Sitake (BYU), Kirby Smart (Georiga) and Jeff Tedford (Fresno State).

• Of the 21 head coaches listed above who are currently at their alma mater, the Mountain West leads all conferences with five.

UTAH STATE WITH SIX HOME GAMES ONCE AGAIN IN 2017
• Utah State's 2017 schedule marks the eighth-straight season, the ninth time in the last 10 years, and the 10th time in the last 21 years that it will play six home games. Overall, the Aggies have had six home games on the slate just 14 times: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1978, 1952.

A FINAL LOOK AT UTAH STATE IN 2016
• Utah State ended its 2016 season with a 3-9 record and finished sixth in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 1-7 record. Offensively, USU was led by junior QB Kent Myers, who was 211-of-361 (.584) passing for 2,389 yards (199.1 ypg) with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Junior RB Tonny Lindsey Jr. led the team in rushing with 763 yards on 148 carries (5.2 ypc / 63.6 ypg) with six touchdowns, while sophomore WR Ron'quavion Tarver had a team-best 46 receptions for 602 yards (13.1 ypr / 50.2 ypg) with three touchdowns. Defensively, redshirt senior LB Anthony Williams led the team with 96 tackles, which included 2.0 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss, while senior LB Brock Carmen had 64 tackles, which included 3.0 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss. As a team, Utah State averaged 23.9 points and 376.2 yards of total offense (205.8 passing, 170.5 rushing), and allowed 29.3 points and 379.8 yards of total offense (203.3 rushing, 176.5 passing).

UTAH STATE STREAKS THAT ENDED IN 2016
• Utah State had several streaks that ended during the 2016 season, including missing out on a bowl game for the first time since the 2010 campaign. From 2011 to 2015, USU played in a school-record five-straight bowl games, winning three. USU had also won at least six games in each of its previous five seasons, which was tied with the 1971-75 teams for the longest streak in school history. And finally, USU had won at least five conference games in each of its previous five seasons, which was a school record.

UTAH STATE HAS NINE BOWL TEAMS ON ITS 2017 SCHEDULE
• Utah State's 2017 schedule features nine teams who played in bowl games a year ago as Wisconsin played in the Cotton Bowl (W, 24-16 vs. Western Michigan); Wake Forest played in the Military Bowl (W, 34-26 vs. Temple); BYU played in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (W, 24-21 vs. Wyoming); Colorado State played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (L, 61-50 vs. Idaho); Wyoming played in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (L, 24-21 vs. BYU); Boise State played in the Cactus Bowl (L, 31-12 vs. Baylor); New Mexico played in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl (W, 23-20 vs. UTSA); Hawai'i played in the Hawaii Bowl (W, 52-35 vs. Middle Tennessee); and Air Force played in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl (W, 45-21 vs. South Alabama).

UTAH STATE BOWL HISTORY
• Utah State has a 4-7 bowl record all-time as it lost to San José State, 20-0, in the 1946 Raisin Bowl (Fresno, Calif.); lost to Pacific, 35-21, in the 1947 Grape Bowl (Lodi, Calif.); lost to New Mexico State, 20-13, in the 1960 Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas); lost to Baylor, 24-9, in the 1961 Gotham Bowl (New York City); defeated Ball State, 42-33, in the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl II; lost to Cincinnati, 35-19, in the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl; lost to Ohio, 24-23, in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl; defeated Toledo, 41-15, in the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, defeated No. 24 Northern Illinois, 21-14, in the 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl; defeated UTEP, 21-6, in the 2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl; and lost to Akron, 23-21, in the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has nine players listed on its current depth chart that began their Aggie careers as walk-ons in senior LS Emmett Odegard, senior WR Braelon Roberts, junior P Aaron Dalton, junior BS Gaje Ferguson, junior OC Quin Ficklin, junior LB Derek Larsen, junior WR Zach Van Leeuwen, sophomore PK Dominik Eberle and redshirt freshman CB Ja'Marcus Ingram.

• Utah State also has five other players on its current depth chart who are currently walk-ons in junior OL Jake Templeton, junior WR Aaren Vaughns, sophomore P Zach Lee, sophomore PK Michael Smith and redshirt freshman LS Brandon Pada.

HEAD COACH Matt Wells
• Matt Wells has wasted little time putting his stamp on the Aggie football program in his first five seasons as head coach, as USU is 30-27, including a 20-13 Mountain West record. USU also played in its fifth-straight bowl game in 2015.

• In his five years as head coach, Wells has led Utah State to three wins against top 25 opponents, one more than USU had overall prior to his tenure.

• During the 2015 season, Wells mentored 12 players who earned all-Mountain West honors, which were the third-most in the conference. Wells also coached Kyler Fackrell, who was named a fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele.

• Wells coached three players who participated in the 2016 NFL Combine in Fackrell, Hunter Sharp and Nick Vigil, while 10 players from the 2015 roster were invited to NFL camps, including Vigil (Cincinnati Bengals) and Fackrell (Green Bay Packers), who were both selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

• Wells led Utah State to 10 wins in 2014 to rank as the second-most in school history behind the 2012 team that finished with an 11-2 record, including its third-straight bowl win with a 21-6 victory against UTEP in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.

• During the 2014 season, Wells mentored 15 players who earned 16 all-Mountain West honors, which were the most in the league and tied for the third-most in school history. Wells also coached two All-Americans as Zach Vigil was named a second-team All-American by USA Today Sports, while Jalen Davis was named a True Freshman All-American by 247Sports. Vigil was also named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.

• Wells was named the 2013 Mountain West Coach of the Year as he set the school record for wins by a first-year head coach as the Aggies went 9-5.

• Wells led Utah State to the inaugural Mountain West Championship game after winning the Mountain Division with a 7-1 record in 2013. He also led USU to just its third-ever bowl victory as it posted a 21-14 win against No. 24 Northern Illinois in the 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

• During his first year as USU's head coach, Wells mentored 14 Aggies who earned various all-Mountain West honors, including three All-Americans as Tyler Larsen was named a second-team All-American by USA Today Sports, Nevin Lawson was named a third-team All-American by College Sports Madness, and Kyler Fackrell was named an honorable mention Sophomore All-American by College Football News.

• Wells coached a school-record four players who participated in the 2014 NFL Combine in Larsen, Lawson, Maurice Alexander and D.J. Tialavea, while 11 players from the 2013 roster were invited to NFL camps, including Alexander (Los Angeles Rams) and Lawson (Detroit Lions), who were both selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

• Overall, Wells is the second USU coach and fifth in school history to garner conference coach of the year honors along with Bruce Snyder (1978), Chuck Shelton (1991), John L. Smith (1997) and Gary Andersen (2012). Wells is also the fourth individual to earn MW Coach of the Year honors in his first season, along with BYU's Gary Crowton (2001), Utah's Urban Meyer (2003) and Air Force's Troy Calhoun (2007).

• Wells is one of just 19 FBS coaches to lead his alma mater and is just the second Utah State graduate to be appointed its head football coach, joining Chris Pella, who graduated from USU in 1965 and coached the Aggies from 1983-85.

• Prior to being named the head coach at his alma mater, Wells spent the previous two seasons as an assistant at Utah State, including serving as the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2012. In 2011, Wells coached USU's quarterbacks and was the team's recruiting coordinator.

• During his six years at Utah State, Wells has been part of a USU program that played in five straight bowl games for the first time in school history, and won three-straight bowl games for the first time ever.

• As offensive coordinator in 2012, Utah State concluded its most successful season in program history with a school-best 11-2 record. USU also won its first outright conference championship since 1936.