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AGGIES HOST MOUNTAIN WEST-FOE UNLV IN HOMECOMING GAME SATURDAY
Game will be third of five Utah State contests aired exclusively on Facebook.
 
UNLV (2-3, 0-1 MW) vs. (RV) UTAH STATE (4-1, 1-0 MW)
Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 • 2 p.m. (MT) • Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)
 
GAME 6 INFORMATION
STREAMING: Facebook (Stadium)
• Play-by-Play: Ari Wolfe
• Analyst: Bruce Gradkowski
• Reporter: Dani Klupenger
• Sidelines (Social): Paige Zamora
• Internet: Facebook.com/StadiumCollegeFootball
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard
• Analyst: Kevin White
• Online: 1280thezone.com / Tunein.com
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AggiesAllTheWay
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com
 
AGGIE RADIO NETWORK
• 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 quarterback Kevin White (1988-89) 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)
• Montpelier, ID: KVSI (1450 AM/101.7 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 (4-1, 1-0 MW) continues Mountain West play this weekend as it hosts UNLV (2-3, 0-1 MW) in its annual Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 13, at  2 p.m. USU is 16-7 all-time against the Rebels, including an 8-3 home record. Overall, USU has won four straight games against UNLV and seven of the last nine games played in the series.
 
• Utah State's 4-1 start to the season is its best since 2012 and the last time USU began a year with a 5-1 record was back in 1978, when that team won its first five games. USU is also looking to begin Mountain West play with a 2-0 record for the third time as the 2013 team won its first two league games and the 2015 team won its first three conference games.
 
• Utah State is 24-17 (.585) all-time in the Mountain West, including a 14-7 (.667) home record, and has won 35 of its last 52 (.673) league games dating back to 2011.
 
• Utah State is 3-0 at home inside Maverik Stadium this season and is 32-9 (.780) in its last 41 home games, which includes a 24-9 (.727) record under head coach Matt Wells. Overall, USU has won four-straight home games and is 144-105 (.578) in Maverik Stadium.
 
• Utah State ranks among the top 40 teams in the nation in 20 different statistical categories, including third in scoring offense (50.2 points per game), fifth in defensive touchdowns (3), seventh in turnovers forced (13), ninth in kickoff returns (27.69 yards per return), and 19th in tackles for loss (7.8 per game). USU also ranks tied for fifth in the nation with nine scoring drives on the season of less than 60 seconds, but also has eight scoring drives of 10-plus plays and 13 scoring drives that have covered at least 70 yards.
 
• Utah State sophomore QB Jordan Love made his first career start against UNLV last season and was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week as he was 19-of-27 passing for 316 yards and two touchdowns from 70 and 75 yards in USU's 52-28 win. He also rushed for 42 yards on eight carries and scored on a 5-yard run against the Rebels. Love's 316 passing yards in that game were the third-most by a freshman in school history.
 
AGGIES CONTINUE MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY WITH HOMECOMING GAME AGAINST UNLV
• Utah State continues Mountain West play this weekend by hosting UNLV in its annual Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 2 p.m. The game will be aired exclusively on Facebook with Ari Wolfe (play-by-play), Bruce Gradkowski (analyst), Dani Klupenger (reporter) and Paige Zamora (sidelines-social media) on the call. Live audio of the game is available on www.UtahStateAggies.com. USU is 544-541-31 (.501) in its previous 120 seasons.
 
• Utah State is 53-32-2 (.621) all-time in Homecoming games, which includes a 3-0 record against UNLV.
 
• Utah State has won 14 of its last 25 games played during the month of October and is 6-4-2 all-time in games played on Oct. 13.
 
UTAH STATE RECEIVING VOTES IN BOTH POLLS
• Following its 45-20 road win at BYU last weekend, Utah State football is receiving votes in both polls this week as it garnered nine votes in The Associated Press poll and 11 votes in the Coaches poll to rank 32nd and 33rd in the nation, respectively. For Utah State, it is the first time it has received votes in either poll since Oct. 18, 2015, following its 52-26 home win against then-No. 21 Boise State, as it received seven votes in the AP poll to rank 36th and five votes in the coaches poll to rank tied for 34th.
 
UTAH STATE FOOTBALL ON FACEBOOK
• Utah State's Mountain West home game against UNLV, through a partnership with Stadium, will be the third of five Aggie home games that will air exclusively on Facebook this fall. Facebook is a platform that has more than 100 million video views daily.
 
UTAH STATE RETURNS PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE IN 2018
• Utah State returns 18 starters (O-9, D-9) and 47 letterwinners (O-19, D-26, S-2) from last season, which is the third-most in the nation behind Florida (19) and Michigan State (19). When you add in its two returning specialists, USU's 20 returning starters is tied for the third-most in the nation behind Baylor (22) and Michigan State (22), and tied with Florida (20), Michigan (20) and UAB (20).
 
A LOOK AT UTAH STATE
• Utah State is 4-1 on the season and 1-0 in Mountain West play following its 45-20 non-conference road win at BYU last weekend. Offensively, USU is led by sophomore QB Jordan Love, who is 108-of-163 (.663) passing for 1,235 yards (247.0 ypg) with nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Junior RB Darwin Thompson leads the team in rushing with 374 yards on 45 carries (8.3 ypc/74.8 ypg) with six touchdowns, and senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver has a team-best 25 receptions for 246 yards (9.8 ypr/49.2 ypg) with two touchdowns. Defensively, sophomore LB David Woodward leads the team with 46 tackles, which includes 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss, while senior LB Chase Christiansen has 34 tackles, which includes 0.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss. As a team, Utah State is averaging 50.2 points and 454.8 yards of total offense (260.6 passing, 194.2 rushing), and allowing 23.0 points and 357.8 yards of total offense (200.6 passing, 157.2 rushing).
 
A LOOK AT UTAH STATE DURING ITS FOUR-GAME WINNING STREAK
• During its current four-game winning streak, Utah State is averaging 55.0 points and 482.5 yards per game (246.0 passing, 236.5 rushing), while converting 44.4 percent of its third downs (21-48). Defensively, USU is allowing just 19.2 points and 334.2 yards (179.0 passing, 155.2 rushing), while limiting its opponents to just 20-of-69 (.290) on third downs.
 
• Utah State's current four-game winning streak is the third-longest under head coach Matt Wells, and the longest since winning five-straight games during the 2014 season. USU also won five-straight games under Wells in 2013.
 
UTAH STATE'S OFFENSE LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD UNDER WELLS
• Utah State's offense is lighting up the scoreboard so far in 2018 as it has scored 30-plus points in each of its first five games, which is a school record. USU has also scored 40-plus points in each of its last four games, marking the first time in 121 seasons of Aggie football that that has ever happened.
 
• Under head coach Matt Wells, Utah State has scored 50-plus points 10 times and 60 or more points four times, both of which are school records. Prior to Wells, E. Lowell 'Dick' Romney (1919-48) held the school record with six 50-point games in 29 seasons, while John Ralston (1959-62) and Tony Knap (1963-66) shared the school record for most 60-point games with two each, as both coaches spent four seasons at USU. Utah State also scored 60-plus points in back-to-back games for the first time in school history this year. Overall, the Aggies have scored 50-plus points in back-to-back games three times in school history, all under Wells. Utah State also set a school record last year under Wells by scoring 50-plus points in three games.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State's current streak of scoring at least 30 points in each of its first five games of the season is tied for the fourth-longest streak in college football. UCF has scored at least 30 points in 18 straight games, followed by Appalachian State (7), Alabama (6), Georgia (6), Utah State (5), Houston (5), Oregon (5) and West Virginia (5).
 
