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

UTAH STATE CONCLUDES MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY AT NEW MEXICO
Game will be televised live on Fox Sports 1 on Friday, Nov. 26, at 11 a.m. 
 
UTAH STATE (8-3, 5-2 MW) vs. NEW MEXICO (3-8, 1-6 MW) 
Friday, Nov. 26, 2021 • 11 a.m. • Albuquerque, New Mexico • University Stadium (39,224)
 
GAME 12 INFORMATION 
TV: Fox Sports 1 
• Play-by-Play: Guy Haberman
• Analyst: Will Blackmon
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 265/HD691
• DirecTV: Ch. 219
• DISH: Ch. 150
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard 
• Analyst: Kevin White
• National: SXM App 983
• Online: KSLSports.com/thezone/
 
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 looking to win the Mountain Division of the Mountain West and advance to the MW Championship game for the second time in its nine years in the league, also doing so in 2013. In order to advance to the championship game, USU must defeat New Mexico and San Diego State must beat Boise State.  
• Utah State's 8-3 record is tied for its 10th-best start to a season in school history and it is just the 13th time that an Aggie team has won at least eight games. Only seven teams in school history have won nine or more games. USU has also won five league games for just the 17th time ever.
• Utah State is 5-0 on the road this season and is looking to become the first team in school history to go 6-0 on the road. In fact, there have only been three teams in school history to not lose or tie a road game in a single season (1907 (1-0), 1911 (2-0), 1923 (4-0)).
• Utah State has won a school-record six games this season when trailing by double digits, including in all five of its road wins. USU is also 4-0 on the year in one-score games. 
• Utah State's seven-game improvement from last year to this year is tied with Michigan State (2-5 in '20 to 9-2 in '21) for the third-best turnaround in the nation as the Aggies were 1-5 last season and are currently 8-3 this year. Only Michigan (2-4 in '20 to 10-1 in '21) and Northern Illinois (0-6 in '20 to 8-3 in '21) have had better turnarounds this year than USU. 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 82 passes for 1,508 yards this season and is 24 yards shy of breaking Kevin Curtis' school-record 1,531 receiving yards that was set in 2001. Thompkins is also 278 yards shy of breaking the Mountain West record of 1,785 receiving yards set by San Diego State's J.R. Tolver in 2002. 
• Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner is 212-of-354 (.599) passing for 2,930 yards with 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and is 70 yards shy of becoming the sixth player in school history to throw for 3,000 yards in a single season. Furthermore, Bonner's 27 touchdown passes are tied with Chuckie Keeton (2012) for the second-most in school history and is five shy of tying the school record set by Jordan Love (2018) with 32. 
 
UTAH STATE CONCLUDES MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY AT NEW MEXICO 
• Utah State (8-3, 5-2 MW) concludes Mountain West play this weekend at New Mexico (3-8, 1-6 MW) on Friday, Nov. 26, at 11 a.m. The game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1 (Xfinity Ch. 265/HD691, DirecTV Ch. 219, DISH Ch. 150) with Guy Haberman (play-by-play) and Will Blackmon (analyst) on the call.
• This will be Utah State's second morning kickoff this season as its game against Boise State on Sept. 25, began at 10 a.m. (MT).
 
SCOUTING UTAH STATE
• Utah State is 8-3 on the season and 5-2 in Mountain West play following its 44-17 Mountain West home loss to Wyoming last weekend. USU is led by graduate junior QB Logan Bonner, who is 212-of-354 (.599) passing for 2,930 yards (266.4 ypg) with 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. has rushed for 686 yards on 143 carries (4.8 ypc/76.2 ypg) with five touchdowns. And, senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 82 passes for 1,508 yards (18.4 ypr/137.1 ypg) and nine touchdowns. Defensively, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice has 95 tackles, which includes 12.0 tackles for loss, to go along with three interceptions and one forced fumble. USU is averaging 31.9 points and 458.7 yards of total offense (155.7 rushing, 303.0 passing) and allowing 27.8 points and 416.5 yards of total offense (169.5 rushing, 247.1 passing).
 
UTAH STATE BOWL ELIGIBLE FOR NINTH TIME IN LAST 11 YEARS
• Utah State is bowl eligible for the ninth time in the last 11 years after playing in six bowl games in its first 119 years. USU played in five-straight bowls 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 IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 42-28 (.600) all-time in the Mountain West, which includes a 19-14 (.576) road mark, and that 42-28 record is the third-best against MW opponents (including championship games) since it joined the league in 2013. Boise State (59-14) has the best record in the league during that time, while San Diego State (52-19) has the second-best record. New Mexico is 12th overall (19-51).  
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS IN UTAH STATE'S ROAD GAMES
• Utah State is 5-0 on the road to start a season for the first time since 1973 and USU has rallied from double-digit deficits in each of its five road wins this year. The only other Aggie teams to win their first five road games of the season are the 1960 and 1961 teams. No USU team has ever gone 6-0 on the road during a season.
• Utah State is averaging 37.2 points and 475.2 yards of total offense (157.8 rushing, 317.4 passing) on the road this season, while converting 40-of-77 (.519) third downs, and has a 61-10 scoring advantage in the final 15 minutes of its five road wins. 
 
UTAH STATE HAVING SUCCESS ON FOURTH DOWN
• Utah State has converted 13-of-27 (.481) fourth downs and has scored points on each of those 13 drives with 10 touchdowns and three field goals. Overall, USU is tied for 10th in the nation in fourth-down attempts and tied for 22nd in the nation in fourth-down conversions.
 
