Final Stats (PDF) | Post-Game Notes (PDF) | Post-Game Quotes (PDF) | Photo Gallery

LOGAN, Utah – Senior running back Jaylen Warren rushed for a season-high 136 yards and a touchdown, but Utah State could not overcome two costly turnovers in a 35-16 Homecoming loss to Fresno State on Saturday on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.
 
Warren's touchdown came on the Aggies' very first play from scrimmage as he scored on a career-long 86-yard run, giving the hosts a 6-0 lead with 11:02 left in the opening quarter. The native of Salt Lake City, Utah, helped USU (0-4, 0-4 Mountain West) amass season highs in total offense (343 yards) and rushing yards (199).
 
"Obviously, it wasn't the outcome we expected," said Utah State interim head coach Frank Maile. "We started the game super strong with special teams and the offense. One of the goals offensively was to establish the running game. Second to that, offensively, was to protect the football. Unfortunately, we were not able to do a good job with that. Two of those takeaways on the run game switched the momentum at crucial moments of us trying to punch in another touchdown."
 
Utah State's defense set up Warren's touchdown when senior safety Shaq Bond intercepted a pass by Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener at the Aggies' 3-yard line and returned it 11 yards to the 14.
 
One play later, Warren was in the end zone.
 
"Shout-out to our O-line," Warren said. "They made everything happen today. If it wasn't for them, the offense wouldn't have put any points up on the board. We capitalized on our simple plays and executed on them. Today showed that there's a start of something great, and we'll see where it goes."
 
Haener redeemed himself on the Bulldogs' very next drive when he marched the visitors 75 yards, capping the 13-play drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Cropper to make it 7-6.
 
Utah State regained the lead on the ensuing kickoff when senior wide receiver Savon Scarver returned it 94 yards for a touchdown. It was his sixth-career kickoff return for a touchdown, which ranks first all-time in school history, second in MW history and tied for the fifth-most in NCAA history.
 
The Aggies appeared as if they would make it a double-digit lead when Warren ripped off a 36-yard run down to the Fresno State (3-1, 3-1 MW) 15-yard line, but Evan Williams knocked the ball out of Warren's grasp and Bralyn Lux recovered it for the Bulldogs at the 4-yard line.
Four plays later, Fresno State regained the lead for good on a 59-yard touchdown pass from Haener to Cropper. Haener's third touchdown pass of the first half, a 71-yarder to Josh Kelly, made it 21-13 with 5:41 left until the break.
 
On the ensuing drive, Utah State quarterback Jason Shelley connected with junior wide receiver Deven Thompkins for a 44-yard pass, setting the Aggies up the Bulldogs' 2-yard line. Shelley tried to sneak it on the next play, but was stopped short of the goal line.
 
Unfortunately for Utah State, it was all backward from there as a bad snap resulted in a 16-yard loss, followed by a sack of Shelley, left the Aggies facing fourth-and-goal from the 21. Junior placekicker made sure USU didn't come away empty-handed as he drilled a 38-yard field goal to make it 21-16.
 
The Bulldogs went into the break with a 28-16 lead following a 4-yard touchdown run by Ronnie Rivers with 34 second left on the clock. Rivers finished with 132 yards rushing on 25 carries, helping Fresno State record 541 yards of total offense.
 
Utah State forced its second turnover of the day in the red zone when sophomore inside linebacker AJ Vongphachanh forced a fumble that was recovered by senior defensive lineman Jake Pitcher at the Aggies' 14.
 
Fresno State slammed the door on Utah State for good when it turned a fumble by the Aggies into a touchdown, giving the visitors a 35-16 lead with 5:21 to go in the game.
 
"Defensively, I don't think the score reflected how we played on the field," Vongphachanh said. "It starts with limiting the plays – the big plays, the explosive plays. That starts with me, cleaning up the little things I need to clean up, and going from there. We had the energy. Run-wise, I think we were able to stop the run effectively, then later in the game getting them off the field on third downs. But again, it comes down to the bigger plays."
 
Vongphachanh had a team-high nine tackles, which included 0.5 tackles for loss, while sophomore safety Dominic Tatum added a career-high eight tackles. 
 
Utah State returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 19, when the Aggies travel to Laramie, Wyo., to take on Wyoming (1-2, 1-2 MW) on Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. The game, which will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network, is slated to kick off at 7 p.m.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
 
-USU-