Utah State Game Notes | New Mexico State Game Notes | Mountain West Release | Listen Live | Live Stats

UTAH STATE PLAYS AT NEW MEXICO STATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON  
Game will be televised live on FloSports on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 2 p.m. 
 
UTAH STATE (6-2, 4-1 MW) vs. NEW MEXICO STATE (1-7)
Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021 • 2 p.m. • Las Cruces, New Mexico • Aggie Memorial Stadium (30,343)
 
GAME 9 INFORMATION
TV: FloSports
• Play-by-Play: Adam Young
• Analyst: Danny Knee
• Reporter: Megan McCormick
• Streaming: Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard
• Analyst: Kevin White
• National: SXM App 986
• 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's 6-2 start this year is its third-best over the last 43 years dating back to 1979, trailing only the 2012 and 2018 teams that both went 11-2 and finished the season nationally ranked. 
• Utah State is bowl eligible for the ninth time in the last 11 years after playing in just six bowl games in its first 119 years. USU played in five-straight bowl games from 2011-15 and won three-straight from 2012-14, both of which are school records. All-time, USU has played in 14 bowl games.
• Utah State's improvement from last year to this year is one of the best in the nation as the Aggies were 1-5 last season and are currently 6-2 this year. Only Michigan State (2-5 in '20 to 8-0 in '21), Northern Illinois (0-6 in '20 to 6-2 in '21), Baylor (2-7 in '20 to 7-1 in '21) and Michigan (2-4 in '20 to 7-1 in '21) have had better turnarounds this year than Utah State. 
• Utah State has now won at least six games for the ninth time in the last 11 seasons after winning six or more games just three times in its previous 30 seasons. Overall, it is the 38th time in school history that USU has won at least six games. Furthermore, it is the 40th time that USU has won at least four conference games, including its sixth time in its nine years in the Mountain West. There have only been 25 Aggie teams that have won seven or more games in a single season.  
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins ranks first in the Mountain West and second in the nation in receiving (137.4 ypg), first in the MW and second in the nation in all-purpose yards (164.5 ypg), second in the MW and sixth in the nation in receptions (7.9 pg), and third in the MW and 25th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with six (0.75 pg).  
• Utah State ranks among the top 50 teams in the nation in 21 statistical categories, including ranking second in the Mountain West and 15th in the nation in total offense at 475.4 yards per game. USU also ranks 11th in the nation in tackles for loss (6.9 pg), 12th in the nation in passing offense (316.2 ypg), 19th in the nation in kickoff returns (26.5 ypr), 21st in the nation with nine passes intercepted (1.0 pg), and 31st in the nation in third downs converted at 45.4 percent (64-of-141).
 
UTAH STATE PLAYS AT NEW MEXICO STATE IN SATURDAY AFTERNOON GAME
• Utah State (6-2, 4-1 MW) plays its final non-conference game of the season at New Mexico State (1-7) on Saturday, Nov. 6, at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on FloSports with Adam Young (play-by-play), Danny Knee (analyst) and Megan McCormich (reporter) on the call.
• FloSports is an over-the-top subscription sports broadcaster and streaming service that is available on Apple TV, Roku and Fire TV. The FloSports apps are free to download and include both free and premium (FloFilms and most live events) content.
 
SCOUTING UTAH STATE
• Utah State is 6-2 on the season and 4-1 in Mountain West play following its 51-31 home win against Hawai'i last weekend. USU is led by graduate junior QB Logan Bonner, who is 150-of-249 (.602) passing for 2,127 yards (265.9 ypg) with 17 touchdowns and eight 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 63 passes for 1,099 yards (17.4 ypr/137.4 ypg) and six touchdowns. Defensively, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice has 70 tackles, which includes 9.5 tackles for loss, to go along with three interceptions and one forced fumble. USU is averaging 31.4 points and 477.1 yards of total offense (160.9 rushing, 316.3 passing), and allowing 29.0 points and 435.1 yards of total offense (180.1 rushing, 255.0 passing). 
 
UTAH STATE NATIONAL TRENDS
• Utah State is one of 36 teams in the nation that has won at least six games this season, including one of five Mountain West teams. USU is also one of just 21 teams in the nation riding at least a three-game winning streak, which is tied for the 13th-longest in the nation. 
 
UTAH STATE IS 3-0 ON THE ROAD THIS SEASON
• Utah State has won each of its first three road games 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.
 
UTAH STATE HAVING SUCCESS ON FOURTH DOWN
• Utah State has converted 13-of-22 (.591) fourth downs and has scored points on each of those 13 drives with 10 touchdowns and three field goals. Overall, USU is seventh in the nation in fourth-down attempts and tied for eighth nationally in fourth-down conversions.
 
UTAH STATE WINNING THE CLOSE GAMES
• Utah State is 4-0 on the season in one-score games and has won those four contests by a total of 13 points. The school record for one-score wins in a season is five set in 2011, as that team posted a 5-5 record in one-score games.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS OF UTAH STATE'S SCORING DRIVES
• Utah State has 18 scoring drives 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 in 2019.
• Utah State has 21 scoring drives of at least 70 yards, including a season-long 92-yard drive at Air Force. By comparison, USU had 32 drives of 70-plus yards in 2019.
 
ANDERSON NOTABLES
• Utah State's Blake Anderson is one of 19 first-year head coaches at the FBS level in 2021. Anderson and Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin are the only first-year head coaches to have at least six wins this year as both are currently 6-2 at their respective schools. Furthermore, Anderson was one of only two first-year head coaches, along with South Alabama's Kane Wommack, to start the season 3-0.
• Anderson's start to the 2021 season marks just the fourth time in school history that a first-year head coach has led the Aggies to a 6-2 record or better. In Phil Krueger's first year in 1973, USU began the year with a 7-2 record. In Tony Knap's first year in 1963, USU began the year with an 8-1 record. And, in Fred Walker's first year in 1907, USU went 7-0 on the season.  
• Anderson was just the third coach in school history, and first since E. Lowell Romney in 1919, to win his first three games at USU. The only other head coach to accomplish this feat was Fred M. Walker, who led USU to a 7-0 record in 1907. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• The last time Utah State played at New Mexico State in 2011, USU was riding a four-game winning streak after starting the season with a 2-5 record. Following its win at NMSU, USU secured its first winning season since 1996 as it played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and ended the year with a 7-6 record. It was USU's first bowl game since 1997. Since that 2011 season, USU has played in eight bowl games with three 10-win seasons.  
• Utah State has four players from the 2011 team that are members of the current coaching staff in Chuckie Keeton (running backs coach), Al Lapuaho (defensive ends coach), DJ Tialavea (tight ends coach) and Jumanne Robertson (analyst).
 
