Utah State Game Notes | San José State Game Notes | Mountain West Weekly Release | Listen Live | Live Stats

UTAH STATE RESUMES MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY AT SAN JOSÉ STATE
Game will be televised live on Fox Sports 1 on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 8:30 p.m. (MT). 
 
UTAH STATE (7-2, 4-1 MW) vs. SAN JOSÉ STATE (5-5, 3-3 MW)
Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021 • 8:30 p.m. (MT) • San Jose, California • CEFCU Stadium (30,456)
 
GAME 10 INFORMATION
TV: Fox Sports 1
• Play-by-Play: Jeff Levering
• Analyst: Robert Smith
• Comcast (Utah): Ch. 265/HD691
• DirecTV: Ch. 219
• DISH: Ch. 150
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard 
• Analyst: Kevin White
• National: XM 385 / SXM App 975
• 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 7-2 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 has now won at least seven games for the fifth time in its nine years in the Mountain West and for the 26th time in school history. Furthermore, it is the 40th time that USU has won at least four conference games, including its sixth time in nine years in the MW. There have only been 12 Aggie teams that have won eight or more games in a single season.  
• Utah State's six-game improvement from last year to this year is tied for the best in the nation as the Aggies were 1-5 last season and are currently 7-2 this year. Only Michigan State (2-5 in '20 to 8-1 in '21), Northern Illinois (0-6 in '20 to 6-3 in '21), and Michigan (2-4 in '20 to 8-1 in '21) have had as big of a turnaround this year as Utah State.
• Utah State is 4-0 on the road to start a season for the first time since the 1973 team won its first five road games and USU has rallied from double-digit deficits in each of its four road wins this year. USU is averaging 34.5 points and 491.5 yards of total offense (160.5 rushing, 331.0 passing) on the road this season, while converting 32-of-60 (.533) third downs and 5-of-9 fourth downs (.556). Furthermore, USU has a 44-10 scoring advantage in the final 15 minutes of its four road wins.
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins leads the nation in both receiving (146.0 ypg) and all-purpose yards (173.1 ypg). Thompkins is also second in the MW and sixth in the nation in receptions (8.0 pg), and second in the MW and 11th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with eight (0.89 pg).  
• Utah State ranks among the top 50 teams in the nation in 21 statistical categories, including leading the Mountain West and ranking 13th in the nation in total offense at 473.3 yards per game. USU also ranks third in the nation in tackles for loss (7.7 pg), 12th in the nation in passing offense (321.0 ypg), 23rd in the nation in third downs converted at 46.0 percent (69-of-150), 23rd in the nation in kickoff returns (25.2 ypr) and 34th in the nation with nine passes intercepted (1.0 pg).
 
UTAH STATE RESUMES MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY AT SAN JOSÉ STATE
• Utah State (7-2, 4-1 MW) resumes Mountain West play this weekend with a road game at  San José State (5-5, 3-3 MW) on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 8:30 p.m. (MT). The game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports 1 (Comcast Ch. 265/HD691, DirecTV Ch. 219, DISH Ch. 150) with Jeff Levering (play-by-play) and Robert Smith (analyst) on the call.
• Utah State has won eight straight games against San José State, including four straight on the road. In the last eight games in the series, USU has outscored SJSU 349-156 (43.6-19.5). USU has also won each of the last five games against SJSU by 22-plus points and has a 253-80 (50.6-16.0) scoring advantage in those contests.     
 
SCOUTING UTAH STATE
• Utah State is 7-2 on the season and 4-1 in Mountain West play following its 35-13 non-conference road win at New Mexico State last weekend. USU is led by graduate junior QB Logan Bonner, who is 173-of-281 (.616) passing for 2,486 yards (276.2 ypg) with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. has rushed for 516 yards on 104 carries (5.0 ypc/73.7 ypg) with four touchdowns. And, senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 72 passes for 1,314 yards (18.3 ypr/146.0 ypg) and eight touchdowns. Defensively, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice has 77 tackles, which includes 10.5 tackles for loss, to go along with three interceptions and one forced fumble. USU is averaging 31.8 points and 474.9 yards of total offense (153.9 rushing, 321.0 passing), and allowing 27.2 points and 425.3 yards of total offense (165.6 rushing, 259.8 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 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 NATIONAL TRENDS
• Utah State is one of 29 teams in the nation that has won at least seven games this season, including one of four Mountain West teams. USU is also one of just 14 teams in the nation riding at least a four-game winning streak, which is tied for the ninth-longest in the nation.
• Utah State's current four-game winning streak is its longest since the 2018 team won a school-record 10 straight games. 
 
UTAH STATE HAVING SUCCESS ON FOURTH DOWN
• Utah State has converted 13-of-23 (.565) fourth downs and has scored points on each of those 13 drives with 10 touchdowns and three field goals. Overall, USU is tied for 14th in the nation in both fourth-down conversions and attempts.
 
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.
 