ANDERSON ONLY FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH IN THE NATION WITH EIGHT WINS
• Utah State's Blake Anderson is one of 19 first-year head coaches at the FBS level in 2021 and he is the only first-year head coach to have at least eight wins this year. 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 is one of just three first-year head coaches in school history to win eight games, joining Matt Wells (9 wins in 2013) and Tony Knap (8 wins in 1963). 
• Anderson's start to the 2021 season marks just the second time in school history that a first-year head coach has led the Aggies to an 8-3 record or better, trailing only Tony Knap, who led USU to an 8-1 start in his first year in 1963.  
• 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.
 
UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 37 of its last 46 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 2-2 record this year, and 43 of its last 49 games when rushing at least 40 times, including a 5-1 record this year. USU has also won 60 of its last 65 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 5-0 record this season.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is one of 31 teams in the nation that has won at least eight games this season, including one of four Mountain West teams. USU is also one of 44 teams in the nation with at least five conference wins, including one of five MW teams.
 
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO
• New Mexico is 3-8 on the season and 1-6 in Mountain West play following its 37-0 Mountain West road loss at Boise State last weekend. The Lobos are led by senior QB Terry Wilson, who is 101-of-174 (.580) passing for 1,058 yards (176.3 ypg) with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Freshman RB Aaron Dumas leads the team in rushing with 658 yards on 136 carries (4.8 ypc/59.8 ypg) with two touchdowns. And, freshman WR Luke Wysong has caught 24 passes for 224 yards (9.3 ypr/20.4 ypg). Defensively, senior S Jerrick Reed II has a team-best 82 tackles and seven pass breakupks. As a team, New Mexico is averaging 12.4 points and 238.0 yards of total offense per game (121.3 rushing, 116.7 passing), and allowing 27.8 points and 356.1 yards of total offense (145.7 rushing, 210.4 passing). New Mexico returns 15 starters (O-8, D-7) and 41 lettermen (O-17, D-21, S-3) from last year's team that went 2-5 overall and in Mountain West play to finish ninth in the conference. Danny Gonzales is 5-13 in his second season as a collegiate head coach.
 
AGGIES AND LOBOS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State and New Mexico will meet for the 28th time this weekend with USU holding a slight 14-13 advantage all-time, which includes a 6-9 road record. USU has won each of the last four games played between the two teams and seven of the last 10 overall. The first game played in the series was in Albuquerque on Dec. 1, 1951, with UNM winning 17-13. USU won last year's meeting in Logan, 41-27, and posted a 38-25 road win in 2019, which is the last time the two teams played one another in Albuquerque. Overall, USU is 6-2 against the Lobos since joining the Mountain West in 2013.
 
UTAH STATE vs. NEW MEXICO SERIES 12TH-MOST PLAYED IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and New Mexico will be meeting for the 28th time this weekend in what is tied for the 12th-most played series in school history, along with Pacific. 
 
• Utah State and New Mexico have spent 20 years as league foes as both schools were members of the Skyline Conference from 1951 to 1961, along with its current membership in the Mountain West. The Lobos have been members of the MW since its inception in 1999, while USU joined the league prior to the 2013 season.
 
COACHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEW MEXICO
• Utah State head coach Blake Anderson spent three years (1999-2001) as an assistant (WR, RB) at New Mexico under Rocky Long, who was the head coach of the Lobos and is now UNM's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Current UNM head coach Danny Gonzales was a graduate assistant for the Lobos during Anderson's time on staff in Albuquerque. 
 
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEW MEXICO PLAYERS
• The following are connections between Utah State and New Mexico players. USU graduate senior DE Jaylin Bannerman and graduate senior OLB Cash Gilliam both began their collegiate careers at Kentucky, as did UNM senior QB Terry Wilson. USU graduate senior WR Sean Carter and senior CB Xavion Steele both attended Fullerton (California) JC, as did UNM senior OL Jacob Jankoviak and UNM senior DE Joey Noble. USU senior WR Derek Wright and UNM senior OL Kyle Stapley both attended Snow JC in Ephraim, Utah. USU junior DT Aurion Peoples, UNM senior CB Tony Collier, UNM senior S Shaddrick Lowery, UNM senior WR Blake Wells, UNM junior S Antonio Hunt and UNM junior WR Zarak Scruggs Jr. all attended College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California. USU junior RB Cooper Jones, UNM senior QB Brandt Hughes and UNM junior OL Isaak Gutierrez all began their collegiate careers at Butte JC in Oroville, California. And, USU redshirt freshman LS Jacob Garcia and UNM freshman OL Shancco Matautia both attended Servite HS in Anaheim, California. 
 
