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AGGIES HOST MOUNTAIN WEST-FOE COLORADO STATE IN HOMECOMING GAME  
Game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network on Friday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m. 
 
COLORADO STATE (3-3, 2-0 MW) vs. UTAH STATE (4-2, 2-1 MW)
Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 • 7:30 p.m. • Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)
 
GAME 7 INFORMATION
TV: CBS Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Chris Lewis
• Analyst: Corey Chavous
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 269/753HD
• DISH: Ch. 158
• DirecTV: Ch. 221
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard
• Analyst: Kevin White
• National: XM 381 / SXM App 971
• 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)
• Green River: KRPX (102.7 FM)
• Moab: KRPX (100.3 FM)
• Montpelier, Idaho: KZNS (1450 AM/101.7 FM)
• Orangeville: KRPX (95.9 FM)
• Price: KRPX (95.3 FM)
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State is 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in Mountain West play despite trailing after the first quarter in five of its six games, trailing at the half in all six of its games, and trailing after the third quarter in five of its six games this year.
 
• Utah State has trailed by double digits in all four of its wins this season, including coming from behind in the fourth quarter in all three of its road wins, which included a pair of double-digit deficits. In fact, USU scored the winning touchdown at Washington State with 13 seconds to play and the winning touchdown at UNLV with 35 seconds remaining in the game.
 
• Utah State has been outscored 68-27 in the first quarter and 147-106 during the first three quarters this season, but has outscored its opponents 68-30 in the fourth quarter, which includes a 58-10 advantage in its four wins.
 
• Senior WR Savon Scarver, a Las Vegas native, tied the NCAA and Mountain West record for kickoff returns for touchdown in a career with seven as he returned UNLV's first kickoff of the game 100 yards for the score in Utah State's 28-24 conference win against the Rebels last weekend. Overall, Scarver is one of five players in FBS history to return seven kickoffs for a touchdown.
 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins ranks first in the Mountain West and third in the nation in receiving (136.5 ypg), first in the MW and fifth in the nation in receptions (8.3 pg), first in the MW and seventh in the nation in all-purpose yards (150.0 ypg), and second in the MW and 12th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with six (1.0 pg).  
 
• Utah State ranks among the top 50 teams in the nation in 14 statistical categories, including ranking second in the Mountain West and 13th in the nation in total offense at 482.5 yards per game. USU also ranks 15th in the nation in passing offense (315.2 ypg), 25th in the nation in tackles for loss (6.8 pg), 32nd in the nation in kickoff returns (23.9 ypr) and 36th in the nation in punt returns (10.6 ypr).
 
UTAH STATE HOSTS COLORADO STATE IN HOMECOMING GAME
• Utah State (4-2, 2-1 MW) hosts Mountain West-foe Colorado State (3-3, 2-0 MW) in its annual Homecoming game on Friday, Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221) with Chris Lewis (play-by-play) and Corey Chavous (analyst) on the call.
 
• Utah State is 55-33-2 (.622) all-time in Homecoming games, which includes a 9-5-1 (.633) record against Colorado State. In fact, CSU is USU's most played Homecoming opponent, ahead of both BYU (7) and Utah (7). 
 
• Utah State is 23-32 -1 (.425) all-time in Friday night games, including a 1-1 record this year following its 48-24 home win against North Dakota on Sept. 10, and its 34-20 home loss to 13th-ranked BYU on Oct. 1.
 
LOOKING AT UTAH STATE IN 2021
• Utah State is 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in Mountain West play following its 28-24 road win at UNLV last weekend. USU is led by graduate junior QB Logan Bonner, who is 112-of-189 (.593) passing for 1,533 yards (255.5 ypg) with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. has rushed for 477 yards on 96 carries (5.0 ypc/79.5 ypg) with four touchdowns. And, senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 50 passes for 819 yards (16.4 ypr/136.5 ypg) and six touchdowns. Defensively, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice has 52 tackles, which includes 6.5 tackles for loss, to go along with three interceptions and one forced fumble. As a team, USU is averaging 29.0 points and 484.8 yards of total offense (169.7 rushing, 315.2 passing), and allowing 29.5 points and 441.5 yards of total offense (206.5 rushing, 235.0 passing).
 
UTAH STATE AT MAVERIK STADIUM
• Utah State is 41-16 (.719) in its last 57 home games and is 153-112 (.577) all-time inside Maverik Stadium. USU is also 9-5 (.643) at home in its last 14 Mountain West games.
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 39-27 (.591) all-time in the Mountain West, including a 21-12 (.636) home record, and has won 50 of its last 76 (.658) league games dating back to 2011. In fact, USU is 18-10 (.643) in its last 28 MW games and 22-15 (.595) in its last 37 games against all opponents.
 
• Utah State (39-27) has the third-best record against Mountain West opponents (including championship games) since USU joined the league in 2013. Boise State (55-14) has the best record in the league during that time, while San Diego State (48-18) has the second-best record. Colorado State has the fourth-best record (34-29).
 
UTAH STATE IS 3-0 ON THE ROAD THIS SEASON
• Utah State has won each of its first three road games to start a season for the first time since the 1978 team also won its first three road games, while its three-game road winning streak is its longest since the 2018 team won four straight road games. In its three road games this year, Utah State is averaging 34.3 points and 503.0 yards of total offense (181.3 rushing, 321.7 passing), and is 27-of-51 (.529) on third down conversions and 6-of-9 (.667) on fourth down. Furthermore, Utah State is plus one in the turnover battle in road games this year with five takeaways and four turnovers, and has a 37-10 scoring advantage in the final 15 minutes of those three road games.
 
AGGIES RALLY FROM FOUR DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFICITS FOR WINS
• Utah State has rallied from double-digit deficits to win each of its four games this season, marking the first time in school history that has happened. In fact, USU overcame a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit in each of its first two road wins this season.
 
• In its 28-24 road win at UNLV, Utah State overcame a 10-point (17-7) first-quarter deficit and scored the winning touchdown with 35 seconds remaining in the game. 
 
• In its 49-45 road win at Air Force, Utah State actually overcame four double-digit deficits to get the win. First, USU trailed 10-0 before taking a 13-10 lead. USU then trailed 24-13 and later 31-20 before taking a 34-31 lead. USU then trailed 45-34 before scoring 15 unanswered points in the final 9:51 for the win.
 
• In its 48-24 home win against North Dakota, Utah State outscored the Fighting Hawks 41-3 over the final three quarters after trailing 21-7 in the first 15 minutes of play.
 
• In its 26-23 season-opening road win at Washington State, Utah State overcame a 12-point (23-11) fourth-quarter deficit by scoring 15 unanswered points in the final 5:25 of the game. 
 
• Prior to this season, the last time USU won back-to-back games where it trailed by double digits was in 2011. 
 