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 151-179-8 (.458) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 38-26-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 33-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, a 16-7 record vs. UNLV, a 17-20-1 record vs. San José State, a 12-17-1 record vs. Fresno State, an 11-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 9-6 record vs. Hawai`i, a 6-18 record vs. Nevada, a 5-17 record vs. Boise State, a 3-4 record vs. Air Force, and a 1-12 record vs. San Diego State.
 
UTAH STATE BEGINS SIXTH SEASON IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State begins its sixth year as a member of the Mountain West in 2018 and has been a Division I-A/Bowl Championship Series football playing school in each of its 119 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.
 
AGGIES BLOCK FIRST KICK OF THE SEASON IN AIR FORCE GAME
• Utah State blocked its first kick of the 2018 season against Air Force two weeks ago as junior LB Tipa Galeai blocked a 40-yard field goal. Last year, USU ranked fourth in the nation with four blocked punts and the single-season school record for blocks is six set in 2012 (3 FGs, 2 punts, 1 PAT). Overall, USU has blocked 15 kicks under head coach Matt Wells.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS WITH UTAH STATE
• Utah State has scored first in four of its first five games this season, as Tennessee Tech converted a field goal for the first score of the game.
 
• Utah State has led at the end of the first quarter in all five of its games this season and has a 61-16 scoring advantage on the season in the first quarter. USU also has a 134-57 scoring advantage in the first half in games this season and has out-scored its opponents in every quarter during the season thus far.
 
UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 26 of its last 31 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 4-0 record this year, and 29 of its last 32 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game, including a 3-0 record this year. USU has also won 44 of its last 47 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 4-1 record this season.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has had a 100-yard rusher in each of its last four games, in eight of its last nine games, and in nine of its last 11 games dating back to last season. Between the 2014 and 2016 seasons, USU had a total of nine 100-yard rushers over a 39-game span. USU ended the 2017 season by having a 100-yard rusher in each of its final four games, and the last time it had a 100-yard rusher in five-straight games was in 2011.
 
• Utah State has 18 rushing touchdowns in its first five games this season as compared to 24 rushing touchdowns all of last season. The school record for rushing touchdowns is 39 in 1961. Along with its 18 rushing touchdowns this year, USU also has four touchdown runs of at least 50 yards on the season.
 
• Utah State had a 300-yard passer, 100-yard receiver and 100-yard rusher against Air Force two games ago as sophomore QB Jordan Love passed for a career-high 356 yards, senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver had 128 receiving yards and junior RB Gerold Bright had 101 rushing yards. For USU, it was the first time since the 2013 season that USU had a 300-yard passer, 100-yard receiver and 100-yard rusher in the same game since Darell Garreston passed for 370 yards, Travis Reynolds had 152 receiving yards, and Joey DeMartino rushed for 104 yards against Hawai'i.
 
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS AND ACCOLADES
• According to College Football Home, Utah State is predicted to be the second-most improved team in the nation in 2018, behind only Florida. Furthermore, USU's special teams are predicted to be the fourth-best units in the nation this fall, behind only Utah, Stanford and TCU.
 
• According to West Coast College Football, Utah State has the fourth-best chance at winning the Mountain West championship in 2018, behind Boise State, San Diego State and Fresno State.
 
• According to NFL.com, Utah State junior RB Darwin Thompson is listed as the 17th-most 'Freak-ish Athlete' in college football heading into the 2018 season. Some of the reasoning behind this ranking comes from his performances in the weight room as he has squatted 560 pounds, including seven reps at 515 pounds. Furthermore, Thompson has logged a vertical jump of 40 inches.
 
• According to College Football Focus, Utah State junior Dax Raymond is ranked as the sixth-best tight end in the nation heading into the 2018 season, behind Noah Fant (Iowa), Caleb Wilson (UCLA), Albert Okwuegbunam (Missouri), Hunter Bryant (Washington) and Kaden Smith (Stanford).
 
• According to Athlon Sports, Utah State sophomore Jordan Love is ranked 25th in the nation among quarterbacks that will have a breakout season in 2018. Other Mountain West quarterbacks to make this list include UNLV's Armani Rogers (20) and Nevada's Ty Gangi (15).
 
SCOUTING UNLV
• UNLV is 2-3 on the season and 0-1 in Mountain West play following its 50-14 conference home loss against New Mexico last weekend. The Rebels are led by sophomore QB Armani Rogers, who is 34-of-82 (.415) passing for 369 yards (92.2 ypg) with six touchdowns and four interceptions. Senior RB Lexington Thomas leads the team in rushing with 501 yards on 85 carries (5.9 ypc/100.2 ypg) with five touchdowns, and sophomore WR Mekhi Stevenson has caught eight passes for 111 yards (13.9 ypr/22.2 ypg) with one touchdown. Defensively, senior S Dalton Baker has a team-best 53 tackles, which includes 1.0 tackles for loss, while junior LB Javin White has 30 tackles, including 4.0 tackles for loss. As a team, UNLV is averaging 30.6 points and 376.2 yards of total offense per game (277.8 rushing, 98.4 passing) and allowing 32.2 points and 413.0 yards of total offense (218.4 passing, 194.6 rushing). UNLV returns 14 starters (O-7, D-7) and 48 lettermen (O-23, D-23, S-2) from last year's team that went 5-7 and finished in third place in the West Division of the Mountain West with a 4-4 league mark. Tony Sanchez is 14-27 in his fourth season as a collegiate head coach at UNLV.
 
AGGIES AND REBELS SERIES 14TH-MOST PLAYED IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and UNLV will be meeting for the 24th time in series history this weekend, which is the 14th-most played series in USU history.
 
AGGIES AND REBELS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State and UNLV will be meeting for the 24th time in series history this weekend, with USU owning a 16-7 advantage, including an 8-3 home record. The first game played in the series was on Sept. 25, 1971, in Logan with USU winning, 27-7. USU won the last meeting between the two teams in Las Vegas, 52-28, on Oct. 21, 2017. USU also won the last meeting between the two teams in Logan, 34-20, on Oct. 25, 2014. The last time UNLV won a game in the series was on Aug. 30, 2008, in Las Vegas by a final score of 27-17, while its last win in Loan was on Aug. 30, 2007, by a final score of 23-16. Overall, USU has won 13 of the last 16 games played in the series, including four straight.
 
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND UNLV
• Former Utah State head football coach Tony Knap (1963-66) spent six years as UNLV's head coach from 1976-81. In fact, Knap is the longest-tenured UNLV head coach in school history and has the most wins (47) and best winning percentage (.696) all-time at UNLV. During his time at USU, Knap recorded a 25-14-1 record (.638) and ranks second all-time in school history in winning percentage behind John Ralston (.733), and seventh all-time in wins (25).
 
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND UNLV PLAYERS
• There are 26 connections between Utah State and UNLV players. Utah State senior RB Eltoro Allen attended Riverside (Calif.) CC, as did UNLV junior OL Sid Acosta. USU senior OL Roman Andrus attended Oak Ridge HS in El Dorado Hills, Calif., as did UNLV freshman OL Bryan Catchings. USU senior LB Suli Tamaivena and senior WR Aaren Vaughns both attended Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) JC, as did UNLV junior LS Nathan Guzman. USU senior OL Sean Taylor attended Vallejo (Calif.) HS, as did UNLV junior DB Evan Austrie. USU senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver attended Fort Scott (Kan.) CC, as did UNLV sophomore DL Tavis Malakius. USU senior OL KJ Uluave and sophomore OL Siotame Uluave both attended Kahuku (Hawaii) HS, as did UNLV senior DL Salanoa-Alo Wily and junior DB Soli Afalava. USU sophomore TE Travis Boman attended Coronado HS in Las Vegas, Nev., as did UNLV sophomore OL Donovan Outlaw. USU sophomore S Shaq Bond attended Southwestern JC in Chula Vista, Calif., as did UNLV junior DB Demitrious Gibbs. USU sophomore LB Jordan Hayes attended Mesa (Ariz.) CC, as did UNLV senior DL Jameer Outsey and senior DB Jocquez Kalili. USU sophomore QB Jordan Love attended Liberty HS in Bakersfield, Calif., as did UNLV freshman OL Michael Bray. And, USU freshman LB Elijah Shelton attended Highland HS in Salt Lake City, Utah, as did UNLV junior P/PK Hayes Hicken.
 