STATS FOR CURRENT AGGIES WITH MULTIPLE GAMES PLAYED vs. NEW MEXICO
• The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against New Mexico in multiple games played. Graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua has 2.0 knockdowns in four games. Graduate senior S Shaq Bond has 22 tackles, including a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception and one pass breakup in three games. His 100-yard interception return against the Lobos in 2018 is one of two pick-sixes in his career. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson has three tackles in two games. Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger has 10 tackles, including a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss and career-high 2.0 sacks, a career-best two forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry in two games. Graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan has eight receptions for 85 yards (10.6 ypc) and one touchdown, to go along with eight punt returns for 50 yards (6.3 ypr), and one kickoff return for four yards, in four games. Senior OL Alfred Edwards has 2.0 knockdowns in three games. Senior ILB Kevin Meitzenheimer has 15 tackles and one interception in three games. Senior WR Savon Scarver has caught six passes for 57 yards (9.5 ypc) and one touchdown, rushed three times for four yards, and returned three kickoffs for 58 yards (19.3 ypr) in three games. Senior TE Carson Terrell has caught two passes for a 29-yard touchdown and a 25-yard touchdown in four games. Senior WR Derek Wright has caught five passes for 86 yards (17.2 ypc) and one touchdown in two games. Junior OLB Ajani Carter has four tackles in two games. Junior CB Cam Lampkin has four tackles and one pass breakup in two games. Junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh has nine tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss and a career-high 1.0 sacks, and one quarterback hurry in two games. Sophomore ILB Kaleo Neves has one tackle in two games.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 38 players in its program from the Beehive State, while New Mexico has 28 players on its roster from the Land of Enchantment.
• Utah State is 46-21 (.687) all-time against Division I teams from the state of New Mexico with a 32-8 record against New Mexico State and a 14-13 record versus New Mexico.
• Utah State is 30-16 (.652) in its last 46 games played during the month of November and is 6-7 all-time in known games played on Nov. 26. 
• Utah State is 24-32-1 (.430) all-time in Friday games, including a 2-1 record this year following its 48-24 home win against North Dakota on Sept. 10, its 34-20 home loss to 13th-ranked BYU on Oct. 1, and its 26-24 home win against Colorado State on Oct. 22.
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEW MEXICO
• Utah State has won each of the last four games in the series by double digits and has outscored New Mexico 164-81 (41.0-20.3) in those games.
• Utah State has held New Mexico to less than 30 points in each of the last eight meetings and in 24 games in series history. USU has scored at least 38 points in each of its last three meetings. 
• Utah State has held New Mexico to less than 400 yards of offense in each of the last four meetings and in nine of the last 12 meetings overall.
• Each of the last four games, all Utah State wins, have been by double digits. Overall, 11 of the 27 games (.407) in the series have been decided by one score. 
• Ten of Utah State's last 12 wins in the series have been by double digits, while five of New Mexico's last seven wins have been by single digits.
• New Mexico had controlled the time of possession in nine of the last 12 meetings.
• New Mexico has rushed for more yards in eight of the previous 12 meetings, while Utah State has passed for more yards in 10 of the last 12 meetings.
• The team with the most rushing yards has won nine of the last 12 meetings, with the only exception being Utah State's wins in 2002, 2017 and 2019. 
• The team with fewer turnovers has won nine of the last 12 meetings, and there have been fewer then three turnovers by both teams in seven of the last 12 meetings.
• In the last 12 meetings, Utah State is 5-2 when scoring first and 5-2 when leading at the half, while New Mexico is 3-2 when scoring first and 2-2 when leading at the half. 
• The team that scores first has won seven of the last nine games in the series, while the team that leads at the half has won seven of the last nine games.
• New Mexico has had four 100-yard receivers and four 100-yard rushers in the past 12 meetings, but no 300-yard passers, while Utah State has had five 100-yard rushers and three 100-yard receivers in the last 12 meetings, to go along with three 300-yard passers.
• In 27 previous meetings with New Mexico, Utah State has had 10 100-yard rushers, three 100-yard receivers and three 300-yard passers.
• There have been four shutouts in series history, three by Utah State's defense and one by New Mexico's defense. USU has also held UNM to 10 or fewer points seven times and is 7-0 in those games.
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State team and individual statistical performances against New Mexico over the years. 
• Utah State set a then-school record with 704 yards of total offense against New Mexico in 2018. That total is now the second-most in school history. 
• Utah State's 516 passing yards against New Mexico in 2018 are the second-most in school history. 
• Utah State's 39-36 loss at New Mexico in 1998 is its only triple-overtime game in school history and the Aggies have never played in an overtime game that went longer than three periods. In fact, USU has played just 12 overtime games in school history and two have been against New Mexico as the Aggies posted a 45-44 overtime home win against UNM in 2002. 
• New Mexico is Utah State's only opponent that it has played multiple overtime games against. 
• Utah State's eight forced turnovers vs. New Mexico in 1961 is tied for the most in school history, along with the eight turnovers it forced against Boise State in 2015, Idaho in 1971 and 1969, and San Diego State in 1968. USU's seven recovered fumbles against UNM in 1961 is a school record. 
• Utah State allowed just two first downs against New Mexico in 1953, which is tied for the school record, also doing so against Idaho in 1961. 
• Utah State's 470 rushing yards against New Mexico in 1960 are the second-most in school history, while its 337 rushing yards against UNM in 2013 rank as the 25th-most. 
• Utah State allowed New Mexico zero passing yards and no completions in 1954, both of which are tied for single-game school records. 
• Jose Fuentes' 80-yard pass to Kevin Curtis against New Mexico in 2002 is tied for the 18th-longest pass play in school history, while Travis Cox's 79-yard pass to Barry Tolli against UNM in 2003 is tied for the 25th-longest pass play in school history. 
• Brad Bohn set a then-school record for points scored by a kicker with 18 against New Mexico in 1998, a record that was broken by Dominik Eberle. Bohn also tied the then-school record for field goals made in that game against the Lobos as he was 5-of- 5 on field goals (37, 23, 23, 41, 33) and 3-for-3 on extra points. That record was also broken by Eberle. 
• Jordan Love's 448 passing yards against New Mexico in 2018 are the fifth-most in school history. 
 