UTAH STATE HAVING SUCCESS ON FOURTH DOWN 
• Utah State has been very aggressive in its play calling this season and has converted 11-of-19 (.579) fourth downs. Ironically, USU has gone on to score points in each of those 11 drives it converted a fourth down with nine touchdowns and two field goals.
 
AGGIES HAVE ALLOWED SIX SCORES FOLLOWING 10 TURNOVERS
• Utah State's defense has allowed 30 points (3 TD, 3 FG) following 10 Aggie turnovers this season. In fact, two of the touchdowns allowed were on a short field as the opponent forced a fumble at the USU 21-yard line and returned an interception to the USU 14-yard line.
 
SCOUTING COLORADO STATE
• Colorado State is 3-3 on the season and 2-0 in Mountain West play following its 36-7 road win at New Mexico last weekend. CSU is led by senior QB Todd Centeio, who is 111-of-185 (.600) passing for 1,328 yards (221.3 ypg) with six touchdowns and one interception. Senior RB David Bailey leads the team in rushing with 319 yards on 86 carries (3.7 ypc/63.8 ypg) with four touchdowns. And, junior TE Trey McBride has caught 49 passes for 593 yards (12.1 ypr/98.8 ypg) with one touchdown. Defensively, senior LB Dequan Jackson has a team-best 51 tackles, which includes 6.0 tackles for loss, while senior DE Scott Patchan has 36 tackles, which includes 8.5 tackles for loss. As a team, Colorado State is averaging 24.7 points and 396.3 yards of total offense per game (227.0 passing, 169.3 rushing), and allowing 19.5 points and 285.5 yards of total offense (187.7 passing, 97.8 rushing). Colorado State returns 20 starters (O-10, D-10) and 45 lettermen (O-20, D-19, S-6) from last year's team that went 1-3 in Mountain West play. The Rams are coached by Steve Addazio, who is 61-61 in his 11th season as a collegiate head coach and 4-6 in his second season at Colorado State.
 
AGGIES AND RAMS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State is 35-39-2 all-time against Colorado State, including a 19-20-1 home record. USU has won each of the last two meetings in the series with a 34-24 home win in 2019 and a 29-24 road win in Fort Collins in 2018. The two teams did not meet during the 2020 season. Overall, USU has won five of the last eight games played in the series. The first-ever game between the two teams was in 1902 with CSU winning in Logan, 24-5.
 
AGGIES AND RAMS HAVE STORIED HISTORY
• Utah State and Colorado State have spent 55 years as league foes and have a storied history dating back to the early 1900s as both schools were members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) from 1916-37 and members of the Mountain States/Skyline Conference from 1938-61. CSU then was a charter member of the Mountain West in 1999, while USU joined the conference in 2013. As members of the RMAC, USU won league championships in 1921 and 1936, and later won league titles in the Mountain States/Skyline Conference in 1946, 1960 and 1961. CSU won team championships in the RMAC in 1915, 1916, 1919, 1920, 1925, 1927, 1933 and 1934, and in the Mountain States Conference in 1955. Overall, the Aggies and Rams faced each other in every season from 1911-79, except in 1912, 1918, 1921, 1943-44 (war), and 1968, even after CSU joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1968. After 1979, the two teams didn't play again until 1994.
 
AGGIES vs. RAMS SERIES THIRD-MOST PLAYED IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and Colorado State will be meeting for the 77th time in series history this weekend in what is the third-most played rivalry in school history. USU's most played rivalry is Utah (112), followed by Brigham Young (90), Colorado State (76) and Wyoming (70).
 
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE STATE OF COLORADO
• Utah State is a combined 74-79-6 (.482) against teams from the state of Colorado, with a 35-39-2 mark versus Colorado State, a 13-19-3 ledger against Denver, a 6-11-1 record against Colorado, a 7-0 mark versus Western State, a 5-4 record against Colorado Mines, a 3-0 record versus Colorado College, a 1-0 mark versus Regis, and a 4-6 record against Air Force.
 
PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND COLORADO STATE
• The following are connections between Utah State and Colorado State players. USU senior WR Savon Scarver attended Centennial HS in Las Vegas, as did CSU freshman OL Sammy Norris and CSU freshman WR Gerick Robinson. USU junior CB Michael Anyanwu and CSU freshman WR Damir Abdullah both attended Charter Oak HS in Covina, California.  USU junior DT James Hansen and CSU junior DB Christian Hunter both attended Kaiser HS in Fontana, California. USU junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr., CSU graduate senior DL Scott Patchan and CSU junior TE Brian Polendey all began their collegiate careers at Miami, Florida.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 38 players in its program from the Beehive State, while Colorado State has 34 players on its roster from the Centennial State. 
 
ON THIS DATE IN AGGIE FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Utah State held Colorado State to 116 yards of total offense (51 rushing, 65 passing), which is the 14th-fewest in school history, en route to a 21-0 home win against the Rams on Oct. 22, 1960. USU finished the game with 352 yards of offense (296 rushing, 56 passing). The Aggies scored in the first quarter as junior QB Mel Montalbo connected with junior WR Bill Dahme for an 8-yard touchdown. USU then added on two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter on a pair of 1-yard runs from sophomore FB Ray Harward and junior RB Tom Larscheid. Montalbo was 3-of-8 passing for 56 yards and one touchdown, and rushed for 51 yards on nine carries, while Larscheid rushed for 71 yards on 11 carries with one touchdown. Senior FB Doug Mayberry also rushed for 71 yards on 12 carries.
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND COLORADO STATE
The following are series notables between Utah State and Colorado State dating back to 1994 and encompassing the last 12 meetings. 
 
• In the last 12 meetings, the team that leads at the half is 8-2 as Utah State is 5-2 when leading at the half and Colorado State is 3-0. Furthermore, the team that scores first is 9-3 as USU is 4-2 when scoring first and CSU is 5-1. USU has scored first in five of the last nine games and led at the half in six of the last nine games.
 
• Utah State has rushed for more yards in six of the last nine meetings and is 4-2 in those games. USU has also had more yards of total offense in five of the last nine games.
 
• The team that has had more first downs has lost six of the last 11 games.
 
• The winning team did not commit a turnover from 2013 to 2017 (five games), and the team that has had fewer turnovers has won seven of the last 11 games.
 
• Colorado State had 506 yards of total offense in 2018 and 509 yards in 2017, marking the only times in the last 12 meetings that either team had 500 yards of total offense. 
 
• Neither team has had a 300-yard passer in the last 12 meetings, while CSU has had a 100-yard rusher five times and a 100-yard receiver five times. USU has had a 100-yard rusher seven times and a 100-yard receiver twice in the last 12 meetings.
 
• Utah State has never had a 300-yard passer against Colorado State.
 