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE COACHES AND UNLV PLAYERS
• UNLV has three players on its current roster in junior LB JD Alexander, junior DB Ty'Jason Roberts and sophomore DB Alex Perry, who played at Arizona State last year for USU defensive coordinator and safeties coach Keith Patterson. Patterson spent four years (2014-17) at ASU as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
 
AGGIE COACHES WHO PLAYED AGAINST UNLV
• Utah State head coach Matt Wells played against UNLV in 1994 and 1995 as a quarterback at USU and completed 9-of-12 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. As a sophomore in 1994, Wells was 6-of-9 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns, including a long of 85 yards. As a junior in 1995, Wells was 3-of-3 passing for 24 yards.
 
• Utah State outside receivers coach Jovon Bouknight played against UNLV from 2002-05 as a receiver at Wyoming and caught 23 passes for 395 yards with four touchdowns, while returning three kickoffs for 64 yards and adding one rush for 10 yards. As a freshman in 2002, Bouknight had eight receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown. As a sophomore in 2003, Bouknight had three catches for 52 yards. As a junior in 2004, Bouknight had five catches for 121 yards and one touchdown. And as a senior in 2005, Bouknight had seven catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 36 players in its program from the state of Utah, while UNLV has 24 players on its roster from the state of Nevada.
 
• Utah State has three players on its roster from the state of Nevada in sophomore TE Travis Boman (Henderson/Coronado HS), sophomore OL Kyler Hack (Las Vegas/Palo Verde HS) and sophomore WR Savon Scarver (Las Vegas/Centennial HS).
 
• Utah State is 22-25 (.468) all-time against teams from the state of Nevada with a 16-7 record against UNLV and a 6-18 record against Nevada.
 
• Matt Wells is 3-0 against UNLV as a head coach and faced the Rebels four times as an assistant coach as he was on staff at USU in 2012 when the Aggies hosted UNLV, while also facing the Rebels three times while an assistant at New Mexico.
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND UNLV
The following are series notables between Utah State and UNLV dating back to 2004 and encompassing the last eight meetings.
 
• Utah State has won four-straight games played in the series, outscoring UNLV 149-85 (37.3-21.3).
 
• Utah State has averaged 509.3 yards of offense (328.3 passing, 181.0 rushing) during its four-game winning streak against UNLV.
 
• The team that has had more yards of total offense has won the last six meetings in the series.
 
• The team with fewer turnovers has won six of the last eight meetings in the series.
 
• The winning team has scored first in five of the past eight meetings, as Utah State is 3-0 in those games and UNLV is 2-3.
 
• The team that has led at the half has won three of the last four games played in the series, while last year's game was tied at the half.
 
• In Utah State's 35-13 home win in 2012, it had a 400-yard passer, two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard rusher.
 
• The losing team has scored 20 or fewer points in four of the last six games, while the team with more penalties has won six of the past seven games in the series.
 
• There has only been one shutout in series history, a 42-0 Utah State road win in 1995.
 
• Eleven of the 23 games played in the series have been decided by one score.
 
• Utah State has had a 100-yard receiver in three of the last four meetings, and had two 100-yard receivers in back-to-back games in 2012 and 2013. Overall, USU has had six 100-yard receivers in the last eight meetings, as compared to two for UNLV.
 
• Utah State has had two 100-yard rushers and two 300-yard passers in the last eight meetings, as compared to four 100-yard rushers for UNLV.
 
• In 23 games in series history, Utah State has scored 184 more points than UNLV, 595-411.
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State individual and team statistical performances against UNLV over the years.
 
• Guy Kimball was 34-of-57 passing against UNLV in 1984. Those completions are a school record, while the attempts are tied for the most in school history.
 
• Abu Wilson rushed for 251 yards against UNLV in 1995, the sixth-most in school history.
 
• Matt Wells, who was a sophomore QB at Utah State at the time, connected on an 85-yard pass to Kevin Alexander against UNLV in 1994, which is tied for the ninth-longest pass play in school history.
 
• Chuckie Keeton passed for 404 yards against UNLV in 2012, the 10th-most in school history.
 
• Linebacker Robert Watts had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against UNLV in 2004, which ranks as the second-longest interception return in school history.
 
• Mickey Doyle had a 72-yard punt against UNLV in 1971, the 10th-longest in school history.
 
• Sean Jones had a 52-yard field goal against UNLV in 1992, tied for the 10th-longest in school history.
 
• Wide receiver Tony Pennyman had a 92-yard kickoff return against UNLV in 2005, tied for the 11th-longest in school history.
 
• Wide receiver Kendall Smith had a 77-yard punt return against UNLV in 1987, the 13th-longest in school history.
 
• Profail Grier rushed for 209 yards against UNLV in 1993, the 18th-most in school history.
 
• Travis Cox hit Tony Pennyman on a 79-yard pass against UNLV in 2004, tied for the 21st-longest pass play in school history.
 
• Utah State's 36 completions and 59 pass attempts against UNLV in 1994 are both school records.
 
• Utah State held UNLV to 83 yards of total offense in 1990, the fourth-fewest in school history.
 
• Utah State's 426 passing yards against UNLV in 2012 are the eighth-most in school history.
 
• Utah State's 588 yards of offense against UNLV in 2017 are the 18th-most in school history.
 
• Utah State has had seven 100-yard rushers, four 300-yard passers, and 10 100-yard receivers all-time against UNLV.
 
LAST MEETING vs. UNLV
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Redshirt freshman QB Jordan Love made his first career start and passed for 316 yards and two touchdowns to lead Utah State to a come-from-behind 52-28 victory over UNLV on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, in front of 18,157 fans at Sam Boyd Stadium.
               
Love finished the game by completing 19-of-27 passes. He also had 42 yards rushing on eight carries, including a 5-yard touchdown run with 6:38 left in the third quarter to give the Aggies the lead for good, 35-28.
               
Senior RB LaJuan Hunt rushed for 101 yards and three touchdowns as Utah State (4-4, 2-2 Mountain West) rallied back from three separate 14-point deficits in the first half. The Aggies racked up 588 yards of total offense – the third-most this season and 17th-most in school history.
               
Utah State, which scored 38 unanswered points, gained 323 yards through the air and churned out 265 more on the ground, both of which are the second most in a game this season. Redshirt sophomore TE Dax Raymond led USU with five receptions for 41 yards.
               
Love threw touchdown passes of 70 and 75 yards, respectively, to become the first Aggie signal caller to throw three touchdown passes of 70 or more yards in a season since 2014. His other 70-plus-yarder this year was at Wake Forest. Furthermore, the last time the Aggies had two 70-yard scoring plays in the same game was in 2012 against New Mexico State.
               
Freshman WR Savon Scarver, a native of Las Vegas, finished with 185 all-purpose yards, including a 70-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. He also returned three kickoffs for 108 yards, including a long of 68.
               