ANDERSON ONLY FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH IN THE NATION WITH SEVEN WINS
• Utah State's Blake Anderson is one of 19 first-year head coaches at the FBS level in 2021 and Anderson is the only first-year head coach to have at least seven 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 five first-year head coaches in school history to win seven games, joining Matt Wells (9 wins in 2013), Tony Knap (8 wins in 1963), Chuck Mills (7 wins in 1967) and Phil Krueger (7 wins in 1973). 
• 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 7-2 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.
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 41-27 (.603) all-time in the Mountain West, which includes an 18-14 (.563) road record, and that 41-27 record is the third-best against MW opponents (including championship games) since it joined the league in 2013. Boise State (57-14) has the best record in the league during that time, while San Diego State (50-19) has the second-best record. San José State is ninth overall (29-41). 
• Utah State is 20-7 (.741) against teams from the West Division of the Mountain West, which is the second-best record by any school in the league behind Boise State (21-7). Overall, USU has won 11 of its last 14 games against MW West Division opponents.
 
SCOUTING SAN JOSÉ STATE
• San José State is 5-5 on the season and 3-3 in Mountain West play following its 27-24 Mountain West road loss at Nevada last weekend. The Spartans are led by graduate senior QB Nick Starkel, who is 90-of-177 (.501) passing for 1,247 yards (249.4 ypg) with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. Senior RB Tyler Nevens leads the team in rushing as he has carried the ball 145 times for 699 yards (4.8 ypc/77.7 ypg) and six touchdowns. And, senior TE Derrick Deese Jr. has a team-best 41 receptions for 670 yards (16.3 ypr/74.4 ypg) and four touchdowns. Defensively, senior LB Kyle Harmon has a team-best 104 tackles, which includes 1.0 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. As a team, San José State is averaging 21.4 points and 360.8 yards of total offense per game (223.8 passing, 137.0 rushing) and allowing 23.0 points and 355.9 yards of offense (222.2 passing, 133.7 rushing). San José State returns 22 starters (O-10, D-12) and 62 lettermen from last year's team that went 7-1 overall and won its first-ever Mountain West title as it went 6-0 in league played and posted a 34-20 win against Boise State in the MW Championship game. SJSU concluded its season with a 34-13 loss to Ball State in the Arizona Bowl. The Spartans finished the 2020 season ranked No. 24 in the final Associated Press poll. Brent Brennan is 20-35 in his fifth season as San José State's head coach.  
 
AGGIES AND SPARTANS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State trails in the all-time series against San José State, 18-20-1, which includes a 7-11-1 road record. The first game played between the two teams was on Sept. 30, 1940, in Logan, with SJSU winning, 19-0. In fact, San José State won the first five games played in the series before USU won four straight from 1962-66. USU has won the last eight games played between the two teams, including a 62-24 home win in 2018 and a 61-10 road win in 2017, which is the last time the two teams played one another in San Jose. USU has also won four-straight road games in the series and the last time the Spartans won a game against the Aggies was on Oct. 11, 2008, in San Jose, 30-7.
 
AGGIES vs. SPARTANS SERIES FIFTH-LONGEST IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and San José State will be meeting for the 40th time this weekend for the fifth-most played series in school history, trailing Utah (112), BYU (90), Colorado State (77) and Wyoming (70), and tied with New Mexico State (40). 
 
COACHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND SAN JOSÉ STATE
• Utah State running backs coach Chuckie Keeton and defensive line coach Al Lapuaho were both on staff at Oregon State in 2016 and 2017, with San José State head coach Brent Brennan, SJSU associate head coach and defensive coordinator Derrick Odum, SJSU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kevin McGiven and SJSU offensive line coach Josh Oglesby. Odum also spent three years (2000-03) at Utah State as the secondary coach, while McGiven spent three years (2009, '13-14) at USU as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
 
UTAH STATE AND SAN JOSÉ STATE AS CONFERENCE FOES
• Utah State and San José State have spent 34 years as league foes as both schools joined the Mountain West on July 1, 2013. The two schools began their conference affiliation as members of the Big West Conference from 1978-1995 and were conference foes in the Western Athletic Conference from 2005-12. As members of the Big West, San José State held a 10-4-1 series advantage against Utah State, while the series record as WAC members was 5-3 in favor of the Aggies. USU is 4-0 against the Spartans as members of the Mountain West.
 
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
• Utah State is 62-73-2 (.460) all-time against teams from California, including a 25-46-2 (.347) road record. Overall, USU is 21-7 versus Pacific, 18-20-1 against San José State, 13-18-1 versus Fresno State, 8-6 against Cal State Fullerton, 2-13 versus San Diego State, 1-0 against Cal State Northridge, 0-6 versus USC, and 0-1 against Stanford, St. Vincent's and UCLA.
 