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO STATE
• New Mexico State is 1-7 on the season following its 48-34 loss at Hawai'i two weekends ago. The Aggies are led by junior QB Jonah Johnson, who is 166-of-297 (.559) passing for 1,677 yards (239.6 ypg) with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Redshirt freshman RB Juwaun Price leads the team in rushing with 451 yards on 83 carries (5.4 ypc/56.4 ypg). And, senior WR Jared Wyatt leads the team with 37 receptions for 421 yards (11.4 ypr/52.6 ypg). Defensively, junior LB Chris Ojoh has a team-best 45 tackles, which includes 5.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss. As a team, New Mexico State is averaging 24.4 points and 381.6 yards of total offense per game (276.0 passing, 105.6 rushing), and allowing 38.5 points and 462.0 yards of total offense (276.3 passing, 185.8 rushing). New Mexico State returns five starters (O-4, D-1) and 44 lettermen from the 2019 and 2020 teams. NMSU went 2-10 in 2019 and 1-1 in a shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Doug Martin is 53-124 in his 16th season as a collegiate head coach and is 24-71 in nine years as the head coach at New Mexico State.
 
UTAH STATE AND NEW MEXICO STATE SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State leads the all-time series against New Mexico State 31-8, which includes a 16-3 road record. USU has won eight of the last 11 games played in the series, including three of the last four on the road. USU won the last meeting between the two teams with a 60-13 home win in 2018. USU also won the last meeting between the two teams in Las Cruces with a 24-21 win in 2011. The last time NMSU defeated USU was in the 2017 Arizona Bowl, 26-20, in overtime. NMSU's last home win against USU was when it posted a 20-17 victory in 2009.
 
UTAH STATE vs. NEW MEXICO STATE SERIES SIXTH-LONGEST IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and New Mexico State will be meeting for the 40th time this weekend in what is currently tied for the sixth-most played series in school history, trailing Utah (112), BYU (90), Colorado State (77) and Wyoming (70), and tied with Idaho (39) and San José State (39).
• Utah State's 31 victories against New Mexico State are the fourth-most against any opponent in school history, trailing the 40 wins versus Wyoming, the 37 victories against BYU and the 36 wins against Colorado State.
 
UTAH STATE AND NEW MEXICO STATE AS CONFERENCE FOES
• Utah State and New Mexico State spent 26 years as league foes as both were members of the Big West Conference from 1985-2000, members of the Sun Belt Conference from 2002-03, and members of the Western Athletic Conference from 2005-12. In the Big West, USU held a 15-1 series advantage against NMSU, while the two teams split its two games as members of the Sun Belt. As members of the WAC, USU had a 6-2 series advantage. Utah State is also 9-2 all-time against New Mexico State in non-conference games, which includes an 0-2 record in bowl games. 
 
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
• Utah State is 45-21 (.682) all-time against Division I teams from the state of New Mexico with a 31-8 record against New Mexico State and a 14-13 record versus New Mexico.
 
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEW MEXICO STATE PLAYERS
• The following are connections between Utah State and New Mexico State players. USU graduate senior S Shaq Bond and NMSU junior OL Gabriel Preciado both attended Southwestern JC in Chula Vista, California. USU graduate senior WR Sean Carter attended Independence (Kansas) CC, as did NMSU junior DB Chris Bell, NMSU sophomore DL Devin Bell and NMSU sophomore DB Syrus Dumas. Carter also attended Fullerton (California) JC, as did NMSU senior WR Robert Downs III. USU graduate senior OL Maisen Knight attended Ventura (California) JC, as did NMSU junior DL Dassani Freeman. USU redshirt freshman OL Cole Motes and NMSU sophomore TE Tyler Roebuck both attended Thatcher (Arizona) HS.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 38 players in its program from the Beehive State, while New Mexico State has nine players on its roster from the Land of Enchantment.
 