Redshirt freshman WR Jordan Nathan tallied 184 all-purpose yards – 92 receiving and 92 on a pair of punt returns, including a 70-yarder.
               
Defensively, junior LB Suli Tamaivena led the Aggies with 10 tackles, including 1.0 sacks. It was his fourth consecutive double-digit tackle outing. Senior BS Dallin Leavitt added eight stops and an interception, while junior CB Deante Fortenberry had five tackles and a fumble recovery. Sophomore CB Cameron Haney had a career-high three pass breakups, to go along with three tackles, and junior LB Ofa Latu added an interception.
               
UNLV (2-5, 1-3), losers of three in a row, finished with 460 yards of total offense. Running back Lexington Thomas had 161 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 19 carries, helping the Rebels amass 375 yards on the ground.
               
Trailing 14-0 late in the first quarter, Scarver caught his first career touchdown on a 70-yard pass from Love to cut the deficit in half. Hunt scored on a 13-yard run with 12:51 left in the second, pulling the Aggies to within 21-14 with 12:51 remaining in the quarter.
               
UNLV went up by 14 again on a 7-yard touchdown run by quarterback Armani Rogers, but USU scored a pair of touchdowns less than four minutes apart to pull even. Nathan hauled in a 75-yard touchdown pass from Love to make it 28-21, while Hunt added his second touchdown on a 1-yard run as the Aggies pulled even at 28 with 2:28 left in the quarter.
               
After Love's go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter, Hunt scored on a 30-yard run early in the fourth for his third and final score, while sophomore PK Dominik Eberle booted a 24-yard field goal to make it 45-28. The Aggies put the exclamation point on the victory with a 7-yard touchdown run by junior RB Justen Hervey with less than a minute to go.
 
LAST HOME MEETING vs. UNLV
LOGAN, Utah - Junior WR JoJo Natson recorded a career-high 124 receiving yards on a season-high-tying six receptions and Utah State's defense forced three turnovers to go along with 6.0 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss in its 34-20 Mountain West home win against UNLV on Oct. 25, 2014. USU improved to 5-3 on the season and 2-1 in Mountain West play with the win and UNLV fell to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in league action with the loss.
               
Utah State finished the game with 444 yards of total offense as it notched 266 passing yards and 178 yards on the ground. UNLV finished the game with just 282 yards of total offense, including just 15 yards rushing and 267 yards passing.
               
Senior QB Craig Harrison was 13-of-23 passing for a career-high 221 yards in just his second career start for Utah State. Harrison, who also rushed a career-high nine times for a career-best 39 yards, also had a career-high three touchdown passes before leaving the game late in the third quarter with a leg injury.
               
Utah State scored the first touchdown of the game on a 1-yard pass from Harrison to senior TE Jefferson Court to cap an 8-play, 56-yard drive late in the first quarter. Senior PK Nick Diaz added a 27-yard field goal early in the second quarter to give the home team a 10-0 lead as sophomore LB Nick Vigil forced a fumble that was recovered by junior NG Travis Seefeldt at the UNLV 17-yard line.
               
UNLV then scored its first touchdown of the game on its next series as Blake Decker hit Kendal Keys with a 31-yard pass that was deflected by two different Aggie defenders.
               
Harrison threw his second touchdown of the game to Natson midway through the second quarter on a screen play that went 71-yards to give USU a 17-7 advantage. UNLV closed the half by driving 69-yards in seven plays that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown pass from Decker to Taylor Barnhill to make the score 17-13 for Utah State as Seefeldt blocked the extra point attempt.
               
Harrison continued his career game in the third quarter as he found senior RB Joe Hill on a swing pass that Hill took 69 yards into the end zone. Harrison then completed three of four passes on USU's next offensive series and Diaz hit a season-long 49-yard field goal to extend the Aggies' lead to 27-13 with 5:53 left in the third quarter. Hill finished the game with 117 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns.
               
Harrison left the game with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter when he fell awkwardly during a sack, fumbling the ball on the Utah State 21-yard line. The Rebels were unable to take advantage of the short field as a 43-yard field goal attempt was blocked by junior LB Michael Okonkwo, ending the quarter with the Aggies holding the 27-13 lead.
               
Freshman QB Kent Myers started the fourth quarter and led Utah State on a 9-play, 73-yard scoring drive that was punctuated by a 7-yard rush by Hill, giving the home side a 34-13 lead. Myers rushed for 18 yards and threw for another 41 during the drive that took 3:20 off the clock.
               
UNLV answered on its next series with a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive that was capped by Decker's third touchdown pass of the day when he found Devonte Boyd for a 41-yard score to get the Rebels within 34-20.
               
Utah State's defense then responded with back-to-back interceptions from junior CB Deshane Hines and senior FS Brian Suite to seal the win.
               
Utah State's defense was led by junior LB LT Filiaga who had a team-high nine tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, while senior DE B.J. Larsen recorded 2.0 sacks in the game, while Vigil finished with 1.5 sacks.
 
GAME 5 RECAP vs. BYU
PROVO, Utah - Sophomore QB Jordan Love accounted for five total touchdowns and Utah State's defense scored its third touchdown of the year as the Aggies dominated in-state rival BYU from the get-go, beating the Cougars 45-20 on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018.
               
Love completed 18-of-28 passes for 165 yards and a career-high four touchdowns for Utah State (4-1, 1-0 Mountain West), which scored the first 21 points of the night and never looked back. Love also scored on a 2-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that gave the Aggies a 42-13 lead.
 
With the win, Utah State retained possession of The Old Wagon Wheel – the traveling trophy between the two schools. The Wheel became part of the rivalry in 1948.
               
Love threw touchdown passes of 2, 6, 6 and 4 yards, respectively, to help Utah State win back-to-back games against BYU (3-3) for the first time in 44 years. The 25-point margin of victory is the fifth-largest in series history and largest since 1968.
               
Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver caught two of Love's touchdown passes, while fellow senior WR Jalen Greene and junior RB Gerold Bright each caught one. Greene led the Aggies, who finished with 388 total yards, with a career-best five catches for a career-high 53 yards.
               
Junior RB Darwin Thompson led all rushers in the game with a career-high 109 yards on a career-best 17 carries. Bright added 61 yards on a career-high-tying 14 carries as Utah State tallied 223 yards on the ground as a team.
               
BYU QB Tanner Mangum was 27-of-46 passing for 270 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with an interception. The pick was one of three turnovers the Aggies forced on the night.  Utah State's defense limited the Cougars to just 39 yards rushing (2.4 yards per carry).
               
Junior LB Tipa Galeai set the tone early for the Aggies. BYU had the ball fourth-and-1 at the Utah State 39-yard line and elected to go for it. Galeai foiled the Cougars' plans by intercepting Mangum's pass and returning it 56 yards to the house, giving the Aggies a 7-0 lead with 7:35 to go in the first quarter.
               
After the defense forced BYU to go three-and-out on the ensuing possession, the Aggies took over on their own 29 following a punt and drove to the Cougars' 2-yard line, where they faced their own fourth-down situation. USU went for it and the decision paid off as Love threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Bright, making it 14-0 with 1:50 remaining in the first.
               
On BYU's next series, sophomore LB David Woodward forced a fumble by Dallin Holker that senior LB Chase Christiansen recovered just before it bounced out of bounds.
               
The offense cashed in on the takeaway when Love connected with Tarver for a 6-yard touchdown pass to give the visitors a commanding 21-0 lead. BYU finally got on the board with 4:52 remaining in the second quarter, but missed a 43-yard field goal wide right as time expired on the half.
               