AGGIES FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
• Utah State has 25 players in its program from the state of California, which is the second-most on the team behind the 36 players in the program from Utah. Aggie players from the Golden State include graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua (Hayward/San Leandro HS), graduate senior WR Sean Carter (Westlake Village/Westlake HS), graduate senior CB Andre Grayson (Rancho Cucamonga/Etiwanda HS), graduate senior DT Marcus Moore (Pasadena/Crespi HS), graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan (Monrovia/Monrovia HS), graduate senior ILB Justin Rice (Modesto/Central Catholic HS), senior OL Alfred Edwards (Redlands/Redlands Senior HS), senior S Jarrod Green (Elk Grove/Cosumnes Oaks HS), senior ILB Kevin Meitzenheimer (Moreno Valley/Moreno Valley HS), senior CB Xavion Steele (Hemet/Orange Lutheran HS), junior CB Michael Anyanwu (Covina/Charter Oak HS), junior DT James Hansen (Fontana/Kaiser HS), junior WR Tim Patrick Jr. (San Diego/Morse HS), junior DT Aurion Peoples (Compton/Lancaster HS), junior S Dominic Tatum (Culver City/Culver City HS), sophomore QB Josh Calvin (Bellflower/Mayfair HS), sophomore TE Jack Drews (Ramona/Ramona HS), sophomore WR Quinton Hadnot (San Marcos/Mission Hills HS), sophomore OLB Keith Harris (Lawndale/Leuzinger HS), sophomore RB Elelyon Noa (La Mesa/Helix HS), sophomore PK Joey Rouly (Anaheim/Canyon HS), sophomore LS Jesse Vasquez (Los Angeles/Oaks Christian HS), redshirt freshman LS Jacob Garcia (Anaheim/Servite HS), freshman OL Elia Migao (Temecula/Chaparral HS) and freshman DE Enoka Migao (Temecula/Chaparral HS).   
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Former Utah State head coach John Ralston (1959-62) spent four years as San José State's head coach (1993-1996). At USU, Ralston compiled a 31-11-1 (.733) record, ranking first all-time in winning percentage and fifth all-time in wins. 
• The Aggies and Spartans set a then-NCAA record for the highest scoring tie, 48-48, in Spartan Stadium to open the 1979 season.
• San José State defeated Utah State 20-0 in the 1947 Raisin Bowl in Fresno, California, on New Year's Day. It was both program's first-ever bowl appearance.
• Utah State has 38 players in its program from the state of Utah, while San José State has 97 players on its roster from the state of California.
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND SAN JOSÉ STATE
The following are series notables between Utah State and San José State. 
• Utah State set a school record with 804 yards of total offense, which are the third-most in Mountain West history, in its 2018 meeting against San José State. USU also had 510 passing yards in that game, which are the third-most in school history.  
• Utah State has out-scored San José State 349-156 (43.6-19.5) during its current eight-game winning streak, including 253-80 (50.6-16.0) in its last five meetings. In fact, USU has won each of the last five games in the series by at least 22 points. 
• Utah State has scored at least 40 points against San José State in each of the last five meetings, and at least 30 points in each of its last seven meetings. 
• The winning team has scored at least 20 points in 36 of the 39 meetings and at least 30 points in 21 of those games. 
• Utah State has led at the half in seven of the last eight games, winning all eight contests. 
• Utah State has had a 100-yard rusher in seven of its last eight meetings with San José State. During the last 12 games, the Spartans have had just one 100-yard rusher. 
• Utah State has had just one 300-yard passer and just one 100-yard receiver in each of the last 12 games in the series. Conversely, San José State has had six 300-yard passers and six 100-yard receivers in the last 12 games, but is just 3-9 in those contests. 
• The team that has more total yards has won 11 of the last 12 games in the series. The team that has more rushing yards has won 10 of the last 12 games. And, the team that has more first downs has won nine of the last 12 games in the series. 
• Time of possession has not been a deciding factor in the series as the team who controls the ball is just 6-6 in the last 12 games.
• In its 39 games against San José State, Utah State has had 13 100-yard receivers, 10 100-yard rushers and six 300-yard passers.
 
CURRENT AGGIES vs. SAN JOSÉ STATE 
• Utah State has 15 players on its current roster that have played against San José State, including four that have appeared in multiple games in graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan, senior WR Savon Scarver and senior TE Carson Terrell. USU also has two players that started against SJSU in 2018 in senior OL Alfred Edwards and Nathan.
• Other Aggies that have played against San José State include graduate senior PK Connor Coles, senior OL Chandler Dolphin, graduate senior CB Andre Grayson, senior S Jarrod Green, senior CB Zahodri Jackson, senior LB Kevin Meitzenheimer, senior WR Deven Thompkins, junior OL Wyatt Bowles, junior DT Hale Motu'apuaka and junior QB Andrew Peasley.
• Nathan has eight receptions for 81 yards and one touchdown, to go along with one rush for 10 yards. Scarver has three receptions for 31 yards and three kickoff returns for 82 yards. Terrell has one reception for 18 yards. Peasley is 3-of-8 passing for 19 yards, to go along with four rushes for 67 yards. Meitzenheimer has four tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss. And, Coles has one kickoff for 35 yards. 
 
PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND SAN JOSÉ STATE
• The following are connections between Utah State and San José State players. USU graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua and SJSU junior LB Jordan Cobbs both attended San Leandro (California) HS. USU graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. and SJSU junior LB Matthew Tago both began their collegiate careers at Oregon State. USU junior CB Michael Anyanwu, SJSU junior WR Jermaine Braddock and SJSU junior WR Isaiah Hamilton all attended Charter Oak HS in Covina, California. USU junior DT Aurion Peoples and SJSU senior CB Bobby Brown II both attended College of the Canyons JC in Santa Clarita, California. USU freshman OL Elia Migao, USU freshman DE Enoka Migao, SJSU senior OL Kyle Hoppe and SJSU junior DL Marcus Wilson all attended Chaparral HS in Temecula, California.  
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State team and individual statistical performances against San José State over the years.
• Utah State set a school record with 804 yards of total offense, which are the third-most in Mountain West history, in its 2018 meeting against San José State. USU also had 510 passing yards in that game, which are the third-most in school history.  
• Utah State recorded its 18th-largest margin of victory in school history with a 61-10 road win at San José State in 2017. That 51-point victory is the third-largest road win in school history.
• Utah State set single-game school records as nine Aggies recorded 13.0 sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss at San José State in 2012. 
• Utah State held San José State to negative 15 rushing yards in 1985 and four rushing yards in 2012, which ranks as the sixth- and 16th-fewest in school history. 
• Utah State passed for 412 yards against San José State in 1988 and 384 yards in 1987, which ranks as the 13th- and 24th-most in school history. 
• Utah State rushed for 381 yards against San José State in 2009, which is the 18th-most in school history. 
• Jordan Love completed an 88-yard pass to Darwin Thompson against San José State in 2018, which is the sixth-longest pass play in school history.
• Danilo Robinson set the school record with 5.0 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss against San José State in 1995. 
• Louie Aguiar set the school record with an 85-yard punt against San José State in 1988, while Guy McClure had a 73-yard punt against the Spartans in 1978, which is the ninth-longest in school history. 
• Dene Garner made a 58-yard field goal against San José State in 1985, which is the second-longest in school history. Garner also attempted and made five field goals against SJSU in 1985 to set the school record at the time in both categories.  
• Brent Snyder passed for 412 yards against San José State in 1998 and 384 yards in 1987, which ranks as the 11th- and 21st-most in school history, respectively. 
• Bob Gagliano passed for 366 yards against San José State in 1980 and Eric Hipple passed for 364 yards against the Spartans in 1979, which ranks as the 27th- and 28th-most in school history. 
• Kendal Smith had 208 receiving yards against San José State in 1998, which is the 13th-most in school history. 
• Kevin Robinson had an 87-yard punt return against San José State in 2005, which is the fourth-longest in school history.  
• Kerwynn Williams had an 86-yard run against San José State in 2012, which is tied for the eighth-longest in school history.
• Dominik Eberle set a then-school record with 19 points scored by a kicker at San José State in 2017, as he was 4-of-4 on field goal attempts and 7-for-7 on extra points. His 52-yard field goal was also a career long and tied for the 10th-longest in school history.
 
LAST MEETING vs. SAN JOSÉ STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Sophomore QB Jordan Love passed for a career-high 491 yards and a school-record-tying five touchdowns in three quarters of work as No. 14 Utah State (9-1, 6-0 MW) cruised to a 62-24 Senior Day victory against San José State (1-9, 1-5 MW) on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
The Aggies have won nine straight and remain in first place in the conference's Mountain Division. Utah State's nine-game winning streak is tied with the 1960 team for the longest in school history. 
 
Love completed 32-of-42 passes, helping the Aggies rack up a school-record 804 yards of total offense, the third-most by any team in the nation this year, the third-most in Mountain West history, and just the 17th time ever in college football. The native of Bakersfield, Calif., threw touchdown passes of 42, 24, 7, 37 and 88 yards, respectively, while his 32 completions are tied for the second-most in a game in school history. 
 
Utah State finished with 510 yards passing, the second-most by the Aggies this season and third-most in school history, to go along with 294 yards rushing. San José State posted 400 yards of total offense, including 344 passing. 
 
Love's 88-yard touchdown pass to junior RB Darwin Thompson with 4:33 left in the third quarter was the sixth-longest pass play in school history. The score gave Utah State a 59-17 lead. 
 
Thompson became the first Aggie since Kerwynn Williams in 2012 to have both a 100-yard rushing and 100-yard receiving day. Thompson rushed for 140 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries (9.3 ypc) for his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season, to go along with a career-high 115 yards receiving and a career-best two receiving touchdowns on a career-high four receptions, against the Spartans. Thompson's 255 all-purpose yards are the most by an Aggie since Hunter Sharp had 227 against Air Force in 2014. 
 
San José State opened the game's scoring when Tre Jenkins returned a punt 49 yards for a touchdown, giving the Spartans a 7-0 lead with 11:09 left in the first quarter. 
 
Utah State answered right back on the ensuing possession as Love threw his first touchdown pass of the day, a 42-yarder to sophomore WR Jordan Nathan. The Aggies added a 26-yard field goal from junior PK Dominik Eberle on their next series to take the lead for good, 10-7, with 5:24 to go in the first. 
 
The Aggies took control of the game in the second quarter as they scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions. Junior RB Gerold Bright had two of those scores on a 24-yard pass from Love and a 29-yard run. Love scored on a 1-yard run and Thompson put an exclamation point on the quarter with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Love, helping Utah State open a 38-10 lead at the break. 
 
Thompson opened the second half by scoring on a 59-yard run just 31 seconds into the quarter. Love threw two more touchdown passes in the third, a 37-yard strike to senior WR Jalen Greene and the 88-yarder to Thompson. 
 
Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver had eight receptions for 74 yards and was one of 12 Aggies to catch a pass on the day. 
 
Sophomore LB David Woodward led the Aggies with seven tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss. Utah State forced three turnovers on the afternoon as sophomore DE Logan Lee recovered a fumble that was forced by sophomore S Baron Gajkowski, while junior LB Tipa Galeai and senior CB Deante Fortenberry each had an interception. 
 
LAST ROAD MEETING vs. SAN JOSÉ STATE
SAN JOSE, California - Senior QB Kent Myers accounted for 265 yards of total offense and a career-high-tying four touchdowns as Utah State opened Mountain West play with a dominating 61-10 win over San José State on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at CEFCU Stadium. 
 
With the victory, the Aggies (2-2, 1-0 Mountain West) extended their winning streak to seven over the Spartans (1-4, 0-1 MW), including four in a row on the road. 
 