LAST MEETING vs. NEW MEXICO
LOGAN, Utah - Sophomore QB Andrew Peasley certainly made the most of his first-career start at quarterback for Utah State as he accounted for a career-high 357 yards of total offense and four touchdowns to help the Aggies rally for a 41-27 Thanksgiving night win against New Mexico on Thursday, Nov. 26, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
Peasley, who came out of quarantine this past Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19, completed a career-best 14-of-21 passes for a career-high 239 yards and a career-best three touchdowns – all to different receivers. He also led Utah State (1-4, 1-4 Mountain West) on the ground with a career-high 118 yards and the game-clinching 62-yard touchdown run with 4:03 left in the fourth quarter. 
 
After trailing by six at the half, the Aggies took control of the contest with a stellar third-quarter performance, one in which they scored three times on offense and once on defense, to go along with a blocked punt that set up one of its scores. 
 
Peasley's first touchdown pass of the night was a beautiful 36-yarder to sophomore WR Justin McGriff that tied the score at 13-apiece with 12:20 left in the third. McGriff finished with four receptions for 99 yards, both career highs, while senior WR Derek Wright also had four catches for 70 yards, also career highs. 
 
After the defense forced the Lobos (0-5, 0-5 MW) to go three-and-out on the ensuing possession, USU struck paydirt again when Peasley found senior WR Savon Scarver wide open for a 26-yard touchdown pass that put the hosts up for good, 20-13. 
 
Freshman ILB Kina Maile – the nephew of Frank Maile – set up the Aggies' next score when he blocked a New Mexico punt. Three plays later, USU was in the end zone again when Peasley found senior TE Carson Terrell for a 25-yard touchdown pass, making it 27-13. 
 
On the Lobos' very next series, Maile found the end zone himself on a scoop-and-score. Senior OLB Nick Heninger sacked UNM quarterback Trae Hall on a third-and-14 play from the visitor's 21-yard line, forcing the signal caller to fumble in the process. Maile scooped up the loose pigskin and rumbled 16 yards into the end zone to give the hosts an insurmountable 34-13 lead with 2:50 left in the third. 
 
Defensively, senior S Shaq Bond led the Aggies with 10 tackles, including a career-high-tying 2.0 tackles for loss, while sophomore ILB AJ Vongphachanh added nine stops, including 1.0 sacks. Heninger had eight tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry, all of which are career highs. 
 
New Mexico cut it to 34-27 with 7:08 to go in the game following a 28-yard touchdown pass from Bryson Carroll to Andre Erickson, and a 1-yard touchdown run by Bobby Cole. 
But, Peasley cemented the Aggies' first win of the season when he eluded what would have been a sack on third down and scrambled out of the pocket, eventually making his way to the end zone for his 62-yard score. 
 
Freshman S Luke Marion put the exclamation point on the win when he intercepted a UNM pass with less than three minutes to go. 
All of Utah State's points in the first half came off the foot of junior PK Connor Coles, who made both of his field goal attempts, one from 27 yards and the other from 44, giving the Aggies leads of 3-0 and 6-3, respectively. 
 
LAST ROAD MEETING vs. NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - Utah State closed out the regular season with a 38-25 win at New Mexico on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. The victory assured the Aggies of a winning record for the second straight season. 
 
Utah State has claimed three straight and six of the last nine matchups against New Mexico. The overall series between the two rivals is now tied at 13-apiece. 
 
The Aggies (7-5, 6-2 Mountain West) have won at least seven games for the sixth time in the past nine years. USU has also won six league games for the fourth time in its seven years in the MW.
Overall, it is just the sixth time in school history that Utah State has won six conference games, joining the 1936 (6-0), 2012 (6-0), 2013 (7-1), 2014 (6-2) and 2018 (7-1) teams. 
 
Utah State finished the game with 368 yards of total offense (196 rushing, 172 passing) and was 8-of-18 on third downs. 
 
Gerold Bright rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries for the Aggies, who gained 368 yards of total offense, including 196 on the ground. The senior running back became the 10th different player in Utah State history to eclipse the 2,000-yard plateau for career rushing yards. Bright now has 2,051 yards rushing in his career, good enough for 10th place in school history. He now has 27 career touchdowns, which is tied for ninth all-time in school history, while his 21 career rushing touchdowns are tied for eighth all-time. 
 
Junior QB Jordan Love completed 18-of-35 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns. Junior WR Jordan Nathan caught four passes for 31 yards, while Bright added four receptions for 14 yards. 
Nathan scored on an 11-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter to give Utah State a 17-6 advantage. 
 
The Aggies jumped out to a 10-0 lead courtesy of a 5-yard touchdown pass from Love to senior graduate transfer TE Caleb Repp and a 45-yard field goal from senior PK Dominik Eberle. 
 
A 1-yard touchdown run by Bright and a 16-yard touchdown catch from junior WR Derek Wright less than a minute apart sent Utah State into the locker room with a 31-6 lead. 
 
Redshirt junior DE Justus Te'i set up Bright's score when he recovered a fumble at the UNM 13-yard line. Senior DT Christopher Unga recovered a fumble on the Lobos' very next possession, setting up Wright's touchdown. 
 
Senior CB DJ Williams intercepted a pair of passes for Utah State. Junior LB Eric Munoz and junior S Shaq Bond had nine tackles apiece for the Aggies. Senior DE Tipa Galeai had a season-high 2.0 sacks, while senior DT Devon Anderson had 1.0 sacks to go along with a forced fumble. 
 
In all, Utah State's defense forced four turnovers with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries and held the Lobos to 383 total yards and 4-of- 13 on third down. 
 
New Mexico QB Trae Hall was 10-of-21 passing for 107 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with two interceptions. Hall also carried the ball 22 times for 115 yards and two more scores. The Lobos ended their season at 2-10, including 0-8 in the Mountain West. 
 