• Utah State has had a 100-yard rusher in eight of the last 11 games played in the series, with the only exceptions being in the 2014, 2017 and 2018 meetings.
 
• Utah State has had 13 100-yard rushers and nine 100-yard receivers all-time against Colorado State, the fourth- and sixth-most against any opponent in school history, respectively. 
 
• The winning team has scored at least 30 points in eight of the last 12 meetings, while there have been 29 games where the winning team has scored less than 20 points. There has also been 24 shutouts in series history, 15 by USU's defense and nine by CSU's defense.
 
CURRENT AGGIES VERSUS COLORADO STATE
• The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against Colorado State in at least two games played. Graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua has 3.0 knockdowns in three games. Graduate senior S Shaq Bond has 19 tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup in two games. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson has five tackles in two games. Graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan has four catches for 49 yards (12.3 ypc) and one punt return for one yard in three games. Senior WR Savon Scarver has one reception for eight yards and five kickoff returns for 126 yards (25.2 ypr), including a long of 51 in 2018, in three games. Senior TE Carson Terrell has one catch for 16 yards in three games. Senior ILB Kevin Meitzenheimer has 10 tackles in two games. And, senior OL Alfred Edwards has 1.0 knockdowns in two games.   
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State individual and team statistical performances against Colorado State over the years. 
 
• Savon Scarver had a 100-yard kickoff return against Colorado State in 2019, which is tied for the third-longest in school history. 
 
• Aaron Wade returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown in 2018, which is tied for the fifth-longest all-time in school history. 
 
• Louie Giammona rushed for 242 yards against CSU in 1975, which is tied for the eighth-most all-time in school history. 
 
• Kerwynn Williams rushed for 205 yards against CSU in 2012, which is tied for the 24th-most all-time in school history. 
 
• Fred Allen had an 82-yard rush against CSU in 1975, which is tied for the 11th-longest in school history. 
 
• Roy Shivers hit Dave Clark on an 89-yard pass against CSU in 1965, which is tied for the fourth-longest pass play in school history. 
 
• Earsell Mackbee hit Grant Martinsen on an 81-yard pass against CSU in 1964, which is tied for the 15th-longest pass play in school history. 
 
• Rick Parros had a 94-yard kickoff return against CSU in 1978, which is tied for the 15th-longest in school history. 
 
• Micah Knorr made a 54-yard field goal against CSU in 1994, which is tied for the sixth-longest in school history. 
 
• Steve Steinke made a 52-yard field goal against CSU in 1979, which is tied for the 10th-longest in school history.
 
• Utah State limited Colorado State to 90 yards of total offense (seventh-fewest in school history) in 1961 in a 49-3 win in Fort Collins, while rushing for 389 yards, the most in series history by a USU team and 12th-most in school history. 
 
• Utah State held Colorado State to 116 yards of total offense in 1960, the 14th-fewest in school history. 
 
• Utah State held Colorado State to a school-record one passing yard in 1976. 
 
• Utah State held Colorado State to a school-record zero completions and three pass attempts in 1949. 
 
• Utah State held Colorado State to 15 passing yards in 1961 and 18 passing yards in 1963, the fifth- and eighth-fewest in school history, respectively. 
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 166-188-8 (.470) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 40-26-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 35-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, an 18-7 record vs. UNLV, an 18-20-1 record vs. San José State, a 14-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 13-18-1 record vs. Fresno State, a 10-6 record vs. Hawai`i, a 7-19 record vs. Nevada, a 5-21 record vs. Boise State, a 4-6 record vs. Air Force, and a 2-13 record vs. San Diego State.
 
• Utah State is in its ninth year as a member of the Mountain West in 2021 and has been a Division I-A/Bowl Championship Series football playing school in each of its 123 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.
 
LAST MEETING vs. COLORADO STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Senior RB Gerold Bright rushed for 179 yards on 36 carries, both career highs, and Utah State overcame four turnovers in a 34-24 Mountain West home win against Colorado State on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. 
 
Bright finished with 198 all-purpose yards as he also caught two passes for 19 yards in the cold and rain. Utah State (3-1, 2-0 Mountain West) finished with 444 yards of total offense, including 240 on the ground. 
 
Defensively, the Aggies limited the Rams (1-4, 0-1 MW) to 296 yards of total offense, including just 70 yards on the ground from Marvin Kinsey Jr., who racked up 246 yards rushing a week ago against Toledo. 
 
Junior LB David Woodward recorded up a game-high 14 tackles for Utah State. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one of them, which he returned for an 8-yard touchdown to essentially seal CSU's fate. 
 
Junior S Troy Lefeged Jr. added a career-best 11 tackles, including 1.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss, which were also career highs. Senior DE Tipa Galeai tallied six tackles, a career-best four quarterback hurries and his first-career fumble recovery. Senior CB Cameron Haney had six tackles, as well, a career-high-tying three pass breakups and his first-career forced fumble. 
 
The game was delayed before the two teams even kicked off because of lightning. 
 
Utah State, which extended its home winning streak to nine, battled back from three separate seven-point deficits in the first half as Colorado State turned a blocked punt and interception into 14 points. 
 
Following a blocked punt, the Rams struck first courtesy of a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0 with 7:14 remaining in the opening quarter. 
 
Just 13 seconds later, the Aggies answered back with a 100-yard kickoff return for touchdown by junior WR Savon Scarver. It was Scarver's fourth-career kickoff return for touchdown, which tied the school record previously set by Kevin Robinson. 
 
CSU regained the lead early in the second quarter on a 1-yard touchdown by Kinsey, but again, the Aggies answered right back – less than two minutes later. 
 
Junior QB Jordan Love, who was 17-of-33 passing for 204 yards and two touchdowns, connected with sophomore WR Deven Thompkins from 37 yards out to knot the game at 14-apiece. 
 
On Utah State's next possession, CSU returned an interception 44 yards for the score to give them a 21-14 lead. 
 
Following a 42-yard field goal by senior PK Dominik Eberle, the Aggies took their first lead of the night on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Love to senior graduate transfer TE Caleb Repp. The Aggies went into the break with momentum and a 24-21 lead. 
 
Utah State opened the second half with the ball, but Love's second interception led to a 45-yard field goal that pulled the Rams even at 24-all. 
 
The Aggies regained the lead for good with 2:57 to go in the third quarter on a 48-yard field goal by Eberle. Utah State sealed it with Woodward's fumble return for touchdown with 9:32 to go in the game, giving the Aggies their final margin of victory. 
 
LAST ROAD MEETING vs. COLORADO STATE
FORT COLLINS, Colorado - Senior WR Aaren Vaughns caught the go-ahead touchdown with 43 seconds to play and No. 14 Utah State (10-1, 7-0 MW) survived a wild finish to post a 29-24 win at Colorado State (3-8, 2-5 MW) on a snowy and cold afternoon at Canvas Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. 
 