ON THIS DATE IN AGGIE FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Utah State rallied from a 17-10 halftime deficit to post a 27-22 home win against New Mexico State on Nov. 6, 2010. Senior RB Derrvin Speight rushed for 114 yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns as USU had 286 yards of total offense (186 rushing, 110 passing), while NMSU finished the game with 346 yards of total offense (155 rushing, 191 passing).  Senior QB Diondre Borel was 11-of-22 passing for 110 yards, and added 30 rushing yards on 11 carries. NMSU scored the first 14 points of the game before Speight put USU on the board with a 2-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. Both teams added field goals in the second quarter. Borel then tied the game at 17-all late in the third quarter on a 3-yard run. NMSU regained the lead early in the fourth quarter with another field goal. USU then scored 10 straight points, including a 10-yard touchdown run from junior WR Eric Moats. USU took a team safety on the final play of the game to make the final score 27-22. Junior LB Bobby Wagner had a team-high 17 tackles for USU. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State head coach Blake Anderson is 4-0 all-time against New Mexico State. During his time at Arkansas State, Anderson faced NMSU four times and posted a 68-35 home win in 2014, a 52-28 road win in 2015, a 41-22 home win in 2016 and a 37-21 road win in 2017.
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEW MEXICO STATE
The following are series notables between Utah State and New Mexico State dating back to 1960.
• In 39 games in series history, Utah State has scored 610 more points than New Mexico State, 1,279-669, for an average score of 32.8-17.2.
• The 60 points scored by Utah State in 2018 are the second-most in series history, as is the 47-point margin of victory, trailing only USU's 76-0 home win against NMSU in 1964.
• Four of the last six games in the series, and 13 overall, have been decided by one score. Of New Mexico State's eight wins, only two have been by double digits, while 22 of Utah State's wins have been by double digits.
• The winning team has scored at least 20 points in each of the 14 previous meetings,  and in 35 of the 39 meetings overall. USU has scored at least 40 points 14 times in series history, while NMSU has scored at least 40 points just once.
• In seven of Utah State's last 13 wins in the series, it has lost the time of possession.
• The team with fewer turnovers is 11-3 in the last 17 meetings.
• The team that has more rushing yards has won 10 of the last 12 games in the series.
• The team that scores first is just 11-6 in the last 17 meetings, while the team that leads at the half is 9-4 in the last 17 meetings, with four of those games being tied at the half.
• All-time against New Mexico State, Utah State has had 19 100-yard rushers, which ranks as the second-most against any opponent in school history, 13 100-yard receivers, which ranks as the second-most against any opponent in school history, and four 300-yard passers, which ranks as the sixth-most against any opponent in school history.
• In the past 17 meetings with Utah State, New Mexico State has had seven 100-yard receivers, six 100-yard rushers and one 300-yard passer.
• Utah State's 76-0 win against New Mexico State in 1964 ranks as the fifth-largest margin of victory in school history. Overall, there have been just two shutouts in series history as USU posted a 34-0 home win against NMSU in 1971, to go along with its 76-0 home win in 1964.
• Utah State has played in 12 overtime games in school history, including a 29-26 road win against New Mexico State in 1998 and a 26-20 loss in 2017. In fact, New Mexico State is one of only two opponent USU has had multiple overtime games against, with the other being New Mexico.
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State team and individual statistical performances against New Mexico State.
• Emmett White set a school and NCAA record with 578 all-purpose yards, and a school-record 322 rushing yards (34 att.), against New Mexico State in 2000.
• Dominik Eberle tied two NCAA records against New Mexico State in 2018, as he scored 24 points (6 FG's, 6 PAT's) and became just the sixth player ever to make three field goals of 50-plus yards. Both are also school and Mountain West records.
• Brent Snyder set school records for passing yards per attempt (14.1) and passing yards per completion (19.9) against New Mexico State in 1988, as he was 17-of-24 for 339 yards.
• Chris Pella set school records for extra points made (9) and attempted (10) against New Mexico State in 1964.
• Dene Garner made a school-record 59-yard field goal against New Mexico State in 1986. Garner also made a 51-yard field goal against NMSU in 1986, which is tied for the 18th-longest in school history.
• Chris Ulinski made a 56-yard field goal against New Mexico State in 2008, which is tied for the third-longest in school history.
• Sean Jones made a 54-yard field goal against New Mexico State in 1992, which is tied for the sixth-longest in school history.
• Nick Diaz made a 53-yard field goal against New Mexico State in 2012, which is tied for the eighth-longest in school history.
• Roger Grant rushed for 205 yards against New Mexico State in 1991, which is tied for the 24th-most in a single game in school history.
• Demario Brown rushed for 204 yards against New Mexico State in 1998, which ranks as the 25th-most in a game in school history.
• Matt Sauk passed for 371 yards against New Mexico State in 1997, which ranks as the 25th-most in a single game in school history.
• Kevin Alexander had 205 receiving yards against New Mexico State in 1995, which ranks as the 14th-most in a single game in school history.
• Deante Fortenberry returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown against New Mexico State in 2018, which is tied for the 12th-longest in school history.
• Utah State committed a school-record 19 penalties against New Mexico State in 1972. 
• Utah State produced 619 yards of total offense against New Mexico State in 2000 and 605 yards against NMSU in 1996, which ranks as the 13th- and 14th-most yards in a single game in school history.
• Utah State had 393 passing yards against New Mexico State in 1997, which ranks as the 20th-most in a single game in school history.
• Utah State limited New Mexico State to 100  yards of total offense in 1964, which ranks as the eighth-fewest in a single game in school history.
• Utah State limited New Mexico State to 18 passing  yards in 1964 and 21 passing yards in 1958, which ranks as the seventh- and 10th-fewest in a single game in school history.
• Utah State limited New Mexico State to minus seven yards rushing in 2008 and one yard rushing in 1985, which ranks as the eighth- and 15th-fewest in a single game in school history.
 
CURRENT AGGIES vs. NEW MEXICO STATE
• Utah State has 12 players on its current roster that have played against New Mexico State, including two that have appeared in multiple games in graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan and senior WR Savon Scarver. USU also has three players on its current roster that started against NMSU in 2018 in graduate senior S Shaq Bond, senior OL Alfred Edwards and Nathan.
• Utah State also has four players on its roster that played against New Mexico State in the 2017 Arizona Bowl in senior LB Kevin Meitzenheimer, senior TE Carson Terrell, Nathan and Scarver. 
• Other Aggies that have played against New Mexico State include graduate senior CB Andre Grayson, senior S Jarrod Green, senior CB Zahodri Jackson, senior WR Deven Thompkins, junior OL Wade Meacham, junior QB Andrew Peasley and junior OL Jacob South.
• Scarver has four kickoff returns for 229 yards and two touchdowns from 100 and 96 yards, to go along with one reception for nine yards. Nathan has two receptions for 17 yards and nine punt returns for 50 yards. Thompkins has two receptions for 15 yards. Peasley has two carries for five yards. Green has two tackles. Bond has one tackle and one pass breakup. Grayson has one tackle. And, Jackson has one tackle. 
 
LAST MEETING vs. NEW MEXICO STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Junior PK Dominik Eberle kicked six field goals and senior RB Gerold Bright rushed for a career-high 134 yards and a touchdown as Utah State opened the home portion of its schedule with a dominating 60-13 victory against New Mexico State on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
The 60 points scored by Utah State are the second-most in series history, as is the 47-point margin of victory, trailing only USU's 76-0 home win against NMSU in 1964. 
 