Utah State opened the second half with the ball and marched 81 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Love to Greene to help the Aggies open a 28-7 lead.
               
Junior PK Dominik Eberle capped the scoring for Utah State in the fourth quarter when he drilled a 47-yard field goal to give the visitors their largest lead of the night, 45-13.
               
Woodward and sophomore CB  Ja'Marcus Ingram led the Aggies with six tackles apiece, while Ingram added a career-best three pass breakups. Senior S Jontrell Rocquemore added four tackles, including the game's only sack as part of his 2.0 tackles for loss. On the sack of Mangum, Rocquemore forced a fumble and then recovered it.
 
UTAH STATE THIRD IN THE NATION IN SCORING OFFENSE
• Utah State ranks first in the Mountain West and third in the nation in scoring with an average of 50.2 points per game, trailing only Alabama (56.0 ppg) and Appalachian State (51.8 ppg). USU also ranks second in the MW and 15th in the nation in completion percentage (.682), third in the MW and 27th in the nation in sacks allowed (1.20 ppg), fourth in the MW and 37th in the nation in total offense (454.8 ypg), fourth in the MW and 44th in the nation in rushing offense (194.2 ypg), fifth in the MW and 54th in the nation in passing efficiency (143.8), and seventh in the MW and 40th in the nation in passing offense (260.6 ypg). USU also ranks fourth in the MW and 25th in the nation with a third down conversion percentage of 45.9 (28-61).
 
AGGIE DEFENSE RANKS 19TH NATIONALLY IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State ranks second in the Mountain West and 19th in the nation with an average of 7.8 tackles for loss per game. USU also ranks second in the MW and 25th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (112.2), third in the MW and 42nd in the nation in passing defense (200.6 ypg), fifth in the MW and 40th in the nation in scoring defense (23.0 ppg), fifth in the MW and 50th in the nation in total defense (357.8 ypg), fifth in the MW and 53rd in the nation in sacks (2.40 pg), and eighth in the MW and 63rd in the nation in rushing defense (157.2 ypg). USU's defense is also averaging 5.80 three-and-outs per game to rank fifth in the nation. 
 
AGGIES RANK SEVENTH IN THE NATION WITH 13 FORCED TURNOVERS
• Utah State has forced 13 turnovers (7 fumbles, 6 interceptions) this year to rank second in the Mountain West behind Fresno State (16) and tied for seventh in the nation. USU also ranks first in the MW and tied for third in the nation with its seven fumble recoveries, fourth in the MW and 29th in the nation with its six interceptions, and second in the MW and 13th in the nation in turnover margin (+1.0).
 
• With its 13 turnovers this season, USU has now forced 154 turnovers in its last 80 games, including at least one turnover in 63 of its last 80 games. USU has also recorded 72 interceptions in its last 67 games, including at least one pick in 37 of its last 67 games and multiple interceptions in 21 of its last 67 games. Overall, USU has forced three or more turnovers twice this year and in 19 of its last 55 games. 
 
UTAH STATE FIFTH IN THE NATION WITH ITS THREE DEFENSIVE SCORES
• Utah State is second in the Mountain West and tied for fifth in the nation with its three defensive touchdowns this year as senior S Gaje Ferguson returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown at No. 11 Michigan State, senior CB Deante Fortenberry returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown against New Mexico State and junior LB Tipa Galeai returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown at BYU. Overall, USU has scored 19 defensive touchdowns in its last 64 games, including five last season to rank fourth in the nation. USU also has two other non-offensive touchdowns this season as sophomore WR Savon Scarver returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against New Mexico State and sophomore WR Jordan Nathan returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee Tech, giving USU five non-offensive touchdowns on the season.  
 
UTAH STATE NINTH IN THE NATION IN KICKOFF RETURNS
• Utah State ranks second in the Mountain West and ninth in the nation in kickoff returns (27.7 ypr), second in the conference and 23rd in the nation in punt returns (15.2 ypr), third in the MW and 42nd in the nation in net punting (39.50 ypp), and ninth in the MW and 86th in the nation in kickoff return defense (22.1 ypr).
 
AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
• Junior PK Dominik Eberle leads the nation in field goal percentage as he is 9-for-9 on the season (1.000). He is also first in the Mountain West and eighth in the nation in scoring (11.2 ppg), and second in the MW and 10th in the nation in field goals made (1.8 ppg). Sophomore LB David Woodward ranks first in the MW and 10th in the nation in tackles (11.5 pg), and tied for eighth in the MW and tied for 79th in the nation in forced fumbles with one (0.25 pg). Redshirt junior LB Tipa Galeai ranks tied for third in the MW and tied for 15th in the nation in forced fumbles with two (0.40 pg), third in the MW and 23rd in the nation in sacks (0.9 pg), third in the MW and 31st in the nation in tackles for loss (1.40 pg), and tied for 40th in the MW in tackles (5.2 pg). Sophomore WR Savon Scarver is tied first in the MW and tied for second in the nation in kickoff returns for touchdown with one (0.25 pg), and second in the MW and third in the nation in kickoff returns (33.0 ypr). Sophomore WR Jordan Nathan is tied for first in the MW and tied for second in the nation with one punt return for touchdown (0.20 pg), and first in the MW and eighth in the nation in punt returns (16.6 ypr). Senior DE Adewale Adeoye is tied for first in the MW and tied for fifth in the nation with two fumbles recovered (0.40 pg). Senior S Gaje Ferguson is tied for second in the MW and tied for 25th in the nation with two interceptions (0.40 pg), tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 44th in the nation with one fumble recovery (0.20 pg), and tied for 33rd in the MW in tackles (5.6 pg). Senior S Aaron Wade is tied for second in the MW and tied for 25th in the nation with two interceptions (0.40 pg) Junior RB Darwin Thompson is tied for first in the MW and tied for 24th in the nation with six rushing touchdowns (1.2 pg), fourth in the MW and 60th in the nation in rushing (74.8 ypg), and 10th in the MW and 94th in the nation in scoring (7.2 ppg). Sophomore QB Jordan Love ranks second in the MW and 27th in the nation in completion percentage (.663), fifth in the MW and 49th in the nation in passing efficiency (144.4), sixth in the MW and 48th in the nation in passing touchdowns with nine (1.8 pg), sixth in the MW and 57th in the nation in total offense (246.4 ypg), and seventh in the MW and 43rd in the nation in passing (247.0 ypg). Senior LB Ofa Latu is tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 44th in the nation with one fumble recovered (0.20 pg). Junior DE Devon Anderson is tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 44th in the nation with one fumble recovered (0.20 pg). Junior RB Gerold Bright ranks seventh in the MW and 81st in the nation in rushing (69.8 ypg), and tied for ninth in the MW and tied for 78th in the nation with four rushing touchdowns (0.8 pg). Senior LB Chase Christiansen is tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 44th in the nation with one fumble recovered (0.20 pg), and 16th in the MW in tackles (6.8 pg). Senior S Jontrell Rocquemore is tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 44th in the nation with one fumble recovered (0.20 pg), tied for seventh in the MW in tackles for loss (1.1 pg), and tied for 21st in the MW in tackles (6.4 pg). Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver is ninth in the MW and 70th in the nation in receptions (5.0 pg). And, sophomore S Shaq Bond ranks 47th in the MW in tackles (4.8 pg).  
 
AGGIES POST BACK-TO-BACK WINS AGAINST BYU FOR FIRST TIME IN 44 YEARS
• WIth its 45-20 road win at BYU last weekend, Utah State posted its second-straight win against the Cougars, marking the first time in 44 years that has happened. The last time USU won consecutive games against the Cougars was from 1971-74, when the Aggies won four-straight games in the series. Overall, USU has now won three of the last five games played in the series, including two of the last three meetings in Provo.
 