GAME 11 RECAP vs. WYOMING
LOGAN, Utah - Wyoming junior RB Titus Swen rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns, while senior RB Xazavian Valladay added 145 rushing yards as the Cowboys beat the Aggies 44-17 on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
Wyoming (6-5, 2-5 Mountain West) put an end to Utah State's five-game winning streak, finishing with 604 yards of total offense, including 380 on the ground. The Aggies (8-3, 5-2) managed just 362 yards of offense, including a season-low 181 through the air. 
 
With the loss, the Aggies fell into a three-way tie for first place with Air Force and Boise State in the Mountain Division of the MW standings. A win over New Mexico next week, coupled with a Boise State loss at San Diego State, would send USU to the Mountain West Championship game for the first time since 2013. 
 
Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner was 19-of-40 passing for 181 yards and two touchdowns – a 10-yarder to graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling and 41-yarder to senior WR Deven Thompkins. Bowling finished with six catches for 60 yards, while Thompkins caught five passes for 67 yards. Senior WR Derek Wright added three receptions for 30 yards. 
 
Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. led the Aggies in rushing with 109 yards on 18 carries for his third 100-yard rushing game this season and of his career. 
 
The Cowboys scored their first touchdown of the night after the Aggies turned it over on downs on Wyoming's 36-yard line. After Bowling's touchdown tied it at 7-apiece, Cameron Stone returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, giving the visitors a 14-7 lead. 
 
Utah State answered right back when Thompkins hauled in an acrobatic 41-yard touchdown reception, making it 14-all late in the first quarter. 
 
Wyoming regained the lead for good on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Levi Williams to Joshua Cobbs. The two teams traded field goals before the half, including a 36-yarder by Utah State graduate senior PK Connor Coles, as the Cowboys went into the break leading 24-17. 
 
Utah State began the second half with the ball and drove into Wyoming territory, where the drive stalled at the 25-yard line. Coles lined up for another field goal try to cut into the visitor's lead, but the snap was high and the Cowboys recovered at their own 44. 
 
Two plays later, Swen scored on a 43-yard touchdown run to essentially put the game out of reach. 
 
Defensively, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice and graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds led Utah State with 10 stops apiece, while Wyoming's Chad Muma led all tacklers in the game with 17 tackles. Rice also had 1.5 tackles for loss. 
 
Utah State graduate senior S Shaq Bond had eight tackles, an interception near the goal line and a forced fumble. Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger had a season-high nine tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss. Graduate senior OLB Cash Gilliam added eight tackles, while junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. and 1.0 tackles for loss and junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh had 0.5 tackles for loss. 
 
Sophomore P Stephen Kotsanlee had three of his five punts downed inside the 20-yard line, which included a 51-yarder. 
 
Senior WR Savon Scarver tied his career-high with five kickoff returns for 93 yards, including a long of 32 yards. 
 
UTAH STATE HAS FIVE-GAME WINNING STREAK SNAPPED AGAINST WYOMING 
• Utah State had its five-game winning streak snapped in its last outing with a 44-17 Mountain West home loss to Wyoming. The loss evened USU's home record to 3-3 on the season.
• Utah State had a season-low 181 passing yards against Wyoming, while its 362 yards of total offense are its third-fewest in a game this year. 
• Wyoming's 362 rushing yards and 604 yards of total offense are both the second-most allowed by Utah State in a game this season, behind the 437 rushing yards and 619 total yards by Air Force.
• Utah State held Wyoming to just 17 rushing yards in the first quarter as USU forced UW into a pair of three-and-outs in its three drives. However, for the remainder of the game, Wyoming rushed for 345 yards and had no three-and-outs. 
• Utah State's defense entered the Wyoming game having limited its three previous opponents (Hawai'i, New Mexico State, San José State) to 360 yards or less of total offense each, for an average of 285.7 yards per game and 4.3 yards per play, which included just 73 rushing yards on 79 attempts (0.9 ypc).
• Utah State's defense had limited four of its previous five opponents to 360 or fewer yards of offense prior to the Wyoming game.
• Utah State's defense had allowed a total of just two explosive plays in its previous two games, a 24-yard pass by New Mexico State and a 23-yard pass by San José State. Against Wyoming, the Cowboys had eight explosive plays (4 runs, 4 passes), which included a 98-yard touchdown run. Those eight explosives are the most by an Aggie opponent this season.
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE RECORDING LOTS OF TACKLES FOR LOSS 
• Utah State's defense has turned up the pressure in its last four games and has recorded 14.0 sacks and 38.0 tackles for loss as compared to 9.0 sacks and 47.0 tackles for loss in its first seven games. In its last game against Wyoming, USU had 4.0 tackles for loss. In its previous game against San José State, USU had 2.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss. In its previous game against New Mexico State, USU posted season highs with 7.0 sacks and 14.0 tackles for loss. And in its game prior to that against Hawai'i, USU had then-season highs of 5.0 sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss. 
• On the season, Utah State now has 85.0 tackles for loss. The school record is 115.0 tackles for loss set in 1999 and USU is 16.0 tackles for loss shy of tying the 1998 team for the fifth-most in school history with 101.0 tackles for loss.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS DURING UTAH STATE'S EIGHT WINS
• Utah State has trailed after the first quarter and at the half in eight of its 11 games this year, and trailed after the third quarter in six of its 11 games. USU is 5-3 on the season when trailing after one quarter and at halftime, and 3-3 when trailing after three quarters.
• Utah State has trailed by double digits in six of its eight wins this season, including coming from behind in the fourth quarter in three of its four road wins, which included a pair of double-digit fourth quarter 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.
• Utah State has been outscored 99-55 in the first quarter, but has outscored its opponents 105-49 in the fourth quarter, which includes a 95-26 advantage in its eight wins. 
 