Eberle, who was also a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points, tied the NCAA record for most points scored by a kicker with 24. Furthermore, he became just the sixth player in NCAA history – and first in school history – to make three field goals of 50 yards or more (51, 51, 51). 
 
Eberle's six field goals of 44, 32, 51, 21, 51 and 51 yards, respectively, are tied for the third-most in a game in NCAA history. The 2017 Lou Groza Award finalist also tied his own school record with the six field goal attempts, and kicked off 12 times for 754 yards (averaging 62.8 yards per kick) with nine touchbacks. 
 
Bright carried the ball 14 times on the night, helping Utah State (1-1) amass 260 total yards on the ground on 46 carries. His 51-yard touchdown run with 2:36 remaining in the third quarter gave the hosts a 47-13 lead. 
 
Utah State finished with 432 yards of total offense on the night. Sophomore QB Jordan Love was 14-of-27 for 159 yards and one touchdown, a 14-yard completion to senior WR Jalen Greene that gave USU a 33-10 lead at the half. Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver was Love's favorite target on the night as he had a game-best five receptions for 41 yards. 
 
Utah State nearly had a pair of 100-yard rushers for the first time since 2012 as junior RB Darwin Thompson rushed for 96 yards on six carriers, including a 68-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that upped the Aggies' advantage to 54-13. 
 
For the second-consecutive week, sophomore LB David Woodward led Utah State in tackles with 13, including 1.0 sacks. Senior S Aaron Wade added a career-best 10 stops, to go along with the first two interceptions of his career. Senior LB Chase Christiansen added eight stops, while junior CB DJ Williams had six tackles, which included 1.0 sack and 3.0 tackles for loss. 
 
Utah State senior DE Adewale Adeoye also recovered two fumbles and senior CB Deante Fortenberry returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown with 7:58 left in the third quarter, giving the blue-clad Aggies a 40-10 lead. 
 
New Mexico State QB Matt Romero was 18-of-33 for 161 yards and one touchdown, to go along with the three interceptions. He was sacked five times on the night, which included 1.5 sacks by USU junior LB Tipa Galeai, who also forced a fumble, as did sophomore LB Maika Magalei. NMSU finished the game with just 280 yards of total offense (171-passing, 109-rushing). 
 
In all, Utah State's defense had 12.0 tackles for loss to go along with its five sacks, while forcing five turnovers with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. 
 
Romero threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Boone to give the white-cladded Aggies their only advantage of the night, 7-6, with 4:34 to go in the first quarter. 
 
The lead lasted all of 15 seconds as USU sophomore WR Savon Scarver returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-7 in favor of the hosts. Utah State's other touchdown of the night came courtesy of senior RB Eltoro Allen, who scored on a 1-yard run with 5:46 remaining in the second quarter. 
 
New Mexico State's Terrill Hanks led all tacklers in the game with 19 stops, including 3.0 tackles for loss. 
 
LAST ROAD MEETING vs. NEW MEXICO STATE
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico - For the first time since 1979, Utah State (7-5, 5-3 WAC) has seven regular-season victories as the navy Aggies won another thriller with a 24-21 win at New Mexico State (4-9, 2-6 WAC) on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011. Overall, it is USU's first seven-win season since 1993. 
 
Junior QB Adam Kennedy hit junior WR Matt Austin with an 8-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds left to give USU its fifth-straight win, including its third-straight on the road. 
 
The win over New Mexico State was Utah State's ninth game this season decided by one score, with USU posting a 5-4 record in those contests. It was also USU's fourth win this season with less than a minute or no time on the clock, joining the Aggies' wins at Hawai'i, at Idaho and home versus San Jose State. 
 
Utah State's offensive line plowed the way for the visiting Aggies' rushing attack to amass 392 yards. USU ended the day with 515 yards of total offense, as Kennedy was 12-of-16 passing for 123 yards with a season-high three touchdowns. 
 
Senior RB Michael Smith had a career-best outing with 121 yards on 18 carries, while junior RB Robert Turbin had 98 yards on 25 rushes and Kennedy added a career-high 95 yards on 15 carries. Junior RB Kerwynn Williams also had 68 yards rushing. 
 
Austin finished the game with 32 yards receiving on five catches and two touchdowns, while senior WR Stanley Morrison had four receptions for 60 yards. 
 
NMSU, which lost is third-straight game to end the season, totalled 397 yards of total offense, as Matt Christian was 17-of-40 passing for 252 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Kenny Turner led NMSU with 65 yards rushing on 13 carries, while Taveon Rogers had six catches for 73 yards. 
 
It was a scoreless first quarter, in which Utah State had two chances inside the New Mexico State 10, going for it on fourth down both times, but not getting it either time. The visiting Aggies got on the board early in the second quarter, when Kennedy hit Turbin with a 21-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 USU advantage. NMSU countered on its next possession with Christian scrambling for a 16-yard touchdown run to tie it at 7-all. 
 
Utah State took a 14-7 lead after a 6-yard touchdown pass from Kennedy to Austin with 1:39 to go in the first half. NMSU drove the ball down the field as the first half clock wound down, getting down to the USU 2 with 18 seconds left. But on third down, senior LB Kyle Gallagher snared an interception. Kennedy took a knee to end the half, sending the teams into the locker room with the scoreboard reading 14-7 in USU's favor. 
 
After a USU fumble at midfield on its opening drive of the third quarter, Christian hit Kemonte' Bateman with a 51-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 14-14. 
 
Sophomore PK Josh Thompson gave USU a 17-14 lead with 9:46 left in the game with a 23-yard field goal, capping a 15-play, 75-yard drive in which the navy Aggies ran every play, eating up 6:21 on the clock. NMSU needed just three plays and 1:08 to march 66 yards, with Turner capping the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to give NMSU a 21-17 lead with 8:29 left. 
 
After the teams traded punts, USU got the ball on its own 17 yard-line with 5:04 remaining and drove 83 yards in 13 plays culminating in an 8-yard touchdown pass from Kennedy to Austin. 
 