After Vaughns hauled in sophomore QB Jordan Love's 33-yard touchdown pass, the Rams took over on their own 25. Quarterback Collin Hill, aided by a personal foul call on USU, moved CSU down to the USU 30 with 15 seconds to go. Following a sack by USU senior DE Adewale Adeoye, the Rams had one play left to try pull off the miracle – and they did. 
 
Almost. On third-and-five from the Aggies' 34, Hill threw a Hail Mary to the right corner of the end zone, where Preston Williams answered the prayer for a 30-29 upset victory. CSU's celebration was short-lived, though. The touchdown was negated by penalty, allowing the Aggies to win their school-record 10th consecutive game. Utah State's 10-1 start to the season is the best in school history and its unblemished 7-0 record in the Mountain West is the best start the Aggies have ever had in league play. 
 
Williams was flagged for illegal touching after it was determined he had stepped out of bounds and was the first to touch the ball when he came back in bounds. 
 
Senior S Jontrell Rocquemore was one of two Aggies to return an interception for a touchdown as his 32-yard pick six gave the visitors a 20-10 lead with 2:37 left in the third quarter. Senior S Aaron Wade returned an interception 95 yards for a score early in the second quarter, which is tied for the fifth-longest in school history. 
 
Vaughns' touchdown was the lone offensive score for Utah State, which finished with just 310 total yards (169 passing, 141 rushing) and possessed the ball just 17:55 of the game. 
 
Love was 15-of-24 passing for 169 yards, while junior RB Gerold Bright rushed for 89 yards on 13 carries. Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver caught six passes for 69 yards. 
 
Hill was 24-of-37 passing for 296 yards and two touchdowns – both to Williams. The Rams' Olabisi Johnson led all receivers in the game with seven catches for 107 yards. The 506 total yards gained by Colorado State are the most allowed by USU this season. 
 
Utah State sophomore LB David Woodward racked up a game- and career-high 20 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry. It was the most tackles by an Aggie since the 2015 campaign. 
 
Utah State scored the first 10 points of the game as junior PK Dominik Eberle kicked a 23-yard field goal, followed by Wade's pick-six. Eberle accounted for 11 total points as he also kicked field goals of 26 and 37 yards, respectively, and made both of his extra points. 
 
After Wade's touchdown, CSU answered with a five-play, 80-yard drive to pull within 10-7 with 9:51 left in the second quarter. 
 
After the Rams forced the Aggies to punt to start the second half, they marched 61 yards in 13 plays to tie the game at 10-all courtesy of a 22-yard field goal. 
 
Utah State regained the lead on Eberle's 26-yard field goal with 4:03 left in the third, and the Aggies made it 20-10 less than two minutes later thanks to Rocquemore's pick-six. 
 
A successful fake punt set up Williams' first touchdown early in the fourth to cut the deficit to 20-17. Eberle then connected from 37 yards out to make it 23-17 with seven minutes left. 
 
With less than three minutes to go and USU looking to get the ball back, the Aggies fumbled a punt and CSU recovered on the visitor's 20. Three plays later, the Rams had their first lead following a 17-yard touchdown pass from Hill to Williams, making it 24-23. 
 
GAME 6 RECAP vs. UNLV
LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Utah State sophomore RB Elelyon Noa scored on an 11-yard run with 35 second remaining to help the Aggies (4-2, 2-1 Mountain West) overcame a double-digit deficit for the fourth time this season in its 28-24 win against UNLV (0-6, 0-2 MW) at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. 
 
With the win, Utah State improved to 3-0 on the road this season, marking the first time since 1978 that a USU team has won its first three road games of the season. It is also the third time in as many road games this year that USU has come-from-behind in the fourth quarter to notch the win. In fact, USU has trailed by double-digits in all four of its wins this season. 
 
Utah State senior WR Savon Scarver, a Las Vegas native, returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown the very first time the Aggies had the ball to tie the NCAA and Mountain West record with seven career kickoff returns for touchdown. Scarver finished the game with three kickoff returns for 156 yards. 
 
Fellow senior WR Deven Thompkins led Utah State with 223 all-purpose yards, as he caught a career-high 12 passes for 180 yards, including a career-high two touchdowns, while adding 14 yards rushing and 29 kickoff return yards. Thompkins first score was on a 37-yard reception in the second quarter to cut UNLV's lead to 17-14, while his second touchdown was on a 6-yard catch to start the third quarter to give USU a 21-17 lead. 
 
Utah State senior QB Logan Bonner was 21-of-32 passing for 298 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and was 4-of-5 for 39 yards on the Aggies' final drive of the game. Senior WR Derek Wright added a career-best 83 receiving yards as he tied his career-high with five receptions. 
 
Overall, Utah State finished the game with 440 yards of total offense (142 rushing, 298 passing) and 26 first downs, while UNLV had 330 yards of offense (219 rushing, 111 passing) and just 12 first downs. 
 
Utah State graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. had 17 carries for 60 yards for the visitors, while Noa finished the game with seven carries for 37 yards, including his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter to win the game for the Aggies. 
 
UNLV was led by senior RB Charles Williams, who racked up a career-high 221 yards rushing and all three of the Rebels' touchdowns, including giving the hosts a 24-21 lead on a 5-yard run with 8:18 to go in the third quarter. 
 
After allowing 17 first quarter points, Utah State's defense surrendered just one touchdown the remainder of the game and sealed the contest when graduate senior S Shaq Bond intercepted his second pass of the night on a fourth-down play with just 10 seconds left. Bond, whose first interception was in early in the fourth quarter, led the Aggies with nine tackles, which included 0.5 tackles for loss, to go along with a forced fumble. 
 
UNLV scored first on a 26-yard field goal on its opening drive of the game. Following Scarver's kickoff return for touchdown to make it 7-3 for the Aggies, Williams scored on UNLV's first play of the next drive on a 75-yard run to give the Rebels a 10-7 lead. Williams scored again, this time on a 1-yard run, on UNLV's next possession to give the home team a 17-7 lead late in the first quarter. 
 
SCARVER TIES NCAA RECORD WITH SEVENTH KICKOFF RETURN FOR TOUCHDOWN
• Senior WR Savon Scarver tied the NCAA and Mountain West record for kickoff returns for touchdown this past weekend at UNLV as he returned the Rebels' first kickoff of the game 100 yards for the score. Scarver is now one of five FBS players all-time with seven career kickoff returns for touchdowns, joining Clemson's C.J. Spiller, 2006-09; Houston's Tyron Carrier, 2008-11; San Diego State's Rashaad Penny, 2014-17; and Memphis' Tony Pollard, 2015-18. 
 
• Of his seven career kickoff returns for touchdowns, four have been from 100 yards, while the others were from 99, 96 and 94 yards, respectively.
 