AGGIE DEFENSE SHUTS DOWN SPARTANS OFFENSE 
• Utah State's defense was in complete control during its 48-17 road win at San José State two weekends ago as it limited the Spartans to just 150 yards of total offense, which is a season low for an Aggie opponent and the fewest allowed by USU since Weber State managed just 138 yards in 2013. SJSU had just 12 rushing yards in the game, which is tied for the fewest allowed by USU this season (12 vs. Hawai'i), and tied for the 19th-fewest rushing yards allowed in a single game in school history.
• Of San José State's 17 points, one touchdown come from a pick-six and the other came via a short field (38 yards) following a fumble. SJSU's only scoring drive of the night against the Aggie defense was nine plays for 42 yards and resulted in a 44-yard field goal.  
• San José State had 14 possessions during its game against Utah State and went three-and-out nine times as it was 1-of-12 on third down. Furthermore, SJSU only had one drive over 50 yards the entire game and only two other drives of more than 20 yards (38, 42). 
 
AGGIES UNDEFEATED WHEN THEY WIN THE COIN TOSS
• Utah State is 5-0 on the season when it wins the coin toss and 3-3 when it loses the coin toss. In all five of its games that it won the coin toss, USU chose to play defense first. 
 
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.
 
THOMPKINS ONE OF 10 SEMIFINALISTS FOR BILETNIKOFF AWARD 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award,  which is awarded annually to the outstanding receiver in the nation. Thompkins is just the second player in school history named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, joining Kevin Curtis (2001). Three finalists for the award will be named on Monday, Nov. 23, and the winner will be announced on Dec. 9, as part of The Home Depot College Football Awards. The 10 semifinalists are: Jordan Addison (Pittsburgh), David Bell (Purdue), Jahan Dotson (Penn State), Josh Downs (North Carolina), Drake London (USC), Chris Olave (Ohio State), A.T. Perry (Wake Forest), Jerreth Sterns (Western Kentucky), Deven Thompkins (Utah State) and Jameson Williams (Alabama).
 
THOMPKINS LEADS THE NATION IN RECEIVING YARDS 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins currently leads the nation with 1,508 receiving yards (137.1 ypg) and is third in the nation with 1,766 all-purpose yards (160.6 ypg). 
• Thompkins is the only player in the nation this season to have five games with at least 170 receiving yards. Thompkins is also the first player in school history to accomplish this feat as the previous school record was four 170-yard receiving games by Kevin Alexander in 1995.
 
THOMPKINS LEADS THE NATION WITH EIGHT 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has eight 100-yard receiving games this season, which is tied for the most in the nation with Western Kentucky's Jerreth Sterns. In fact, Thompkins had six-straight 100-yard receiving games, prior to catching five passes for 67 yards this past weekend against Wyoming. That streak of six-straight 100-yard receiving games is tied with Kevin Curtis (2001) for the longest in school history.
 
THOMPKINS NOTCHES EIGHTH 100-YARD RECEIVING GAME OF SEASON 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins recorded the eighth 100-yard receiving game of the season and his career two weekends ago against San José State (11/13), as he had five receptions for 127 yards. Thompkins' eight 100-yard receiving games this season are the third-most in school history. Nakia Jenkins set the school record with nine 100-yard receiving games in 1996 and Kevin Curtis tied that record in 2001.
•  The Mountain West record for 100-yard receiving games in a season is 11 set by BYU's Austin Collie in 2008 and  Thompkins is currently tied for the third-most.  
•  The school record for 100-yard receiving games in a career is 16 set by Kevin Curtis (2001-02) and Thompkins is currently tied with Aaron Jones (1997-2000), James Murphy (1978-80) and Mike O'Shea (1966-68) for the fourth-most in school history.
 
THOMPKINS RANKS SEVENTH ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN RECEIVING 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 151 passes for 2,323 yards in his career and ranks seventh all-time in school history in both receiving yards and receptions. The school record for receiving yards is 2,943 set by Kendal Smith (1985-88), while the school record for receptions is 178 set by Kevin Robinson (2004-07). Thompkins is just the 11th player in school history to post 2,000 receiving yards in a career and the first since Robinson in 2007.  
 
THOMPKINS 12TH PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY WITH 1,000 RECEIVING YARDS 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 82 passes for 1,508 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 second all-time in school history with his 1,508 receiving yards, while his 82 receptions are tied for the fourth-most, along with Nakia Jenkins (1996). 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. Curtis also holds the school record for receptions in a season with 100 set in 2001.
 
THOMPKINS TIED FOR 10TH IN SINGLE SEASON TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught nine touchdown passes this season, which is tied with Kevin Curtis (2002) and Hunter Sharp (2015) for the 10th-most in a single season in school history. Tracy Jenkins holds the school record with 14 touchdown receptions set in 1990. For his career, Thompkins has 14 touchdown catches, which is two shy of entering the USU career top 10.
 
THOMPKINS HAD CAREER GAME AGAINST NEW MEXICO STATE 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins had a career game at New Mexico State (11/6) with nine receptions for a career-best 215 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns (26, 54) as he was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season and in his career. 
• Those 215 receiving yards for Thompkins are the most by a Mountain West player this season and the 12th-most in the nation. It is also just the 15th time in school history that an Aggie has had 200 receiving yards in a game as Thompkins' 215 yards is tied with James Murphy (215 vs. Long Beach State, 10/6/79) for the ninth-most in a single game in USU history.
 