Redshirt freshman LB Tavaris McMillian led Utah State with seven tackles, while sophomore CB Nevin Lawson and senior LB Bobby Wagner had six tackles each. Lawson also had an interception in the game. 
 
GAME 8 RECAP vs. HAWAI'I
LOGAN, Utah - Senior WR Deven Thompkins became Utah State's first 1,000-yard receiver since 2002, graduate junior QB Logan Bonner threw four touchdowns and the Aggies (6-2, 4-1 Mountain West) became bowl eligible with a 51-31 Mountain West home win against Hawai'i (4-5, 1-3 MW) on Saturday, Oct. 30 2021, at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
Thompkins led all receivers with seven catches for 176 yards. On the season, he has 63 receptions for 1,009 yards, becoming just the 12th player in school history to reach the 1,000- yard receiving plateau, including the first since Kevin Curtis in 2002. 
 
Thompkins also returned one kickoff for 45 yards to finish the game with a career-high 221 all-purpose yards. As a team, Utah State finished with 564 yards of total offense. 
 
Bonner was 21-of-30 passing for 361 yards and four touchdowns (45, 46, 21, 14). He also had 25 yards rushing to help the Aggies remain all alone atop the Mountain Division standings and become bowl eligible for the ninth time in the last 11 years. 
 
Hawai'i QB Chevan Cordeiro was 23-of-39 passing for 296 yards and three touchdowns, to go along with one interception. Calvin Turner Jr. caught seven passes for 110 yards and one touchdown for the Rainbow Warriors. Dedrick Parson gave the visitors two 100-yard receivers on the day as he hauled in seven passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. 
 
The Aggies limited the Rainbow Warriors to just 12 yards rushing, which is tied for the 19th-fewest in a single game in school history, and the fewest allowed since Wake Forest had minus 25 yards rushing in 2014. Overall, UH had just 360 yards of total offense, which is tied for the second-fewest allowed by USU this season. 
 
Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice led the Aggies with eight tackles, including 0.5 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss. Junior DE Byron Vaughns had four stops, including a career-high 2.0 sacks and a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss, to go along with a forced fumble. Vaughns also had a pass breakup in the first quarter that resulted in an interception in the end zone. Utah State racked up 12.0 tackles for loss, including 5.0 sacks, both season highs. 
 
Utah State graduate senior OLB Cash Gilliam thwarted a Hawai'i scoring drive in the first quarter when he intercepted his first-career pass in the end zone. Graduate junior S Monte McGary also recorded his first-career interception in the fourth quarter, while sophomore DT Poukesi Vakauta recovered his second fumble of the season. 
 
Utah State, which never trailed on the day, scored the first 17 points of the game on a 3-yard touchdown run by sophomore RB Elelyon Noa, a 45-yard touchdown pass from Bonner to junior WR Justin McGriff and a 40-yard field goal by graduate senior PK Connor Coles. 
 
McGriff finished with five receptions for 90 yards and the lone score, while Noa notched his first 100-yard rushing day of his career with 111 yards on 23 carries. 
 
Hawai'i cut the deficit to 17-10 before Coles kicked a 22-yard field goal to give USU a 20-10 lead at the break. Coles also kicked a 22-yarder in the fourth quarter to make it 44-25 for the Aggies. 
 
Utah State came out firing on all cylinders after the break as the Aggies scored touchdowns the first three times they touched the ball. Bonner threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to senior WR Derek Wright, a 21-yarder to senior TE Carson Terrell and a 14-yarder to graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling to make it 41-10. 
 
Bowling also returned an onside kick attempt 45 yards for a touchdown to give USU its final margin of victory. Utah State has now won six-straight games against the Rainbow Warriors. 
 
UTAH STATE SCORES SEASON-HIGH 51 POINTS IN HAWAI'I WIN 
• Utah State scored a season-high 51 points last weekend in its Mountain West home win against Hawai'i. USU had 564 yards of total offense against the Rainbow Warriors, which are its third-most in a game this season, as the Aggies have now produced at least 500 yards of total offense three times on the season. And, USU passed for 406 yards, which are its second-most in a game this season, and the 15th-most in a single game in school history.
• Utah State scored a season-high 14 points in the first quarter in its win against Hawai'i, and USU scored a touchdown on its opening drive of the game for just the second time this year, also doing so against North Dakota.
• Utah State began the second half by scoring touchdowns on each of its first three possessions. Overall, it is the third time this year that USU has scored a touchdown on its first drive of the second half, and the fifth time it has scored points.
• Utah State was 11-of-18 on third down against Hawai'i, marking the third time this year that USU has converted double-digit third downs. Those 11 third-down conversions are tied for the second-most in a game this season for the Aggies.
• Utah State controlled the time of possession for the fourth time this season, including the third time in as many games, as it possessed the ball for a season-high 34:20 against the Rainbow Warriors.
• Utah State has now won six-straight games against Hawai'i and improved to 11-6 all-time against the Rainbow Warriors. In fact, USU has outscored UH 262-103 during its last six wins, which includes scoring 50-plus points in back-to-back games and at least 35 points scored in each of those six wins in a row.
 
UTAH STATE FORCES SEASON-HIGH THREE TURNOVERS IN HAWAI'I GAME 
• Utah State forced a season-high three turnovers in its win against Hawai'i this past weekend with two interceptions and one fumble. It also marked the fifth time this year that USU won the turnover margin as the Aggies committed two turnovers in the game.
 
UTAH STATE HOLDS HAWAI'I TO 12 YARDS RUSHING 
• After allowing an average 204.1 rushing yards per game, including 5.4 rushing yards per attempt this season, Utah State's defense limited Hawai'i to just 12 rushing yards on 22 carries, for an average of 0.5 yards per attempt. The Rainbow Warriors entered the game averaging 175.9 rushing yards per game and 5.1 rushing yards per attempt.
• Those 12 rushing yards allowed by Utah State is tied for the 19th-fewest in a single game in school history and the fewest since Wake Forest had minus 25 rushing yards in 2014. Overall, Hawai'i had just 360 yards of total offense, which is tied for the second-fewest allowed by USU this season.
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE HAS SEASON HIGHS IN SACKS AND TACKLES FOR LOSS 
• Utah State's defense recorded 5.0 sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss in its win against Hawai'i last weekend, both of which are season highs. 
• Utah State's defense also forced a season-high six three-and-outs on Hawaii's 13 drives, including a three-and-out to start the game, which was the first time this year that USU had forced its opponent into a three-and-out on its first drive of the game.
 