Myers completed 18-of-24 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with 84 rushing yards and two more scores. He scored on a career-long 68-yard run in the third quarter to give the Aggies their largest lead of the game, 55-0. 
 
Thirteen different Aggies caught a pass in the game, led by junior WR Ron'quavion Tarver, who had five receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt freshman WR Jordan Nathan also caught five passes for 34 yards. Senior WR Braelon Roberts and sophomore WR Gerold Bright were on the receiving end of Myers' touchdown passes. Roberts hauled in a 19-yarder, while Bright went for 43 yards on a fourth-and-3 play. 
 
Junior RB Eltoro Allen led Utah State's ground game with 89 yards and 18 carries. As a team, the Aggies finished with 318 yards on 57 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per rush. Senior RB LaJuan Hunt added 63 yards on 10 carries, including a 29-yard touchdown run to open the game's scoring with 9:26 to go in the first quarter. 
 
Utah State racked up 589 yards of total offense, including 307 in the first half alone, on an eye-popping 98 plays. The Aggies led 38-0 at intermission. 
 
Even the defense got into the scoring act as senior CB Jalen Davis sacked Josh Love, causing the Spartans' quarterback to fumble. Freshman LB Maika Magalei scooped up the ball and returned it 38 yards, making it 28-0 for the Aggies with 10:26 left in the second. 
 
On the ensuing kickoff, SJSU fumbled a pooch kick by Utah State sophomore PK Dominik Eberle and Tarver recovered it at the Spartans' 28-yard line. Eight plays later, the Aggies were in the end zone again as redshirt freshman QB Jordan Love threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Tarver, giving the visitors a 35-0 lead. 
 
Another special teams play set up Utah State's final score of the half as junior LB Louy Compton blocked a punt, which junior QB DJ Nelson recovered. A week ago at Wake Forest, Nelson blocked a punt of his own. 
 
The Aggies cashed in on the block as Eberle connected on a 23-yard field goal. Later in the third quarter, Eberle drilled a career-long 52-yarder that gave USU a 48-0 lead. 
 
Eberle was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals as he made good on a 20- and 27-yarder in the fourth quarter. His 19 points set a school record for points in a game by a kicker. 
 
Defensively, the Aggies limited the Spartans to just 162 yards of total offense on 59 plays. All 10 of San José State's points came courtesy of two Aggie turnovers, including a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jermaine Kelly in the third quarter. 
 
Junior LB Chase Christiansen led Utah State with eight tackles, to go along with a forced fumble. Redshirt freshman S Baron Gajkowski had three tackles, including 1.0 sacks, to go along with one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception. 
 
Sophomore DE Jacoby Wildman finished with five tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks, and a fumble recovery. The Aggies forced five turnovers in the game, the most since the eight they had against Boise State during the 2015 season. 
 
GAME 9 RECAP vs. NEW MEXICO STATE
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico - Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner passed for 359 yards and a career-high-tying four touchdowns and senior WR Deven Thompkins caught nine passes for a career-best 215 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns as Utah State (7-2) pulled away in the second half for a 35-13 non-conference win at New Mexico State (1-8) on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. 
Bonner was 23-of-32 passing with one interception, helping Utah State score 28 unanswered points – all in the second half – and finish with 457 yards of total offense. It is the 26th time in school history that the Aggies have won seven games in a season. 
 
At 7-2 through the first nine games, it is the third-best start by the Aggies in the last 43 years, trailing only the 2012 and 2018 teams that both went 11-2. 
Utah State improved to 4-0 on the road this season, rallying from double-digit deficits in each of those contests. It is the first time the Aggies have won their first four road games to start a season since 1973. 
 
Bonner threw touchdown passes of 26 and 54 yards, respectively, to Thompkins, as well as a 4-yarder to senior WR Derek Wright and a 1-yarder to junior WR Justin McGriff. Bonner has thrown 21 touchdown passes on the year, the fourth-most in single-season school history. 
 
Thompkins' 215 yards are tied for the ninth-most in school history. It marked the fifth-straight game he has gone over the century mark in receiving yards as the native of Fort Myers, Florida, now has 2,129 yards receiving in his career – just the 11th player in USU history to accomplish that feat. 
 
Thompkins also returned two kickoffs for 27 yards, giving him a career-high 242 all-purpose yards against New Mexico State. 
 
Sophomore RB Elelyon Noa led Utah State on the ground with 57 yards on 16 carries. His 4-yard touchdown run with 5:08 to go in the third quarter gave the Aggies a 28-13 lead. 
 
Jonah Johnson was 30-of-44 passing for 298 yards, to go along with 10 yards rushing on 23 carries, for New Mexico State. His favorite target on the day was Cole Harrity, who caught nine passes for 83 yards. The hosts finished with 347 yards of offense. 
 
Defensively, Utah State had season highs in tackles for loss (14.0) and sacks (7.0). Graduate senior DT Marcus Moore recorded a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss, while junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. tallied a career-high 1.5 sacks. Graduate senior S Shaq Bond led USU with nine tackles, including his first-career sack, to go along with a career-high-tying two pass breakups. Graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds added eight stops. 
 
Despite being heavy favorites, the Aggies trailed the entire first half and were down 13-7 at the break. It marked the first time USU trailed since the UNLV game on Oct. 16. 
 
The lone touchdown in the first half for Utah State came via the 22-yard pass from Bonner to Thompkins, cutting the deficit to 10-7 with 10:06 left until the break. 
 