TYLER RECORDS THIRD-CAREER 100-YARD RUSHING GAME 
• Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. had his third 100-yard rushing game of the season and his career this past weekend against Wyoming as he rushed for 109 yards on 18 carries.  
 
BONNER SETS SCHOOL RECORD WITH FOUR TOUCHDOWN PASSES AGAIN
• Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner became the first quarterback in school history to throw at least four touchdown passes in three-straight games, doing so against Hawai'i (10/30), New Mexico State (11/6) and San José State (11/13). Overall, Bonner has thrown a career-high four touchdown passes in a game four times this season and seven times in his career. 
• In his last four games, Bonner is 83-of-135 (.615) passing for 1,164 yards (291.0 ypg) and 14 touchdowns with just two interceptions. In fact, Bonner has thrown multiple touchdowns in each of his last seven games as he has totals of 20 touchdowns and five interceptions over that stretch.
 
BONNER IN THE SINGLE-SEASON RECORD BOOKS 
• Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner is 212-of-354 (.599) passing for 2,930 yards with 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on the season and he currently ranks tied for second in the USU single-season record books in touchdown passes with Chuckie Keeton (2012). The school record for touchdown passes in a season is 32 set by Jordan Love in 2018. 
• Bonner is 70 passing yards shy of becoming just the sixth player in school history to throw for 3,000 yards in a single season.
 
OTHER OFFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM WYOMING GAME
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins had five receptions for 67 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown catch to give him nine touchdown receptions on the season and 14 in his career. Thompkins had his streak of six-straight 100-yard receiving games snapped. Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling had six receptions for 60 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown. Overall, he now has six touchdown receptions on the season and 15 in his career. 
 
ALI'IFUA EXTENDS OWN SCHOOL RECORD FOR GAMES PLAYED
• Graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua played in his 56th career game this past weekend against Wyoming, which extends his own school record. The previous record was 54 career games played that was set by Jordan Nielsen (2012-15).
 
AGGIES TIED FOR SECOND-MOST 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State has already had 10 100-yard receiving games by players this year, which is tied for the second-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. 
 
RICE HAS 14TH CAREER DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLE OUTING 
• Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice posted his fourth double-digit tackle outing of the season and the 14th of his career this past weekend against Wyoming as he had 10 tackles, which included 1.5 tackles for loss. Rice has now had at least seven tackles in a game seven times this season. Overall, Rice now has 12.0 tackles for loss on the season and 40.5 tackles for loss in his career.
 
REYNOLDS POSTS SECOND-CAREER DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLE OUTING 
• Graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds posted his first double-digit tackle outing of the season and the second of his career this past weekend against Wyoming as he had a season-high 10 tackles. Reynolds has had at least five tackles now in each of his last seven games.
 
BOND INTERCEPTS EIGHTH-CAREER PASS IN WYOMING GAME 
• Graduate senior S Shaq Bond intercepted his third pass of the season and the eighth of his career this past weekend against Wyoming. Bond, who also forced his second fumble this season and the third of his career, finished the game with eight tackles.
 
OTHER DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM WYOMING GAME 
• Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger had a season-high nine tackles, which included 1.0 tackles for loss, to give him 12.5 tackles for loss on the season and 31.0 tackles for loss in his career. Graduate junior OLB Cash Gilliam had a season-high eight tackles. Junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 7.0 tackles for loss on the season and 9.5 tackles for loss in his career. Junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 6.0 tackles for loss on the season and 9.5 tackles for loss in his career. 
 
CARTER HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST SAN JOSÉ STATE 
• Junior OLB Ajani Carter had the best game of his career two weekends ago at San José State as he forced and recovered his first-career fumble on his second-career sack. He also intercepted his third pass of the season and his career and returned it 45 yards, and recorded his first-career pass breakup.
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• Utah State graduate ILB Justin Rice was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week twice this year, while graduate senior S Shaq Bond won the award once. Rice was honored 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 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 2,825 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 second all-time in MW history with 102 career kickoff returns trailing Purivs, who holds the record with 112 returns.
• Scarver ranks second all-time in school history in kickoff return yards behind Kerwynn Williams  (2009-12). Williams currently ranks fourth in NCAA history with 3,408 kickoff return yards and Scarver ranks 20th with 2,825 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 102 kickoffs for 2,825 yards (27.7 ypr) and is tied for 14th all-time in FBS history in kickoff return average and 20th in kickoff return yards.
 
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 10 of his last 11 field goals in his last five 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. 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. Coles then made 2-of-3 field goals and was 6-for-6 on extra points against San José State as he scored 12 points.
 
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 RALLY FROM DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFICITS FOR FIVE WINS
• Utah State has rallied from double-digit deficits to win six of its eight 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 48-17 road win at San José State, Utah State overcame a 14-point (14-0) second-quarter deficit and outscored SJSU 48-3 the remainder of the game.
• In its 35-13 road win at New Mexico State, Utah State overcame a 10-point (10-0) first-quarter deficit and outscored NMSU 35-3 the remainder of the game. 
• 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.  
 
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 20 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 26 scoring drives of at least 70 yards, including a season-long 93-yard drive at New Mexico State. By comparison, USU had 32 drives of 70-plus yards in 2019.
 