AGGIES UNDEFEATED WHEN THEY WIN THE COIN TOSS
• Utah State is 5-0 on the season when it wins the coin toss and 1-2 when it loses the coin toss. In all five of its games that it won the coin toss, USU chose to play defense first. 
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State improved to 41-27 all-time in the Mountain West, which includes a 23-12 home record, following its 51-31 home win against Hawai'i last weekend. USU is also now 20-7 all-time against teams from the West Division of the Mountain West. 
 
UTAH STATE IN MAVERIK STADIUM
• Utah State improved to 155-112 all-time inside Maverik Stadium with its 51-31 home win against Hawai'i last weekend and is now 43-16 in its last 59 home games. 
 
UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 37 of its last 45 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 2-1 record this year, and 42 of its last 48 games when rushing at least 40 times, including a 4-1 record this year. USU has also won 58 of its last 63 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 3-0 record this season. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State's defense has not allowed any points in the first quarter in each of its last two games. Overall, USU has held three opponents scoreless in the first quarter this season (Hawai'i, Colorado State, Washington State).
 
THOMPKINS NOTCHES SIXTH 100-YARD RECEIVING GAME OF SEASON 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins recorded the sixth 100-yard receiving game of the season and his career in his last outing against Hawai'i as he had seven catches for 176 yards. Overall, it was Thompkins' fourth-straight 100-yard receiving game as he had six receptions for 104 yards against Colorado State (10/22), a career-high 12 receptions for 180 yards and a career-best two touchdowns at UNLV (10/16) as he was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, and nine receptions for 125 yards against BYU (10/1).  
• 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' six 100-yard receiving games this season are the most by an Aggie since Kevin Curtis had seven 100-yard receiving games in 2002. The school record for 100-yard receiving games in a season is nine set by Nakia Jenkins in 1996 and tied by Curtis in 2001. Kendal Smith had seven 100-yard receiving games in 1988 and six in 1987. The school record for 100-yard receiving games in a career is 16 set by Curtis (2001-02).
 
THOMPKINS TIED FOR FIRST IN THE NATION WITH SIX 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins is tied with two other FBS players for the most 100-yard receiving games this season with six, joining Drake London (USC) and Jerreth Sterns (Western Kentucky).
• Thompkins is also one of just two players in the nation to have four games with at least 170 receiving yards, along with Sterns.
 
THOMPKINS LEADS THE NATION WITH FOUR-STRAIGHT 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins is the only player in the nation at the FBS level that has had 100 yards receiving in each of his last four games. 
• Thompkins' four-straight 100-yard receiving games are the most by an Aggie since Hunter Sharp accomplished the feat in 2014. The school record for consecutive 100-yard receiving games is six set by Kevin Curtis during the 2001 season.
• Thompkins has had at least 170 receiving yards four times this season, which is tied with Kevin Alexander (1995) for the most in a single season in school history. 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).
 
THOMPKINS RANKS 11TH ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN RECEIVING YARDS 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 132 passes for 1,914 yards in his career and ranks 11th all-time in school history in receiving yards. The school record is 2,943 receiving yards set by Kendal Smith (1985-88) and Thompkins is 76 yards shy of becoming just the 11th player in school history to post 2,000 receiving yards in a career.
• Thompkins' 132 career receptions are tied with Tom Forzani (1970-72) for the 12th-most in school history and he is just five receptions shy of tying Hunter Sharp (2014-15) for the 10th-most with 137. The school record is 178 receptions set by Kevin Robinson (2004-07).  
 
THOMPKINS 12TH PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY WITH 1,000 RECEIVING YARDS 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 63 passes for 1,099 yards this year and is just the 12th player in school history to post 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Overall, Thompkins currently ranks eighth all-time in school history for receiving yards in a season, while his 63 receptions are the 12th-most all-time at USU in a single season. The last USU player to have 1,000 receiving yards was Kevin Curtis, who caught 74 passes for 1,258 yards in 2002. The school record for receiving yards in a season is 1,531 set by Curtis in 2001.
 
THOMPKINS' NUMBERS PRIOR TO THE 2021 SEASON 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins entered the 2021 season having played in 29 career games with nine starts and had 69 career receptions for 815 yards (11.8 ypr/28.1 ypg) and five touchdowns.
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has led Utah State in receptions in all eight games this season, which includes tying for the team lead in two games. Thompkins has also led the team in receiving yards seven times, and has caught at least one touchdown pass in five games this season.
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• Utah State has already had eight 100-yard receiving games by players this year, which is tied for the fifth-most in single-season school history. The 1996 team holds the school record for 100-yard receiving games with 13, followed by the 2001 team with 10, the 1988 and 2002 teams with nine each, and the 1979, 1987, 2018 and 2021 teams with eight each. 
 
BONNER NAMED MANNING AWARD STARS OF THE WEEK 
• Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner had one of the best games of his career against Hawai'i as he was 21-of-30 passing for 361 yards with a career-high-tying four touchdowns. For Bonner, it was the second time at USU and the fifth time in his career he has thrown four touchdowns. Overall, it was Bonner's fourth-career 300-yard passing game, including his second at USU. For his performance, Bonner was one of eight quarterbacks named Stars of the Week by the Manning Award.
 
NOA POSTS FIRST-CAREER 100-YARD RUSHING GAME
• Sophomore RB Elelyon Noa had a career game against Hawai'i as he carried the ball 23 times for a career-best 111 yards for his first-career 100-yard rushing game. Noa also had a career-long 36-yard rush in the game and scored the second rushing touchdown of the season and his career. 
• In his previous game against Colorado State, Noa had a career-high 26 carries for 97 yards, which are the most carries by an Aggie since Gerold Bright had 36 carries against Colorado State in 2019. Noa also tied his career high with three receptions for 14 yards against the Rams.
 