• The previous USU record for kickoff returns for touchdown was held by Kevin Robinson (2004-07), who returned four during his career. 
 
SCARVER SETS MOUNTAIN WEST RECORD FOR CAREER KICKOFF RETURN YARDS
• Senior WR Savon Scarver set another Mountain West record this past weekend as he now has 2,649 kickoff return yards in his career, breaking the previous record of 2,626 yards set by UNLV's Deante' Purvis (2008-11). Scarver also ranks third all-time in MW history with 93 career kickoff returns trailing Purivs, who holds the record with 112 returns, and New Mexico's Carlos Wiggins, who had 96 career kickoff returns.
 
• Scarver ranks third all-time in school history in kickoff return yards behind Kerwynn Williams  (2009-12) and Kevin Robinson (2004-07). Williams currently ranks fourth in NCAA history with 3,408 kickoff return yards and Robinson ranks 26th with 2,725 yards. The NCAA record holder for career kickoff return yards is Minnesota's Troy Stoudermire (2008-12) with 3,615 yards.
 
• For his career, Scarver has returned 93 kickoffs for 2,649 yards (28.5 ypr) and is tied for 14th all-time in FBS history in kickoff return average and 38th in kickoff return yards.
 
BOND NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK 
• Graduate senior S Shaq Bond was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week following his performance last weekend in Utah State's 28-24 conference win at UNLV. Bond had a career-high two interceptions against the Rebels, both of which came in the fourth quarter. In fact, Bond's last interception was on UNLV's last drive of the game at the Rebels' 48-yard line to seal the win with 10 seconds remaining. Bond also had a season-high nine tackles, which included 0.5 tackles for loss, to go along with a forced fumble, in the game. Overall, it is the first time in his career that Bond has been named the MW Defensive Player of the Week.
 
THOMPKINS NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week following his performance last weekend in Utah State's 28-24 conference win at UNLV. Thompkins had a career-high 12 receptions for 180 yards, to go along with a career-best two touchdowns from 37 and six yards. Overall, it is the first time in his career that Thompkins has been named the MW Offensive Player of the Week. 
 
• Thompkins' 12 catches against UNLV are the most by an Aggie since Hunter Sharp had 13 receptions against Air Force in 2015. Furthermore, it is the first time an Aggie has had double-digit receptions since Siaosi Mariner had 11 catches against Fresno State in 2019.
 
THOMPKINS NOTCHES FOURTH 100-YARD RECEIVING GAME OF SEASON 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins recorded the fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season and his career in his last outing against UNLV as he had a career-high 12 receptions for 180 yards and a career-best two touchdowns.
 
• Thompkins has caught at least eight passes in five of his six games this season and has over 90 receiving yards in five of his six games this year. Furthermore, Thompkins has had at least 170 receiving yards three times this season, which is the most by an Aggie since Kevin Curtis also had three receiving games with at least 170 yards during the 2001 season. Thompkins is also the first player in school history to have back-to-back games with at least 170 receiving yards as he had eight catches for 172 yards against North Dakota (9/10) and nine catches for a career-high 188 yards at Air Force (9/18).
 
TEAM NOTABLES FROM THE UNLV GAME
• After allowing 17 points and 150 yards of total offense in the first quarter, including 116 rushing yards, Utah State's defense held the Rebels to just seven points and 180 yards of offense for the remainder of the game, which included 103 rushing yards. 
 
• Utah State held UNLV to 330 yards of total offense, which is a season-low for an Aggie opponent. UNLV also passed for just 111 yards, also a season-low for an Aggie opponent.
 
• Utah State's defense forced UNLV into five 3-and-outs in 12 drives, including on all four of its possessions in the fourth quarter. Overall, UNLV held the ball for just 4:51 of the fourth quarter and produced just seven yards on 12 plays as the Aggies forced a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is 3-0 on the season in one score games, which are the most wins by one score since the 2019 team was 3-1 in one score games. The 2011 teams holds the school record with five wins by one score as it went 5-4 on the season in one score games. 
 
OFFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM THE UNLV GAME
• Senior WR Derek Wright tied his career high with five receptions for a career-high 83 yards. Wright had two receptions for 30 yards on USU's game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner had two touchdown passes (37, 6) to give him 11 touchdown passes on the season and 41 in his career. It was Bonner's fourth game this year with multiple touchdown passes. Sophomore RB Elelyon Noa scored his first-career touchdown on an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter to give USU the win. Redshirt freshman OL Cole Motes made his first-career start in his first-career game as an Aggie.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM THE UNLV GAME
• Graduate senior OLB Cash Gilliam had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 2.0 tackles for loss this season and 6.0 tackles for loss in his career. Graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds had his second sack of the season and his career to give him 2.5 tackles for loss this season and 4.5 tackles for loss in his career. Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 6.5 tackles for loss on the season and 25.0 tackles for loss in his career. Graduate senior OLB Justin Rice had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 6.5 tackles for loss on the season and 35.0 tackles for loss in his career. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 2.5 tackles for loss in his career. Graduate junior S Monte McGary had his first-career tackle for loss. Junior OLB Ajani Carter had his first-career tackle for loss. Junior DE Byron Vaughns had his third pass breakup of the season and his career.
 
UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 36 of its last 44 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 1-1 record this year, and 40 of its last 46 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game, including a 2-1 record this year. USU has also won 57 of its last 62 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 2-0 record this season.
 
HENINGER NOMINATED FOR PAIR OF NATIONAL AWARDS 
• Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger has been nominated for a pair of national awards as he is one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award and one of 176 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy. The Senior CLASS Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete who excels in the Four C's - classroom, character, community & competition. The William V. Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. It is considered by many to be the "Academic Heisman" and nicknamed as such.
 
FOUR AGGIES PUT ON SCHOLARSHIP THIS FALL
• Utah State head football coach Blake Anderson put four players on scholarship this fall in senior OL Chandler Dolphin, junior RB Pailate Makakona, sophomore DE Addison Trupp and redshirt freshman LS Jacob Garcia.
 
AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS 
• Utah State has 13 players on its 2021 roster who have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in graduate senior DE Nick Heninger, junior DT James Hansen, junior OL Wade Meacham, sophomore TE Josh Sterzer, sophomore WR Kyle Van Leeuwen, redshirt freshman DE Mata Hola, freshman ILB McKay Breshears, freshman DT Johnson Hansen, freshman WR Franky Jacobsen, freshman ILB Sione Moa, freshman TE Jackson Rigby, freshman DT Seni Tuiaki and redshirt freshman S Crew Wakley.
 
AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED 
• Utah State has seven players on its 2021 roster who are married in graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, graduate senior DE Nick Heninger, senior WR Derek Wright, sophomore DT Aaron Bredsguard, sophomore TE Josh Sterzer, redshirt freshman OL Cole Motes and redshirt freshman S Crew Wakley.
 