NMSU took a 7-0 lead on an 11-yard touchdown run by Juwaun Price with 4:46 to go in the first quarter, then tacked on a 45-yard field goal by Ethan Albertson less than four minutes later. Albertson also had a 35-yard field goal in the second quarter and had a 25-yarder blocked by USU graduate senior ILB Justin Rice early in the game. 
 
Utah State has now won five of the last six against NMSU, including two in a row, and leads the overall series 32-8. 
 
UTAH STATE WINS AGAIN DESPITE EARLY DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFICIT 
• For the fifth time this year, including the fourth time on the road, Utah State rallied from a double-digit deficit as it trailed New Mexico State 10-0 in the first quarter before storming back for the 35-13 win. In fact, it is the first time in school history that USU has won five games that it trailed by double digits. Additionally, USU overcame a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit in each of its first two road wins this season. 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS DURING UTAH STATE'S SEVEN WINS
• Utah State has trailed after the first quarter in six of its nine games, trailed at the half in seven of its nine games, and trailed after the third quarter in five of its nine games this year.
• Utah State has trailed by double digits in five of its seven 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 78-41 in the first quarter and 199-198 during the first three quarters this season, but has outscored its opponents 88-46 in the fourth quarter, which includes a 78-26 advantage in its seven wins. 
 
UTAH STATE ALLOWS SEASON-LOW 13 POINTS IN NEW MEXICO STATE WIN 
• Utah State's defense allowed a season-low in points in its 35-13 non-conference road win at New Mexico State last weekend. In fact, it is the fewest points allowed by USU since posting a 36-10 Mountain West home win against Nevada on Oct. 19, 2019. USU also limited NMSU to just 347 yards of total offense, including just 49 yards rushing, both of which are the second-fewest allowed by USU this season.
 
UTAH STATE POSTS SEASON HIGHS IN SACKS AND TACKLES FOR LOSS AGAIN 
• For the second-straight game, Utah State's defense posted season highs in sacks and tackles for loss as the Aggies had 7.0 sacks and 14.0 tackles for loss against New Mexico State. In its previous game against Hawai'i, USU had then-season highs of 5.0 sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss. In its last two games, USU is averaging 6.0 sacks and 13.0 tackles for loss.
 
UTAH STATE'S RUN DEFENSE MUCH BETTER IN ITS LAST TWO GAMES
• After allowing an average 204.1 rushing yards per game, including 5.4 rushing yards per attempt during its first seven games this year, Utah State's run defense has been very good in its last two games as it limited New Mexico State to 49 rushing yards on 35 attempts, for an average of 1.4 yards per carry, and held Hawai'i to just 12 rushing yards on 22 carries, for an average of 0.5 yards per carry. NMSU entered the game averaging 105.4 rushing yards per game and 3.4 rushing yards per attempt, while the Rainbow Warriors entered the game averaging 175.9 rushing yards per game and 5.1 rushing yards per attempt.
• In its last two games, Utah State's defense has allowed just 61 rushing yards on 57 carries, for an average of 1.1 yards per carry.
 
AGGIE DEFENSE ALLOW LESS THAN 400 YARDS IN CONSECUTIVE GAMES
• After allowing four of its first five opponents to record over 430 yards of total offense, Utah State's defense has held three of its last four opponents to less than 400 total yards, including in back-to-back games. Two weekends ago, USU held Hawai'i to just 360 yards of total offense, which was tied for the second-fewest allowed by USU this season at the time. And this past weekend, USU limited New Mexico State to just 347 yards of total offense, which is the second-fewest allowed by USU this season.
 
UTAH STATE DOES NOT FORCE A TURNOVER AGAINST NEW MEXICO STATE
• For just the second time this season, Utah State's defense did not record a turnover in a game, despite forcing two fumbles against New Mexico State.
 
AGGIES UNDEFEATED WHEN THEY WIN THE COIN TOSS
• Utah State is 5-0 on the season when it wins the coin toss and 2-2 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 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 59 of its last 64 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 4-0 record this season. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has come out of halftime on fire as it has scored 21 third -quarter points in each of its last two games, including scoring touchdowns on its first drive of the second half in each of those games. During its last two games, USU's offense has had eight possessions and has scored six touchdowns to go along with a field goal and fumble.
 
THOMPKINS NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAIN 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has been named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season and in his career following his performance against New Mexico State last weekend as he caught nine passes for a career-best 215 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns from 26 and 54 yards. In all, five of Thompkins nine catches were for at least 20 yards (21, 22, 26, 51, 54). 
• 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.
 
THOMPKINS LEADS THE NATION IN RECEIVING AND ALL-PURPOSE YARDS 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins currently leads the nation in both receiving yards (1,314) and all-purpose yards (1,558). Thompkins is averaging 146.0 receiving yards and 173.1 all-purpose yards per game, as he has 216 kickoff return yards and 28 rushing yards, to go along with his 1,314 receiving yards.
• Thompkins is also 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 is tied with Jerreth Sterns (Western Kentucky) for the most 100-yard receiving games in the nation this season with seven.
 
THOMPKINS LEADS THE NATION WITH FIVE-STRAIGHT 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins is the only player in the nation that has had 100 yards receiving in each of his last five games. Thompkins' five-straight 100-yard receiving games are the most by an Aggie since Nakia Jenkins accomplished the feat in 1996. The school record for consecutive 100-yard receiving games is six set by Kevin Curtis during the 2001 season.
 