BOWLING SCORES TWO TOUCHDOWNS AGAINST HAWAI'I
• Gradute senior WR Brandon Bowling scored a career-high-tying two touchdowns against Hawai'i, as he caught a 14-yard pass and returned an onside kick 45 yards for his first-career kickoff return for a touchdown. It was Bowling's fourth touchdown catch this year and the 13th of his career. 
 
WRIGHT TIES CAREER HIGH IN RECEIVING YARDS AGAINST HAWAI'I 
• Senior WR Derek Wright had four receptions for a career-high-tying 83 yards in his last outing against Hawai'i, which included a 46-yard touchdown catch. Overall, Wright has had three touchdown receptions in his last two games as he tied his career high with two touchdown catches against Colorado State two weekends ago. 
 
OTHER OFFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM HAWAI'I GAME
• Junior WR Justin McGriff caught his third touchdown pass of the season and the fifth of his career on a career-long 45-yard reception. McGriff finished the game with five receptions for 90 yards. Senior TE Carson Terrell caught his second touchdown pass of the season and the fourth of his career on a 21-yard reception. Junior RB Pailate Makakona had a career-high 15 carries for a career-best 22 yards.  
 
VAUGHNS HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST HAWAI'I 
• Junior DE Byron Vaughns had the best game of his Aggie career this past weekend against Hawai'i as he had a career-high 2.0 sacks and a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss as part of his four total tackles. Vaughns also forced his first fumble of the season and the second of his career in the fourth quarter on a sack and notched his fourth pass breakup of the season and his career in the first quarter, which resulted in an interception in the end zone.
 
CARTER HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST HAWAI'I 
• Junior OLB Ajani Carter had one of his best games as an Aggie in his last outing against Hawai'i, as he recorded a career-high six tackles, which included his first-career sack, to give him 1.5 tackles for loss this season and in his career. In his previous game against Colorado State, Carter had his second interception of the season and his career.  
 
OTHER DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM HAWAI'I GAME 
• Graduate senior OLB Cash Gilliam had his first-career interception in the first quarter in the end zone. Graduate junior S Monte McGary had his first-career interception in the fourth quarter. McGary also had his third pass breakup of the season and his career. Sophomore DT Poukesi Vakauta recovered his second fumble of the season and his career. Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger forced his second fumble of the season and the fifth of his career. Heninger also had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 8.0 tackles for loss this season and 26.5 tackles for loss in his career. Junior DT Hale Motu'apuaka had a career-high 1.5 sacks and a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss to give him 1.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss on the season, and 1.5 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss in his career. Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice had 0.5 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss to give him 0.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss on the season. For his career, he now has 10.5 sacks and 38.0 tackles for loss. Graduate senior DE Jaylin Bannerman had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 4.0 tackles for loss on the season and 5.0 tackles for loss in his career. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 1.5 tackles for loss on the season and 4.0 tackles for loss in his career. Senior ILB Kevin Meitzenheimer had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 3.0 tackles for loss on the season and 11.0 tackles for loss in his career. Junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 3.5 tackles for loss on the season and 7.0 tackles for loss in his career. Senior CB Zahodri Jackson had his first pass breakup of the season and the fourth of his career. Junior CB Cam Lampkin had one pass breakup to give him four pass breakups on the season and eight in his career. 
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• Utah State graduate ILB Justin Rice has been named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week twice this season, while graduate senior S Shaq Bond has won the award once. Rice won the award in back-to-back weeks against North Dakota (9/10) and Air Force (9/18), while Bond won the award against UNLV (10/16).
 
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 at UNLV (10/16/21) 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 has 2,691 kickoff return yards in his career, breaking the previous Mountain West record of 2,626 yards set by UNLV's Deante' Purvis (2008-11). Scarver also ranks third all-time in MW history with 95 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 95 kickoffs for 2,691 yards (28.5 ypr) and is tied for 14th all-time in FBS history in kickoff return average and 38th in kickoff return yards.
 
SCARVER HAS TWO KICKOFF RETURNS FOR SCORES AGAINST NEW MEXICO STATE
• Senior WR Savon Scarver has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in his career against New Mexico State. His first-career kickoff return for a touchdown was against New Mexico State from 96 yards in the 2017 Arizona Bowl. Two games later, he returned his second-career kickoff return for a touchdown from 100 yards against NMSU at home during the 2018 season. Scarver also has kickoff returns for touchdown against Wyoming (99), Colorado State (100), Nevada (100), Fresno State (94) and UNLV (100). 
 
COLES SCORES CAREER HIGH IN POINTS IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles has responded well from missing all three of his field goal attempts at UNLV (10/16) by making each of his last seven field goals in his last two games. Against Colorado State (10/22), Coles was one of three players named a Lou Groza Star of the Week as he scored a career-high 14 points as he was a perfect 4-of-4 on field goals (45, 30, 42, 34) and 2-for-2 on extra points. In fact, his field goals made and attempted were both career highs. And against Hawai'i, Coles was 3-of-3 on field goals (40, 22, 22) and 6-for-6 on extra points for a new career-high of 15 points.
• It is the second time in his career that Coles has made at least seven field goals in a row as he made his first eight field goal attempts of his career. The school record for consecutive field goals made is 10 held by Dene Garner (1985) and Doug Beach (1990).
 
DID YOU KNOW?  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles has been named the Mountain West Player of the Week twice in his career. His first honor came last season after scoring a then-career-high 11 points against New Mexico State (11/26/20). He won it again after scoring 10 points at Washington State (9/3/21) this year.
 
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.
 