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 overtime, 2-2 in double overtime, and 0-1 in triple overtime. 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. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State first-year head coach Blake Anderson is just the third head coach in school history, and first since E. Lowell Romney in 1919, to win his first three games at Utah State. The only other USU head coach to accomplish this feat was Fred M. Walker, who led USU to a 7-0 record in 1907. Furthermore, Anderson is one of 19 FBS head coaches in their first year at their current school, and he was one of only two head coaches, along with South Alabama's Kane Wommack, to start the season 3-0.
 
LOOKING AT THE 2021 ROSTER 
• Under the direction of first-year head coach Blake Anderson, who is in his eighth year as a collegiate head coach, Utah State football returns 18 starters (O-9, D-9) as part of 44 letterwinners (O-20, D-21, S-3) from last year, which includes 13 Super Seniors. Along with 44 returning lettermen, USU welcomes back 24 more players (O-12, D-9, S-3) that were in the program in 2020, while adding 41 newcomers (O-20, D-20, S-1), 15 of which are four-year transfers. Those 13 'Super Seniors' include: OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, DE Jaylin Bannerman, S Shaq Bond, WR Sean Carter, OLB Cash Gilliam, DE Nick Heninger, RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole, ILB Kevin Meitzenheimer, DT Marcus Moore, WR Jordan Nathan, WR Savon Scarver, TE Carson Terrell and WR Derek Wright.   
 
• Highlighting Utah State's returners in 2021 are seven players that earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors a season ago in graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, graduate senior S Shaq Bond, graduate senior DE Nick Heninger, graduate senior DT Marcus Moore, senior KOR Savon Scarver, junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh and sophomore P Stephen Kotsanlee. Bond has been named honorable mention all-MW each of the past two seasons, while Scarver was a consensus All-American in 2018 and is the preseason MW Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021.
 
• Other starters returning for Utah State in 2021 include Henry-Cole, Meitzenheimer, Terrell, Wright, senior OL Alfred Edwards, senior CB Andre Grayson, senior CB Zahodri Jackson, senior WR Deven Thompkins, junior CB Cam Lampkin, junior WR Justin McGriff, junior OL Jacob South, junior S Dominic Tatum and sophomore OL Falepule Alo.
 
• Utah State welcomes three transfers that earned all-Sun Belt Conference honors at Arkansas State a season ago in graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice and graduate junior QB Logan Bonner. Rice earned first-team all-conference honors at ASU in 2020 and was first-team all-Mountain West at Fresno State in 2019, while Bowling and Bonner both garnered honorable mention all-Sun Belt honors last season for the Red Wolves. 
 
• Utah State has 11 Power 5 transfers on its roster in in graduate senior RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole (Utah), graduate senior DE Nick Heninger (Utah), graduate senior DT Marcus Moore (UCLA), graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. (Oregon State), graduate senior CB Kyle Mayberry (Kansas), graduate junior DE Phillip Paea (Michigan), graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds (Michigan), junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. (Miami), junior DE Byron Vaughns (Texas), junior OL Quazzel White (TCU) and redshirt freshman WR Jamie Nance (Nebraska). 
 
UTAH STATE HAS MOST DIVERSE COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• Utah State is the only staff in the nation that has minority coaches serving in the roles of offensive coordinator (Anthony Tucker), defensive coordinator (Ephraim Banda) and head strength and conditioning coach (Paul Jackson).
 
UTAH STATE HAS THE SECOND-YOUNGEST COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• Of Utah State's 10 full-time assistant coaches, four are in their 20s, four are in their 30s and two are in their 40s. The average age of those 10 assistants is 33.7 years, which ranks as the second-youngest staff in the nation behind Old Dominion (32.2).
 
FIVE FORMER AGGIE PLAYERS ON STAFF
• Utah State head coach Blake Anderson has five former Aggies on his staff in running backs coach Chuckie Keeton (2011-15), tight ends coach DJ Tialavea (2010-13), defensive line coach Al Lapuaho (2011-12), and analysts Austin Albrecht (2014-16) and Jumanne Robertson (2011-12). 
 
AGGIES HAVE NEW COORDINATORS FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR IN 2021
• Utah State has new offensive, defensive and special teams coordinators for the fourth straight season this fall. In fact, USU has had a different defensive coordinator in each of its last five seasons and a different special teams coordinator in each of its last seven seasons. The last time USU had the same defensive coordinator for multiple years was Todd Orlando (2013-14), while its last special teams coordinator to coach multiple seasons was Dave Ungerer (2013-15). Ironically, USU has had the same offensive coordinator for multiple seasons twice during the past nine seasons with David Yost (2017-18) and Kevin McGiven (2013-14).
 
• Overall, Utah State is the only FBS school to have new coordinators on offense, defense and special teams in each of the past four seasons.
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• Utah State defensive coordinator and safeties coach Ephraim Banda was named one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation in January of 2021, by Rivals.com.
 
• Banda is the only hispanic-latino defensive coordinator in the nation at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. Overall, Banda is one of 32 hispanic-latino coaches at the FBS level, with six of those serving other coordinator positions.
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• According to College Football Focus and ESPN, Utah State had the third-most efficient special teams units in the nation in 2020. USU led the Mountain West and was 11th in the nation in punt return defense (1.4 ypr), and was first in the MW and 15th in the nation in kickoff return defense (17.4 ypr). USU was also second in the MW and 15th in the nation with two blocked kicks (1 field goal, 1 punt), third in the MW and 31st in the nation in net punting (40.4 ypp), and fifth in the MW and 20th in the nation in kickoff returns (24.5 ypr).
 
UTAH STATE 13TH IN THE NATION IN TOTAL OFFENSE
• Utah State is averaging 482.5 yards per game to rank second in the Mountain West and 13th in the nation. USU also ranks third in the MW and 15th in the nation in passing offense (315.2 ypg), third in the MW and 39th in the nation in sacks allowed with 10 (1.67 pg), fourth in the MW and 62nd in the nation in rushing offense (167.3 ypg), fifth in the MW and 65th in the nation in passing efficiency (138.7), fifth in the MW and 94th in the nation in completion percentage (.583), and sixth in the MW and 62nd in the nation in scoring offense (29.0 ppg).  
 
• Utah State also ranks second in the MW and 13th in the nation in fumbles lost with two (0.33 pg), second in the MW and 26th in the nation in passing yards per completion (13.80), third in the MW and 29th in the nation in third down conversions at 45.7 percent (48-of-105), and third in the MW and 53rd in the nation in fourth down conversions at 57.9 percent (11-of-19).
 