THOMPKINS NOTCHES SEVENTH 100-YARD RECEIVING GAME OF SEASON 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins recorded the seventh 100-yard receiving game of the season and his career in his last outing against New Mexico State as he had nine catches for a career-high 215 yards. Thompkins' seven 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 also had seven 100-yard receiving games in 1988. The school record for 100-yard receiving games in a career is 16 set by Curtis (2001-02).
 
THOMPKINS RANKS 10TH ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN RECEIVING YARDS 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 141 passes for 2,129 yards in his career and ranks 10th 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 72 passes for 1,314 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 fourth all-time in school history with his 1,314 receiving yards, while his 72 receptions are the seventh-most. 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' 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.
 
UTAH STATE TIED FOR THIRD-MOST 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State has already had nine 100-yard receiving games by players this year, which is tied for the third-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, and the 1988 and 2002 teams with nine each. 
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has led Utah State in receptions in all nine games this season, which includes tying for the team lead in two games. Thompkins has also led the team in receiving yards eight times, and has caught at least one touchdown pass in six games this season.
 
BONNER THROWS FOUR TOUCHDOWNS IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES 
• Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner has thrown a career-high-tying four touchdowns in each of his last two games. Against New Mexico State, Bonner was 23-of-32 passing for 359 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Against Hawai'i, Bonner was 21-of-30 passing for 361 yards with four touchdowns. For Bonner, it is the third time at USU and the sixth time in his career he has thrown four touchdowns. Overall, Bonner now has five career 300-yard passing game, including three at USU. It is also the first time in his career that Bonner has had back-to-back 300-yard passing games and back-to-back games with four touchdown passes.
• In his last two games, Bonner is 44-of-62 (.710) passing for 720 yards and eight touchdowns with just one interception. In fact, Bonner has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of his last five games as he has totals of 14 touchdowns and four interceptions over that stretch.
• Bonner is one of just three quarterbacks in school history to throw at least four touchdowns in back-to-back games along with Jordan Love (2018) and Chuckie Keeton (2012). No Aggie has ever thrown at least four touchdown passes in three-straight games.
 
BONNER IN THE SINGLE SEASON RECORD BOOKS 
• Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner is 173-of-281 (.616) passing for 2,486 yards with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions on the season and he currently ranks fourth in the USU single-season record books in touchdown passes and seventh in completion percentage.
 
OTHER OFFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM NEW MEXICO STATE GAME
• Senior WR Derek Wright had a 4-yard touchdown reception to give him six touchdowns on the season and eight in his career. Junior WR Justin McGriff caught a 1-yard touchdown pass for his fourth touchdown of the season and the sixth of his career. Sophomore RB Elelyon Noa scored his third rushing touchdown of the season and his career on a 4-yard run. Noa also had a career-high 18 receiving yards on a career-long 18-yard reception.
 
NOA POSTS FIRST-CAREER 100-YARD RUSHING GAME AGAINST HAWAI'I
• 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.
 
MOORE HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST NEW MEXICO STATE 
• Graduate senior DT Marcus Moore had a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss and four tackles against New Mexico State. Moore now has 7.0 tackles for loss this year and 15.0 tackles for loss in his career.
 
BOND PLAYS WELL AGAINST NEW MEXICO STATE 
• Graduate senior S Shaq Bond had a team-high nine tackles, which included his first-career sack,  to go along with a career-high-tying two pass breakups last weekend against New Mexico State. Bond now has 14.0 tackles for loss and 16 pass breakups in his career.
 
RICE BLOCKS FIRST-CAREER KICK AGAINST NEW MEXICO STATE 
• Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice had seven tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, to go along with his first-career block on a 25-yard field goal attempt. Rice now has a team-best 10.5 tackles for loss this season and 39.0 tackles for loss in his career.  
 
OTHER DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM NEW MEXICO STATE GAME 
• Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger had 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss to give him 4.0 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss on the season, and 13.0 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss in his career. Heninger also forced his third fumble of the season and the sixth of his career. Junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. had a career-high 1.5 sacks to give him 3.5 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss on the season, and 3.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in his career. Junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh had a career-high-tying 1.0 sacks to give him 1.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss on the season, and 4.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss in his career. Junior CB Michael Anyanwu had 1.0 tackles for loss, the first of his career. Sophomore DT Poukesi Vakauta had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 3.0 tackles for loss on the season and 3.5 tackles for loss in his career. Vakauta also forced his first-career fumble. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson tied his career high with 1.0 sacks to give him 1.0 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss on the season, and 2.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss in his career. Grayson also had his third pass breakup of the season and the 11th of his career.  Junior DT Hale Motu'apuaka had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 4.5 tackles for loss this season and in his career. Junior DE Byron Vaughns had 1.0 sacks to give him 3.0 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss this season and in his career. Senior CB Zahodri Jackson had his second pass breakup of the season and the fifth of his career. Graduate senior DE Jaylin Bannerman had his first pass breakup of the season and the second of his career.   
 
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 2,711 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 tied for second all-time in MW history with 96 career kickoff returns trailing Purivs, who holds the record with 112 returns, and tied with New Mexico's Carlos Wiggins.
• 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 96 kickoffs for 2,711 yards (28.2 ypr) and is tied for 14th all-time in FBS history in kickoff return average and 38th 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 each of his last seven field goals in his last three 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.
 