• Utah State has scored 40-plus points against BYU in back-to-back games for just the third time in series history (1922, 1923 and 1954, 1955) following its 45-20 win in Provo this year and its 40-24 home win against BYU last year. Overall, it is just the ninth time in series history that USU has scored 40-plus points against BYU.
 
•  Utah State's 25-point win against BYU (45-20) is its largest since 1968, when it posted a 34-8 road win. It is also the fifth-largest margin of victory for USU in series history.
 
•  Utah State head coach Matt Wells is now 3-3 against BYU, which is the best record for an Aggie coach against BYU since Chuck Mills (1967-72) posted a 4-2 record. USU is also 7-0 under Wells following a bye week.
 
•  Utah State did not commit a turnover in its win at BYU, marking the first time this year and first time in its last 10 games dating back to last season versus Boise State that it did not commit a turnover. USU also did not allow a sack agaginst BYU for the second time this year, along with the Tennessee Tech game.
 
•  Utah State dominated both lines of scrimmage against BYU as it rushed for 223 yards on 42 carries (5.3 yards per carry) and held BYU to just 39 rushing yards on 16 carries (2.4 yards per carry). In fact, BYU had just 13 yards rushing until its last drive of the game when its quarterback scrambled for a 26-yard gain. Those 39 rushing yards by BYU are its fewest against USU in at least the last 20 meetings, bettering the 45 rushing yards USU allowed in the 1993 meeting. Conversely, it is the fourth time that USU has rushed for at least 200 yards against BYU in its last nine meetings.
 
LOVE NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAIN
• Sophomore QB Jordan Love was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week following his performance in Utah State's 45-20 road win at BYU last weekend. Against the Cougars, he was 18-of-28 (.643) passing for 165 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, which are the most by an Aggie since Kent Myers had four touchdown passes against Air Force in 2015, a span of 34 games. He also carried the ball three times for eight yards and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run against BYU, which is his third rushing touchdown this season and the fifth of his career. For Love, it was the third time this year and fifth time in his career he has thrown at least two touchdown passes in a game, giving him nine touchdown passes this season and 17 in his career.
 
• Love has now earned Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week accolades twice this season and three times in his career, and it is the 20th time USU has received the award in six years in the league.
 
• Love was also named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week in his previous outing two weeks ago as he led Utah State to a 42-32 conference home win against Air Force. Against the Falcons, Love was 26-of-38 (.684) passing for a career-high 356 yards and a then career-high-tying two touchdowns. Overall, it was his third-career 300-yard passing game, including his second this season. Love was also named the College Sports Madness Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Air Force.
 
• In his last three games, Love is 65-of-92 (.707) passing for 757 yards (252.3 ypg) with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. Love has also not thrown an interception in his last 109 pass attempts.
 
LOVE NAMED TO DAVEY O'BRIEN GREAT 8 LIST
• Sophomore QB Jordan Love was named to the Davey O'Brien "Great 8" list for his performance in Utah State's 45-20 road win at BYU last weekend. Other quarterbacks named to the list were Sam Ehlinger (Texas), Nick Fitzgerald (Mississippi State), Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State), Brock Purdy (Iowa State), Brent Stockstill (Middle Tennessee), Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) and Clayton Thorson (Northwestern).
 
THOMPSON RUSHES FOR 100-YARDS AGAINST BYU
• Junior RB Darwin Thompson recorded his second-career 100-yard rushing game in his last outing at BYU as he carried the ball a career-high 17 times for a career-best 109 yards. Thompson's first 100-yard game of the season was against Tennessee Tech as he carried the ball six times for 107 yards (17.8 ypc), which included a 65-yard touchdown run. Thompson did not play in the second half against the Golden Eagles.
 
• Thompson had scored at least one rushing touchdown in each of his first four games for Utah State as he scored two touchdowns at No. 11 Michigan State from two and one yard, and then scored on a career-long run of 68 yards against New Mexico State, to go along with his 65-yard touchdown run against Tennessee Tech. He then added two more touchdown runs from six and one yard against Air Force. He did not score in his last game against BYU.
 
• In his last four games, Thompson has carried the ball 35 times for 346 yards (9.9 ypc/86.5 ypg) with four touchdowns. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• In Utah State's last 17 red zone trips on offense, it has scored 15 touchdowns and one field goal, while its 17th trip was at the end of the Air Force game when it took a knee to end the game.
 
• In its last game, Utah State scored 21 points off three BYU turnovers. In fact, USU has scored touchdowns on each of its last six forced turnovers. On the season, USU has eight touchdowns and two field goals after forcing a turnover, to go along with one punt, one fumble and the end of a half.
 
GREENE CATCHES CAREER-HIGH FIVE PASSES IN BYU GAME
• Senior WR Jalen Greene had a career-high five receptions for a career-best 53 yards last weekend against BYU, while adding his second touchdown reception of the year on a 6-yard catch. In his last three games, he has caught 13 passes for 126 yards (9.7 ypr) with one touchdown.
 
BRIGHT PLAYING WELL FOR UTAH STATE
• In his last four games, junior RB Gerold Bright has carried the ball 52 times for 351 yards (6.8 ypc/87.8 ypg) with four touchdowns. He has also had two 100-yard rushing games in his last four outings as he carried the ball a career-high 14 times for a career-best 134 yards against New Mexico State and 11 carries for 101 yards against Air Force. Overall, Bright has scored at least one rushing touchdown in three of his last four games.
 
• In his last game at BYU, Bright tied his career high with 14 carries for 61 yards. He also caught his first touchdown pass of the season and the third of his career on a 2-yard reception.
 
• Bright notched his second 100-yard rushing game of the season and the third of his career two games ago against Air Force as he carried the ball 11 times for 101 yards (9.2 ypc), including a season-long 70-yard run for a touchdown to seal the win. Bright also scored on a 4-yard run against the AFA, giving him four rushing touchdowns this season and seven in his career. Those two rushing touchdowns against the Falcons were a career high.
 
TARVER TIES CAREER HIGH WITH TWO TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS IN BYU GAME
• Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver tied his career high with two touchdown receptions in his last game against BYU, which were his first touchdown catches of the season. Overall, it was the second time in his career he has had multiple touchdown receptions in a game as he now has 12 touchdown catches in his career.
 
• In his previous game, Tarver tied his career high with nine receptions for 128 yards against Air Force, which was his third-career 100-yard receiving game, including his second against the Falcons, as he caught nine passes for a career high 143 yards against the AFA in 2016.
 
GALEAI TORMENTING OPPONENTS IN SHORT TIME AT UTAH STATE
• Redshirt junior LB Tipa Galeai has tormented Aggie opponents in his first five games at Utah State. In his last game at BYU, Galeai intercepted his first-career pass and returned it 56 yards for his first-career touchdown. In his season opener at No. 11 Michigan State, he had 2.0 sacks as part of his four tackles, while adding his first-career forced fumble, to go along with one quarterback hurry. Against New Mexico State, he forced another fumble and had 1.5 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss as part of his season-high six stops. Against Tennessee Tech, he had 2.0 tackles for loss as part of his three stops, while adding his first-career pass breakup. And against Air Force, he had a season-high 11 tackles, which included 1.0 sacks, while adding a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry, not to mention his first-career blocked kick as he blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt.
 
ROCQUEMORE HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST BYU
• Senior S Jontrell Rocquemore had a career game in his last outing against BYU as he tied his career highs with 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery on the same play after recording a sack. Overall, he finished the game with four tackles. In his previous game against Air Force, he recorded his second-career double-digit tackle outing with a career-high 13 tackles, including a career-best 2.0 tackles for loss.
 