UTAH STATE 25TH IN THE NATION IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is averaging 6.8 tackles for loss per game to rank third in the Mountain West and 25th in the nation. USU also ranks ninth in the MW and 81st in the nation in passing defense (234.8 ypg), 10th in the MW and 91st in the nation in scoring defense (29.5 ppg), 10th in the MW in total defense (463.8 ypg), 11th in the MW and 72nd in the nation in pass efficiency defense (132.8),  11th in the MW in sacks with nine (1.33 pg), and 12th in the MW in rushing defense (206.7 ypg).  
 
• Utah State's defense also ranks third in the MW and 16th in the nation in fourth down conversions at 33.3 percent (1-of-3), and fourth in the MW and 44th in the nation with six passes intercepted (1.0 pg).   
 
UTAH STATE 32ND IN THE NATION IN KICKOFF RETURNS
• Utah State ranks third in the Mountain West and 30th in the nation in kickoff returns (23.9 ypr), second in the MW and 34th in the nation in kickoff return defense (18.3 ypr), fourth in the MW and 36th in the nation in punt returns (10.6 ypr), fourth in the MW and 49th in the nation in net punting (40.9 ypp), and fifth in the MW and 80th in the nation in punt return defense (8.5 ypr). 
 
UTAH STATE HAS FORCED EIGHT TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has forced eight turnovers during the first six games of the 2021 season with six interceptions and two fumbles. Overall, USU has forced three-or-more turnovers in 26 of its last 88 games and has scored 25 defensive touchdowns in its last 97 games. 
 
AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS IN 2021
• The following is a look at where current Aggies rank in the Mountain West and in the NCAA in individual categories. Senior WR Deven Thompkins leads the MW and ranks third in the nation in receiving (136.5 ypg), leads the MW and ranks fifth in the nation in receptions (8.3 pg), leads the MW and is seventh in the nation in all-purpose yards (150.0 ypg), is second in the MW and 12th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with six (1.0 pg), and is eighth in the MW and 83rd in the nation in yards per reception (16.3). Senior WR Savon Scarver is first in the MW and third in the nation in kickoff returns for touchdown with one (0.17 pg), and first in the MW and 13th in the nation in kickoff returns (28.0 ypr). Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice leads the MW and is seventh in the nation with three interceptions (0.50 pg), is sixth in the MW and 35th in the nation in tackles (8.7 pg), and ninth in the MW in tackles for loss (1.0 pg). Graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan is first in the MW and 18th in the nation in punt returns (10.6 ypr). Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner is second in the MW and 24th in the nation in yards per completion (13.7), third in the MW and 52nd in the nation in points responsible for (11.3 pg), fourth in the MW and 24th in the nation in passing (255.5 ypg), fourth in the MW and 37th in the nation in passing touchdowns with 11 (1.83 pg), fourth in the MW and 43rd in the nation in completions (18.7 pg), fourth in the MW and 60th in the nation in passing efficiency (138.5), fifth in the MW and 32nd in the nation in total offense (262.8 ypg), and fifth in the MW and 78th in the nation in completion percentage (.589). Graduate senior S Shaq Bond is fourth in the MW and 25th in the nation with two interceptions (0.40 pg). Senior PK Connor Coles is fifth in the MW and 32nd in the nation in field goals made per game (1.33), eighth in the MW and 88th in the nation in scoring (7.0 ppg), and 10th in the MW and 93rd in the nation in field goal percentage (61.5). Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is sixth in the MW and 49th in the nation in rushing yards (79.5 ypg), sixth in the MW and 69th in the nation in rushing yards per carry (5.0 ypc), and seventh in the MW and 90th in the nation in rushing touchdowns with four (0.7 pg). Sophomore P Stephen Kotsanlee is sixth in the MW in punting (43.6 ypp). Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling is eighth in the MW and 84th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with three (0.50 pg), ninth in the MW and 76th in the nation in receiving (66.7 ypg), ninth in the MW and 95th in the nation in yards per reception (16.0), and 10th in the MW in receptions (4.2 pg). And, graduate senior DE Nick Heninger is ninth in the MW in tackles for loss (1.0 pg).         
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 14 scoring drives this season of at least 10 plays, including a season-long 18-play drive against BYU. By comparison, USU had a total of 13 drives of 10-plus plays the entire 2019 season and three such drives in 2020.
 
• Utah State has 15 scoring drives of at least 70 yards this season, including a season-long 92-yard drive at Air Force. By comparison, USU had 32 drives of 70-plus yards in 2019 and four in 2020.
 
SCARVER NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN AS KICK RETURNER
• Utah State senior KOR Savon Scarver was named an Athlon Sports preseason third-team All-American and a fourth-team preseason All-American by Phil Steele's Magazine.
 
• Scarver enters his final season with the Aggies known as one of the top return specialists in the nation having already been named a preseason first-team all-Mountain West selection by Phil Steele's Magazine and Athlon Sports.
 
• The native of Las Vegas, Nevada, is Utah State's all-time record-holder with six-career kickoff returns for touchdown, which is the second-most in Mountain West history, and tied for the fifth-most in NCAA history. Scarver's next kickoff return for a touchdown will tie four other players for the NCAA record.
 
• For his career, Scarver has returned 80 kickoffs for 2,294 yards and his 28.7 yards per return average ranks third all-time in school history.
 
• This past season, Scarver earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors as he returned 10 kickoffs for 314 yards and one touchdown – a 94-yarder against Fresno State.
 
• Scarver was also named first-team all-Mountain West as both a sophomore and junior in 2018 and 2019. As a junior, he returned 22 kickoffs for 613 yards and two touchdowns.
 
• In 2018, Scarver was named a consensus All-American as a returner/all-purpose player as he received first-team All-America honors from two of the five outlets that comprise the NCAA Consensus All-America team, including the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Football Writers Association of America. Scarver also received the Jet Award in 2019 as the nation's most outstanding return specialist as he led the nation in kickoff returns (33.7 ypr) and tied for second with a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns.
 
THIRTEEN AGGIES GARNER PRESEASON RECOGNITION
• Utah State has 13 student-athletes that garnered preseason recognition this fall, highlighted by senior KOR Savon Scarver, who was named a preseason third-team All-American by Athlon Sports and a preseason fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele's Magazine, along with being a first-team all-Mountain West selection by both publications. Graduate transfer senior ILB Justin Rice was also named first-team all-Mountain West by Phil Steele and to the second team by Athlon Sports. Graduate senior safety Shaq Bond was named to the all-MW third team by both publications, while graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua and sophomore P Stephen Kotsanlee represented USU on Phil Steele's third team and the Athlon Sports fourth team. Fellow senior OL Alfred Edwards was named to Athlon Sports third team. Graduate senior DT Marcus Moore, graduate transfer senior CB Kyle Mayberry, senior WR Deven Thompkins and junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh were all selected as fourth-team picks by Phil Steele's Magazine, while graduate transfer senior WR Brandon Bowling, graduate senior RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole and graduate senior DE Nick Heninger represented Utah State on the Athlon Sports fourth team.
 