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.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• 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.
• 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).
• 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 19TH IN THE NATION IN TOTAL OFFENSE
• Utah State is averaging 457.5 yards per game to rank second in the Mountain West and 19th in the nation. USU also ranks third in the MW and 17th in the nation in passing offense (303.0 ypg), third in the MW and 43rd in the nation in scoring offense (31.9 ppg), third in the MW and 47th in the nation in passing efficiency (146.4), fifth in the MW and 74th in the nation in rushing offense (154.5 ypg), sixth in the MW and 57th in the nation in sacks allowed with 23 (2.09 pg), and sixth in the MW and 91st in the nation in completion percentage (.589).    
• Utah State's offense also ranks first in the MW and 15th in the nation in first downs (24.2 pg), first in the MW and 24th in the nation in third down conversions at 45.1 percent (82-of-182), second in the MW and 16th in the nation in passing yards per completion (14.00), and fifth in the MW and 74th in the nation in fourth down conversions at 48.2 percent (13-of-27).
 
UTAH STATE EIGHTH IN THE NATION IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is averaging 7.4 tackles for loss per game to lead the Mountain West and rank eighth in the nation. USU also ranks ninth in the MW and 69th in the nation in sacks with 23 (2.09 pg), ninth in the MW and 80th in the nation in scoring defense (27.8 ppg), 10th in the MW and 94th in the nation in passing defense (247.0 ypg), 11th in the MW and 66th in the nation in pass efficiency defense (133.9), 11th in the MW and 92nd in the nation in total defense (416.5 ypg), and 12th in the MW and 91st in the nation in rushing defense (169.5 ypg).  
 
• Utah State's defense also ranks second in the MW and seventh in the nation in fourth down conversions at 33.3 percent (4-of-12), fourth in the MW and 53rd in third down conversions at 37.6 percent (53-of-141), and seventh in the MW and 60th in the nation with six fumbles recovered (0.55pg).
 
UTAH STATE 27TH IN THE NATION IN NET PUNTING
• Utah State ranks third in the Mountain West and 27th in the nation in net punting (41.4 ypp), third in the MW and 35th in the nation in punt return defense (5.3 ypr), fourth in the MW and 54th in the nation in punt returns (9.0 ypr), fifth in the MW and 44th in the nation in kickoff returns (22.7 ypr), and 10th in the MW and 89th in the nation in kickoff return defense (22.5 ypr). 
 
UTAH STATE HAS FORCED 17 TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has forced 17 turnovers this season with 11 interceptions and six fumbles, and ranks fourth in the Mountain West and 30th in the nation in interceptions (1.0 pg). USU has forced three-or-more turnovers in 28 of its last 93 games and has scored 25 defensive touchdowns in its last 102 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 nation in receiving (137.1 ypg). Thompkins is also first in the MW and third in the nation in all-purpose yards (160.6 ypg), second in the MW and 25th in the nation in yards per reception (18.4), third in the MW and 11th in the nation in receptions (7.5 pg), and fourth in the MW and 17th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with nine (0.82 pg). Senior WR Savon Scarver leads the MW and is ninth in the nation in kickoff returns for touchdown with one (0.09 pg), and third in the MW and 27th in the nation in kickoff returns (24.0 ypr). Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling leads the MW and is ninth in the nation in kickoff returns for touchdown with one (0.09 pg), and seventh in the MW and 59th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with six (0.55 pg). Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner is second in the MW and 21st in the nation in yards per completion (13.8), second in the MW and 40th in the nation in yards per attempt (8.25), third in the MW and 12th in the nation in passing touchdowns with 27 (2.45 pg), third in the MW and 19th in the nation in passing (266.4 ypg), third in the MW and 25th in the nation in points responsible for (14.9 pg), third in the MW and 48th in the nation in passing efficiency (148.5), fourth in the MW and 32nd in the nation in total offense (272.9 ypg), fifth in the MW and 36th in the nation in completions (19.3 pg), and seventh in the MW and 81st in the nation in completion percentage (.599). Graduate senior S Shaq Bond is third in the MW and 20th in the nation in interceptions with three (0.30 pg). Junior OLB Ajani Carter is third in the MW and 20th in the nation in interceptions with three (0.33 pg). Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is fourth in the MW and 11th in the nation in field goals made per game (1.64), fourth in the MW and 32nd in the nation in scoring (8.5 ppg), fifth in the MW and 59th in the nation in field goal percentage (75.0), and 10th in the MW in points responsible for (8.5 pg). Sophomore DT Poukesi Vakauta is fourth in the MW and 18th in the nation in fumbles recovered with two (0.18 pg). Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger is fifth in the MW and 21st in the nation in fumbles forced with three (0.27 pg), and fifth in the MW in tackles for loss (1.14 pg). Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice is fourth in the MW and 30th in the nation in tackles (8.6 pg), sixth in the MW in tackles for loss (1.09 pg), and seventh in the MW and 40th in the nation with three interceptions (0.27 pg). Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is fifth in the MW and 61st in the nation in rushing yards (76.2 ypg), and eighth in the MW and 89th in the nation in rushing yards per carry (4.8 ypc). Senior WR Derek Wright is sixth in the MW and 27th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with eight (0.73 pg), and eighth in the MW and 78th in the nation in yards per reception (15.7). Graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan is sixth in the MW in punt returns (9.0 ypr). And, sophomore P Stephen Kotsanlee is seventh in the MW in punting (42.7 ypp).      
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is one of just eight teams in the nation with multiple kickoff returns for touchdown, along with South Florida (3), Alabama (2), Arkansas State (2), Houston (2), Kansas State (2), Marshall (2) and SMU (2). And, USU and Marshall are the only teams 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 59-40 all-time as a head coach, including a 43-20 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.