INGRAM HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST BYU
• Sophomore CB Ja'Marcus Ingram had a career game in his last outing against BYU as he had a career-high-tying six tackles, to go along with a career-high three pass breakups.
 
WILLIAMS TIED CAREER-HIGH WITH TWO PASS BREAKUPS AGAINST BYU
• Junior CB DJ Williams had a career-high-tying two pass breakups in his last game against BYU. On the season, he now has a team-leading five pass breakups.
 
WOODWARD AND CHRISTIANSEN TEAM UP AGAINST BYU
• Sophomore LB David Woodward and senior LB Chase Christiansen had solid games in their last outings against BYU as the duo combined on one of the Aggies' three takeaways in the game. Against the Cougars, Woodward forced his first career fumble and Christiansen recovered it for his first fumble recovery this season and the second of his career.
 
• Prior to the BYU game, Woodward had posted double digits in tackles in each of the three games he played in this season as he had a career-high 16 tackles in the season opener at No. 11 Michigan State, followed by 13 tackles against New Mexico State and 11 stops against Air Force. Woodward, who did not play against Tennessee Tech, has four career double-digit tackle outings.
 
FERGUSON NOTCHES THIRD TURNOVER OF THE SEASON
• Senior S Gaje Ferguson recorded his third turnover of the season two games ago against Air Force as he recovered his first-career fumble. Ferguson also has two interceptions on the season as he returned an interception 40 yards for his first-career touchdown at No. 11 Michigan State in the season opener and then intercepted his second career pass against Tennessee Tech.
 
• Ferguson also posted a career-high 15 tackles two games ago against Air Force for his fifth-career double-digit tackle outing, including his first this season.
 
EBERLE NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Junior PK Dominik Eberle was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week and the College Football Performance Awards Honorable Mention National Performer of the Week on Sept. 10, 2018, following his performance against New Mexico State as he tied two NCAA records, and set two other Mountain West and school records. For Eberle, it is the first time in his career he has garnered MW Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Eberle was also recognized as a Lou Groza Award Star of the Week.
 
EBERLE TIES TWO NCAA RECORDS
• Junior PK Dominik Eberle tied two NCAA records in Utah State's 60-13 home win against New Mexico State. First, Eberle tied the NCAA record for points scored in game by a kicker with 24, a record that was set by Western Michigan's Mike Prindle in 1984. Eberle also tied an NCAA record with his three 51-yard field goals, becoming just the sixth player ever to kick three 50-plus yard field goals in a game.
 
• Eberle also set school and Mountain West records with his six made field goals, while his six field goal attempts ties his own school record that was set last season. In all, Eberle made field goals from 44, 32, 51, 21, 51 and 51 yards, as those six made field goals are tied for the third-most in a single-game in NCAA history.
 
• Eberle also kicked off 12 times for 754 yards (averaging 62.8 yards per kick) with nine touchbacks in the game against New Mexico State.
 
• Eberle is now 8-of-8 this season and 29-of-37 in his career on field goal attempts, including 1-of-1 this year and 11-of-12 in his career from 20-29 yards, 2-of-2 this season and 7-of-8 in his career from 30-39 yards, 2-of-2 this year and 7-of-13 in his career from 40-49 yards, and 3-of-3 this year and 4-of-4 in his career from 50+ yards. His three 51-yard field goals are season-longs and tied for the 18th-longest in school history. In fact, Eberle is the only kicker in school history to have four or more 50-yard field goals in a career as he made a career-long 52-yarder last year.
 
EBERLE SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE EXTRA POINTS MADE
• Junior PK Dominik Eberle made all six of his extra points in his last game against BYU and is now a perfect 76-for-76 on extra points in his career, which is a school record. The previous record for consecutive PAT's made was 64 by Willie Beecher (1981-84). Overall, Eberle is one of just three kickers in school history with a minimum of 30 PAT's made to have never missed an extra point, joining Beecher, who was 64-of-64 all-time on extra points, and Russ Moody (1988-89), who was 44-of-44 all-time on extra points. Eberle now ranks seventh all-time in school history in extra points made and attempted.
 
• Eberle is one of just seven kickers in school history to not miss an extra point for an entire season, joining Nick Diaz (2012), Peter Caldwell (2010, 2007), Doug Beach (1990), Willie Beecher (1982), Tom Mayes (1975) and Steve Steinke (1978).
 
EBERLE SECOND ALL-TIME IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
• Junior PK Dominik Eberle is 9-for-9 on field goal attempts this season and 30-of-38 on field goal attempts in his career, and his 78.9 conversion percentage ranks second all-time in school history. Russ Moody (1988-89) holds the school record for field goal percentage at 84.6, as he was 22-of-26 all-time on field goal attempts.
 
• Eberle also ranks eighth all-time in school history in field goals made with 30 and ninth all-time in field goals attempted with 38. Brad Bohn (1997-2000) was 59-of-89 on field goals in his career, to rank first all-time in school history in both categories..
 
EBERLE SECOND IN SINGLE-SEASON POINTS BY A KICKER
• Junior PK Dominik Eberle scored 101 points in 2017 with 47 extra points and 18 field goals, to rank as the second-most points scored by a kicker in a single season in school history. Nick Diaz set the school record for points scored by a kicker with 102 during the 2013 season with 17 field goals and 51 extra points.
 
EBERLE NAMED ALL-AMERICAN AND FINALIST FOR LOU GROZA AWARD
• Utah State junior Dominik Eberle was named a third-team All-American by Phil Steele's Magazine and an honorable mention All-American by SB Nation in 2017. Eberle is the first-ever USU placekicker named an All-American and just the second-ever specialist, joining Steve Mullins, who was named an honorable mention All-American punter by Football News in 2001.
 
• Eberle was also named a finalist for the 2017 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl. Eberle was one of three finalists to land on the list, joining Daniel Carlson of Auburn and Matt Gay of Utah, who won the award. Eberle and Gay are just the second and third players from the Beehive State (Utah's Louie Sakoda in 2008) to be named a Lou Groza finalist, and Eberle is the fifth player from a current Mountain West institution.
 
• Other than Merlin Olsen winning the Outland Trophy in 1961, this is the first time Utah State has ever had a player named a finalist for a national award.
 
• Heading into 2018, Eberle is a preseason second-team All-American by Athlon Sports.
 
WHAT'S RETURNING IN 2018
• Utah State returns 18 starters (O-9, D-9) and 47 letterwinners (O-19, D-26, S-2) from last year's team that tied for fourth place in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 4-4 record and finished the season at 6-7 after playing in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. Highlighting Utah State's returners in 2018 are four players who earned various all-Mountain West honors a season ago as junior PK Dominik Eberle earned third-team All-America honors from Phil Steele's Magazine and honorable mention All-America honors from SB Nation, along with being a first-team all-MW selection and a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, while senior OT Roman Andrus, senior OC Quin Ficklin and junior TE Dax Raymond all garnered honorable mention all-MW honors. Utah State returns six other starters on offense in senior OG Rob Castaneda, senior OT Sean Taylor, senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver, junior OG Moroni Iniguez, sophomore QB Jordan Love and sophomore WR Jordan Nathan. USU also returns nine starters on defense in senior DE Adewale Adeoye, senior LB Chase Christiansen, senior S Gaje Ferguson, senior LB Suli Tamaivena, junior DE Devon Anderson, junior CB Cameron Haney, junior LB Justus Te'i, junior NG Christopher 'Unga and sophomore CB Ja'Marcus Ingram, to go along with one other specialists returning in senior P Aaron Dalton.
 