AGGIES RALLY FROM FOUR DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFICITS FOR FOUR WINS
• Utah State rallied from double-digit deficits to win four of its six 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.  
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has trailed after the first quarter in five of its eight games, trailed at the half in six of its eight games, and trailed after the third quarter in five of its eight games this year.
• Utah State has trailed by double digits in four of its six 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 68-41 in the first quarter and 186-170 during the first three quarters this season, but has outscored its opponents 81-46 in the fourth quarter, which includes a 71-26 advantage in its six wins. 
 
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.
 
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.
 
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).
 
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. 
 
UTAH STATE 15TH IN THE NATION IN TOTAL OFFENSE
• Utah State is averaging 475.4 yards per game to rank second in the Mountain West and 15th in the nation. USU also ranks third in the MW and 12th in the nation in passing offense (316.2 ypg), third in the MW and 39th in the nation in passing efficiency (147.0), third in the MW and 45th in the nation in scoring offense (31.4 ppg), fifth in the MW and 73rd in the nation in rushing offense (159.1 ypg), fifth in the MW and 88th in the nation in completion percentage (.593), and eighth in the MW and 79th in the nation in sacks allowed with 19 (2.38 pg).   
• Utah State's offense also ranks second in the MW and 14th in the nation in passing yards per completion (14.38), second in the MW and 19th in the nation in first downs (24.8 pg), third in the MW and 31st in the nation in third down conversions at 45.4 percent (64-of-141), third in the MW and 48th in the nation in fourth down conversions at 59.1 percent (13-of-22), and fourth in the MW and 48th in the nation in fumbles lost with four (0.50 pg).
 
UTAH STATE 11TH IN THE NATION IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is averaging 6.9 tackles for loss per game to rank third in the Mountain West and 11th in the nation. USU also ranks 10th in the MW and 86th in the nation in scoring defense (29.0 ppg), 10th in the MW in passing defense (254.9 ypg), 10th in the MW in total defense (435.1 ypg), 11th in the MW and 69th in the nation in pass efficiency defense (134.4), 11th in the MW and 93rd in the nation in sacks with 14 (1.75 pg), and 11th in the MW and 99th in the nation in rushing defense (180.2 ypg).  
• Utah State's defense also ranks first in the MW and eighth in the nation in fourth down conversions at 28.6 percent (2-of-7).   
 
UTAH STATE 19TH IN THE NATION IN KICKOFF RETURNS
• Utah State ranks second in the Mountain West and 19th in the nation in kickoff returns (26.5 ypr), third in the MW and 44th in the nation in kickoff return defense (19.4 ypr), fourth in the MW and 57th in the nation in punt return defense (6.6 ypr), fifth in the MW and 43rd in the nation in net punting (41.0 ypp), and fifth in the MW and 46th in the nation in punt returns (9.8 ypr). 
 
UTAH STATE HAS FORCED 13 TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has forced 13 turnovers this season with nine interceptions and four fumbles and ranks second in the Mountain West and 21st in the nation with nine passes intercepted (1.1 pg). USU has forced three-or-more turnovers in 27 of its last 90 games and has scored 25 defensive touchdowns in its last 99 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 is second in the nation in receiving (137.4 ypg), leads the MW and is second in the nation in all-purpose yards (164.5 ypg), is second in the MW and sixth in the nation in receptions (7.9 pg), is third in the MW and 25th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with six (0.75 pg), and is fifth in the MW and 46th in the nation in yards per reception (17.4). Senior WR Savon Scarver leads the MW and is sixth in the nation in kickoff returns for touchdown with one (0.13 pg), and second in the MW and 14th in the nation in kickoff returns (26.8 ypr). Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling leads the MW and is sixth in the nation in kickoff returns for touchdown with one (0.13 pg), and seventh in the MW and 80th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with four (0.5 pg). Sophomore DT Poukesi Vakauta leads the MW and is seventh in the nation in fumbles recovered with two (0.25 pg). Graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan leads the MW and is 13th in the nation in punt returns (11.0 ypr). Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner leads the MW and is 15th in the nation in yards per completion (14.2), third in the MW and 16th in the nation in passing touchdowns with 17 (2.13 pg), third in the MW and 41st in the nation in points responsible for (13.0 pg), third in the MW and 43rd in the nation in passing efficiency (147.5), third in the MW and 43rd in the nation in passing (265.9 ypg), fifth in the MW and 44th in the nation in completions (18.8 pg), sixth in the MW and 29th in the nation in total offense (269.6 ypg), and sixth in the MW and 87th in the nation in completion percentage (.602). Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice is second in the MW in tackles for loss (1.2 pg), third in the MW and 13th in the nation with three interceptions (0.38 pg), sixth in the MW and 36th in the nation in tackles (8.8 pg. Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is third in the MW and fifth in the nation in field goals made per game (1.88), fourth in the MW and 27th in the nation in scoring (8.9 ppg), and seventh in the MW and 58th in the nation in field goal percentage (75.0). Senior WR Derek Wright is fifth in the MW and 47th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with five (0.63 pg), and sixth in the MW and 50th in the nation in yards per reception (17.3). Sophomore P Stephen Kotsanlee is sixth in the MW and 46th in the nation in punting (43.0 ypp). Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is sixth in the MW and 53rd in the nation in rushing yards (79.5 ypg), sixth in the MW and 84th in the nation in rushing yards per carry (5.0 ypc), and 10th in the MW in rushing touchdowns with four (0.7 pg). Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger is seventh in the MW and 42nd in the nation in fumbles forced with two (0.25 pg), and eighth in the MW in tackles for loss (1.0 pg). Junior CB Michael Anyanwu is seventh in the MW and 46th in the nation in fumbles forced with two (0.25 pg). Graduate senior S Shaq Bond is seventh in the MW and 46th in the nation with two interceptions (0.29 pg). And, junior OLB Ajani Carter is seventh in the MW and 46th in the nation with two interceptions (0.29 pg).
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is one of just six teams in the nation with multiple kickoff returns for touchdown along with Alabama (2), Arkansas State (2), Houston (2), Kansas State (2) and SMU (2). And, USU is the only team in the nation with two players that have returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
 
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.
 
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). 
 
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 57-39 all-time as a head coach, including a 42-19 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.