HENINGER NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN
• Utah State graduate senior DE Nick Heninger was named to the 2020-21 Academic All-America Division I second team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Heninger is just the eighth football player in Utah State history to be named an academic All-American, joining USU legend Merlin Olsen (1961), along with Dennis Ferguson (1970), Gary Anderson (1971), Randy Stockham (1974, 1975), Mike Perko (1981), Steve Neeleman (1991) and McKade Brady (2012). Stockham is the only football player in school history to earn the award twice. Heninger earned honorable mention all-MW honors and second-team all-conference honors from ProFootballFocus.com as he finished third on the team with 42 tackles, including 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, to go along with three forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry during the 2020 season. The graduate student from South Jordan, Utah, garnered academic all-MW honors and was one of four student-athletes to receive the USU Whitesides Award as the top student-athlete. He also earned academic all-conference accolades following his first season at Utah State in 2019. Heninger earned his bachelor's degree from Utah in the business scholars' program and his master of business administration from Utah State in the spring of 2021. He is currently working on his second bachelor's degree in unmanned aerial systems, and is a licensed remote pilot under Part 107. 
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Utah State has 20 players on its roster that have already received their bachelor's degree in senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, senior DE Jaylin Bannerman, senior S Shaq Bond, junior QB Logan Bonner, senior WR Brandon Bowling, senior WR Sean Carter, senior PK Connor Coles, senior OLB Cash Gilliam, senior CB Andre Grayson, senior DE Nick Heninger, senior RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole, senior OL Maisen Knight, senior CB Kyle Mayberry, junior S Monte McGary, senior DT Marcus Moore, senior WR Jordan Nathan, junior DT Phillip Paea, junior S Hunter Reynolds, senior ILB Justin Rice and junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr.
 
• Utah State football has a 91 percent Graduation Success Rate, which ranks first in the Mountain West, and a 2.97 cumulative grade-point average.
 
• Utah State had 54 football players earn academic all-Mountain West honors in 2020, while 15 players were named MW Scholar-Athletes. 
 
HEAD COACH BLAKE ANDERSON
• Blake Anderson (hired on Dec. 12, 2020) is in his first season as Utah State's head coach and is the 29th head coach in program history. He is 55-39 all-time as a head coach, including a 40-19 conference mark.
 
• Anderson has 28 years of collegiate coaching experience and has been part of five conference championship teams. He has also coached in 11 bowl games and won a national championship at the junior college level.
 
• Anderson comes to Utah State after spending the past seven years as the head coach at Arkansas State, leading the Red Wolves to six-consecutive winning seasons and six-straight bowl games from 2014-19, including a 31-13 win against UCF in the 2016 Cure Bowl and a 34-26 win against FIU in the 2019 Camellia Bowl.
 
• Arkansas State also won back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Championships under Anderson in 2015 and 2016, and competed for another in 2017 in A-State's regular-season finale that was a de facto championship game.
 
• During that six-year stretch, the Red Wolves broke 12 school records, including 494.8 yards of total offense per game, 4,106 passing yards and 38 touchdown passes in 2017, 520 points scored and 69 total touchdowns in 2015, and 6,174 yards of total offense and 1,024 total plays in 2014.
 
• Entering the 2020 season, the Red Wolves had won at least seven games, including at least five league games, every year under Anderson, including a nine-victory campaign in 2015 and eight-win seasons in 2016, 2018 and 2019. In all, Anderson posted a 51-37 (.580) record during his seven seasons at Arkansas State, including a 38-18 (.679) mark in the Sun Belt Conference. Those 51 wins, 40 of which were by double digits, are tied for the third-most in school history.
 
• The Anderson-led Red Wolves were one of just 20 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs in the nation, including six from the Group of Five, to post a winning record six-consecutive seasons from 2014-19. A-State's 51 wins under Anderson were tied for the 41st-most in the country during his seven seasons at the helm, while his 38 league wins are the second-most in Sun Belt history.
 
• Statistically, Arkansas State annually ranked as one of the top offensive teams in the nation under Anderson. In 2020, the Red Wolves led the Sun Belt Conference and ranked 15th nationally in total offense at 489.7 yards per game. ASU also led the Sun Belt in total offense in 2018 (466.2 yards per game), 2017 (494.8 ypg) and 2014 (476.5 ypg), and ranked second in 2015 (438.5 ypg). Furthermore, the 2017 team ranked 10th in the nation in total offense, while the 2018 team was 17th and the 2014 team was 20th nationally.
 
• As for passing offense, Arkansas State led the Sun Belt Conference and ranked third in the nation in 2020 at 364.4 yards per game. In 2019, the Red Wolves finished second in the conference and 10th in the nation with 312.1 passing yards per game. ASU also led the Sun Belt in passing offense in both 2017 and 2018 with 342.2 and 281.5 passing yards per game, respectively. The 2017 team also ranked fifth nationally in that category, while the 2018 team was 21st in the nation.
 
• Arkansas State also led the Sun Belt Conference in scoring offense three times under Anderson as the 2017 team averaged 37.8 points per game to rank 13th nationally, while the 2015 team averaged 40.0 points per game to rank 12th in the nation, and the 2014 team averaged 36.7 points per game to rank 18th nationally. In fact, six of Anderson's seven Red Wolves teams averaged over 30 points per game.
 
• Overall, each of Anderson's first six squads at Arkansas State ranked among the top-45 teams in the nation in at least 23 combined offensive, defensive and special teams categories, including the 2018 team that led the nation in punt return defense (-1.9 yards per return), the 2016 team that led the nation in tackles for loss (9.6 per game) and the 2015 squad that led the nation in both defensive touchdowns (8) and passes intercepted (26).
 
• Along the way, Anderson saw 11 of his players earn all-Sun Belt recognition in 2014, followed by 16 in 2015, 2016 and 2019, and a school-record 18 in 2017. All six seasons combined, Anderson coached 65 different players to 97 all-conference selections – the most in the league over that span.
 
• Following the 2019 campaign, Anderson received the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award and was named the Grant Teaff Coach of the Year, presented annually by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as he guided the Red Wolves to an 8-5 record and Camellia Bowl championship after his wife, Wendy, passed away prior to the start of the season following a courageous battle with cancer. 
 
• A two-year letterwinner at wide receiver for Sam Houston State from 1990-91, Anderson was named Southland Conference all-academic as a senior. He also played for two years as a quarterback and receiver at Baylor (1988-89) before transferring. Anderson graduated with his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Sam Houston State in 1992. He also attained his master's degree in sports administration from Eastern New Mexico in 1994.