COACHING CHANGES IN 2018
• Utah State's coaching staff has two additions this season as Keith Patterson was hired as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach, replacing Kendrick Shaver, while Uani 'Unga was hired as the new 10th assistant and will coach outside linebackers after serving as a defensive administrative assistant for USU in 2017.
 
• Utah State enters the 2018 season with the same offensive coordinator, David Yost, for the first time since the 2014 season when Kevin McGiven served in that role.
 
• Utah State will have all of its coaches working with the special teams during the 2018 season and does not have a special teams coordinator. In fact, USU is one of just three FBS programs that doesn't have a special teams coordinator in 2018, joining Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
 
WHAT UTAH STATE MUST REPLACE FROM 2017
• Utah State must replace two players who earned all-Mountain West honors in 2017, including CB Jalen Davis, who earned first-team honors, and S Dallin Leavitt, who was named to the honorable mention team. Other starters lost include RB LaJuan Hunt and WR Braelon Roberts. Along with being named first-team all-MW, Davis was also named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and earned second-team All-America honors from both The Associated Press and the Football Writers Association of America.
 
UTAH STATE BOWL HISTORY
• Utah State has a 4-8 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; lost to Akron, 23-21, in the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl; and lost to New Mexico State, 26-20 in overtime, in the 2017 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
 
• Utah State finished the 2017 season by playing in its sixth bowl game in the last seven seasons and 12th bowl game in school history. USU also played in five-straight bowl games from 2011-15 and won three-straight bowls from 2012-14, both of which are school records.
 
UTAH STATE HAS FIVE BOWL TEAMS ON ITS 2018 SCHEDULE
• Utah State's 2018 schedule features five teams that played in bowl games a year ago as Michigan State played in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl (W, 42-17 vs. Washington State); New Mexico State played in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl (W, 26-20 OT vs. Utah State); Wyoming played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (W, 37-14 vs. Central Michigan); Colorado State played in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl (L, 31-28 vs. Marshall); and Boise State played in the Las Vegas Bowl (W, 38-28 vs. Oregon).
 
AGGIES IN OVERTIME
• Utah State is 6-6 all-time in overtime, winning three of its last five. All-time, USU is 4-3 in single-overtime games, 2-2 in double-overtime games, and 0-1 in triple-overtime games. USU's last overtime game was a 26-20 loss against New Mexico State in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl on Dec. 29, 2017.
 
AGGIES CURRENTLY IN THE NFL AND CFL
• Utah State currently has 14 players on NFL rosters and has had 11 players drafted into the NFL in the past eight years. Former Aggies currently in the NFL include S Maurice Alexander (Seattle),DE Ricky Ali'ifua (Seattle), LB Jalen Davis (Miami), LB Kyler Fackrell (Green Bay), OG Tyler Larsen (Carolina), CB Nevin Lawson (Detroit), S Dallin Leavitt (Oakland), OT Donald Penn (Oakland), LS Patrick Scales (Chicago), WR Hunter Sharp (Buffalo), RB Robert Turbin (Indianapolis), LB Nick Vigil (Cincinnati), LB Zach Vigil (Washington) and LB Bobby Wagner (Seattle). USU also has two former Aggies currently in the Canadian Football League in LB Chris Randle (Winnipeg) and DE Connor Williams (Ottawa).
 
CURRENT AGGIES WITH NFL TIES
• Utah State has one player on its current roster whose father played in the NFL in junior LB Mason Tobeck (Robbie Tobeck). His dad, Robbie Tobeck (OL), spent 14 seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons (1993-99) and Seattle Seahawks (2000-06).
 
AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS
• Utah State has 25 players on its 2018 roster who have served two-year LDS Church Missions in senior OL Roman Andrus, senior OL Quin Ficklin, senior LB Ofa Latu, senior WR DJ Nelson, senior OL KJ Uluave, junior TE Dax Raymond, junior LB Braden Harris, junior OL Moroni Iniguez, junior S Chance Parker, junior NG Mohelika Uasike, junior DE Jacoby Wildman, sophomore DE Caden Andersen, sophomore WR Taylor Compton, sophomore DE Ritisoni Fata, sophomore S Baron Gajkowski, sophomore DE Logan Lee, sophomore OL Connor Meyers, sophomore S Chase Nelson, sophomore DE Keith Tambe, redshirt freshman WR Preston Curtis, redshirt freshman RB Sione Fehoko, redshirt sophomore S Jordan Hayes, redshirt freshman LB Daniel Langi, freshman OL Wade Meacham and freshman TE Bryce Mortenson. 
 
AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED
• Utah State has 12 players on its 2018 roster who are married in senior LB Chase Christiansen, senior S Gaje Ferguson, senior LB Suli Tamaivena, senior OL KJ Uluave, redshirt junior DE Fua Leilua, junior DE Dalton Baker, junior OL Moroni Iniguez, junior S Chance Parker, junior DE Jacoby Wildman, sophomore DE Keith Tambe, redshirt freshman LB Daniel Langi and freshman OL Wade Meacham.
 
WELLS ONE OF 22 FBS HEAD COACHES AT ALMA MATER
• Utah State head coach Matt Wells is one of 22 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), Scott Frost (Nebraska), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Bryan Harsin (Boise State), Kliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech), Tim Lester (Western Michigan), Matt Luke (Ole Miss), 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), Jonathan Smith (Oregon State) and Jeff Tedford (Fresno State).
 
• Of the 22 head coaches listed above who are currently at their alma mater, the Mountain West leads all conferences with five.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Utah State earned the 2017 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Academic Achievement Award, which is presented by the Touchdown Club of Memphis, as it recorded a 100 percent graduation rate for members of their freshman football student-athlete class of 2010.
 
• Utah State's football team has a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 89 percent to rank first in the Mountain West. The Aggies also rank first among the other football programs in the Beehive State, ahead of Utah (83), Southern Utah (67), Weber State (66) and BYU (52). 
 
• Over the past eight seasons, USU has had 166 players earn academic all-league honors and 156 players have graduated from Utah State.
 
• Utah State had two football players earn College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) first-team Academic All-District VIII honors in 2017 in junior DE Jacoby Wildman and sophomore S Baron Gajkowski.
 
• Utah State has one player on its current roster that has already graduated from USU with a bachelor's degree in senior OL KJ Uluave (social work), while graduate transfer Jalen Greene earned his bachelor's degree from USC (communications).
 
WELLS NOTABLES
• Utah State head coach Matt Wells' 38 wins are the third-most in school history, while his 53.5 winning percentage (38-33) ranks seventh with a minimum of 15 games coached. Wells is also 24-17 (.585) in Mountain West play in this his sixth season.
 
• Wells, who is entering his sixth season in charge of the Aggie football program, is the longest tenured head coach since Chuck Shelton (1986-91) also spent six seasons at USU. In fact, Wells is tied with Shelton and Chuck Mills (1967-72) as the fourth-longest tenured head coaches in 120 seasons of Utah State football.
 
• Wells has been a player (1993) or coach (2012, 2013, 2014) in all four of Utah State's bowl wins. The NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl in 2017 was his seventh bowl game as an Aggie.
 
• Wells coached his fourth bowl game in 2017 to extend 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.
 
• In his five years as head coach, Wells has led Utah State to three wins against top 25 opponents, one more than USU had in its previous 115 years.
 
• During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Wells mentored a combined 12 players who earned all-Mountain West honors. Wells also coached Jalen Davis, who was named a Walter Camp First Team All-American, while Dominik Eberle was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, and earned third-team All-America honors.
 
• 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 22 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. That year, USU 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.