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. 
 
AGGIES RALLY FROM DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFICITS FOR FIVE WINS
• Utah State has rallied from double-digit deficits to win five of its seven 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 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.  
 
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 23 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.
 
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.
 
UTAH STATE 13TH IN THE NATION IN TOTAL OFFENSE
• Utah State is averaging 473.3 yards per game to lead the Mountain West and rank 13th in the nation. USU also ranks second in the MW and 28th in the nation in passing efficiency (152.2), third in the MW and 12th in the nation in passing offense (321.0 ypg), third in the MW and 40th in the nation in scoring offense (31.8 ppg), fourth in the MW and 71st in the nation in completion percentage (.605), fifth in the MW and 76th in the nation in rushing offense (152.3 ypg), and seventh in the MW and 68th in the nation in sacks allowed with 20 (2.22 pg).   
• Utah State's offense also ranks first in the MW and 23rd in the nation in third down conversions at 46.0 percent (69-of-150), second in the MW and 12th in the nation in passing yards per completion (14.52), second in the MW and 17th in the nation in first downs (24.6 pg), third in the MW and 52nd in the nation in fourth down conversions at 56.5 percent (13-of-23), and fourth in the MW and 36th in the nation in fumbles lost with four (0.44 pg).
 
UTAH STATE THIRD IN THE NATION IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is averaging 7.7 tackles for loss per game to lead the Mountain West and rank third in the nation. USU also ranks eighth in the MW and 54th in the nation in sacks with 21 (2.33 pg), 10th in the MW and 73rd in the nation in scoring defense (27.2 ppg), 10th in the MW and 87th in the nation in rushing defense (165.7 ypg), 10th in the MW in total defense (425.3 ypg), 10th in the MW in passing defense (259.7 ypg), and 11th in the MW and 69th in the nation in pass efficiency defense (133.1).  
• Utah State's defense also ranks second in the MW and 11th in the nation in fourth down conversions at 30.0 percent (3-of-10), and fourth in the MW and 43rd in the nation with one blocked kick.   
 
UTAH STATE 23RD IN THE NATION IN KICKOFF RETURNS
• Utah State ranks second in the Mountain West and 23rd in the nation in kickoff returns (25.2 ypr), third in the MW and 39th in the nation in punt return defense (5.3 ypr), fourth in the MW and 23rd in the nation in net punting (41.8 ypp), fifth in the MW and 46th in the nation in kickoff return defense (19.4 ypr), and fifth in the MW and 48th 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 fifth in the Mountain West and 34th in the nation with nine passes intercepted (1.0 pg). USU has forced three-or-more turnovers in 27 of its last 91 games and has scored 25 defensive touchdowns in its last 100 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 (146.0 ypg) and all-purpose yards (173.1 ypg), is second in the MW and sixth in the nation in receptions (8.0 pg), second in the MW and 11th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with eight (0.89 pg), and third in the MW and 31st in the nation in yards per reception (18.3). Senior WR Savon Scarver leads the MW and is seventh in the nation in kickoff returns for touchdown with one (0.11 pg), and is second in the MW and 16th in the nation in kickoff returns (26.3 ypr). Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling leads the MW and is seventh in the nation in kickoff returns for touchdown with one (0.11 pg), and is ninth in the MW and 97th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with four (0.44 pg). Sophomore DT Poukesi Vakauta leads the MW and is eighth in the nation in fumbles recovered with two (0.22 pg). Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner leads the MW and is 15th in the nation in yards per completion (14.4), leads the MW and is 23rd in the nation in yards per attempt (8.82), leads the MW and is 33rd in the nation in passing efficiency (153.6), is third in the MW and 13th in the nation in passing touchdowns with 21 (2.33 pg), third in the MW and 15th in the nation in passing (276.2 ypg), third in the MW and 23rd in the nation in total offense (278.6 ypg), third in the MW and 30th in the nation in points responsible for (14.2 pg), fourth in the MW and 37th in the nation in completions (19.2 pg), and fifth in the MW and 71st in the nation in completion percentage (.613). Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger is second in the MW and 14th in the nation in fumbles forced with three (0.33 pg), and seventh in the MW in tackles for loss (1.1 pg). Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice is third in the MW and 20th in the nation with three interceptions (0.33 pg), fourth in the MW in tackles for loss (1.2 pg), and fifth in the MW and 38th in the nation in tackles (8.6 pg). Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is fourth in the MW and ninth in the nation in field goals made per game (1.67), fourth in the MW and 34th in the nation in scoring (8.4 ppg), fifth in the MW and 55th in the nation in field goal percentage (75.0), and ninth in the MW in points responsible for (8.4 pg). Senior WR Derek Wright is fifth in the MW and 34th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with six (0.67 pg), and eighth in the MW and 71st in the nation in yards per reception (16.2). Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is fifth in the MW and 85th in the nation in rushing yards per carry (5.0 ypc), and seventh in the MW and 71st in the nation in rushing yards (73.7 ypg). Junior WR Justin McGriff is fifth in the MW and 34th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with six (0.67 pg). Graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan is fifth in the MW in punt returns (9.8 ypr). Sophomore P Stephen Kotsanlee is sixth in the MW in punting (43.5 ypp). And, junior CB Michael Anyanwu is ninth in the MW in fumbles forced with two (0.22 pg).   
 
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 58-39 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.