AGGIES HOST BRONCOS IN MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY SATURDAY MORNING 
Game will be televised live on CBS on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 10 a.m. 
 
BOISE STATE (1-2, 0-0 MW) vs. UTAH STATE (3-0, 1-0 MW)
Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 • 10 a.m. • Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)
 
GAME 4 INFORMATION
TV: CBS
• Play-by-Play: Rich Waltz
• Analyst: Aaron Taylor
• Reporter: Sherree Burress
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 2/654HD
• DISH: Ch. 4
• DirecTV: Ch. 221
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard
• Analyst: Kevin White
• National: XM 387 / SXM App 977
• Online: 1280thezone.com / Tunein.com
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com
 
AGGIE RADIO NETWORK
• Every Utah State football game can be heard live on the Aggie Radio Network. Scott Garrard serves as the play-by-play announcer, while former USU quarterback Kevin White (1988-89) will provide color analysis. Games can also be heard on the Internet (www.UtahStateAggies.com) by clicking on the 'Listen Live' link, as well as on the TuneIn App.
• Salt Lake City: KZNS (1280 AM/97.5 FM)
• Logan: KBLU-LP (92.3 FM)
• Green River: KRPX (102.7 FM)
• Moab: KRPX (100.3 FM)
• Montpelier, Idaho: KZNS (1450 AM/101.7 FM)
• Orangeville: KRPX (95.9 FM)
• Price: KRPX (95.3 FM)
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State is 3-0 to start a season for the first time in 43 years when the 1978 team won its first five games. Overall, it is just the 19th time in school history that USU has started a season 3-0.
 
• Utah State received two votes in this week's Coaches' Poll to rank tied for 48th in the nation. It is the first time USU has received votes in either poll since September, 2019.
 
• Blake Anderson is just the third head coach in school history, and first since E. Lowell Romney in 1919, to win his first three games at Utah State. Furthermore, Anderson is one of 19 FBS head coaches in their first year at the their current school, and he is one of only two head coaches, along with South Alabama's Kane Wommack, to start the season 3-0.   
 
• Utah State is 38-26 (.594) all-time in the Mountain West, including a 21-11 (.656) home record, and has won 49 of its last 74 (.662) league games dating back to 2011. Overall, USU is 17-9 (.654) in its last 26 MW games and 22-13 (.629) in its last 35 games against all opponents.
 
• Utah State (38-26) has the third-best record against Mountain West opponents (including championship games) since USU joined the league in 2013. Boise State (54-12) has the best record during that time, while San Diego State (46-18) has the second-best record. 
 
• Utah State ranks among the top 50 teams in the nation in 19 statistical categories, including being one of 34 teams yet to lose a game. USU also ranks third in the nation in total offense (563.3 ypg), eighth in the nation in passing offense (357.0 ypg), 15th in sacks allowed (1.0 pg), 22nd in scoring offense (41.0 ppg) and 30th in rushing offense (206.3 ypg). Individually, senior WR Deven Thompkins leads the nation in receiving yards (151.3 ypg), is fifth in the nation in receptions (8.3 pg), eighth in the nation in all-purpose yards (158.7 ypg) and 16th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with three (1.0 pg). Additionally, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice is tied for first in the nation with three interceptions (1.0 pg) and 14th in the nation in tackles (10.0 pg). 
 
UTAH STATE HOSTS MOUNTAIN WEST-FOE BOISE STATE ON CBS
• Utah State (3-0, 1-0 MW) continues Mountain West play this week as it hosts Boise State (1-2, 0-0 MW) on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 10 a.m. The game will be nationally televised on CBS (Xfinity Ch. 2/654 HD, DISH Ch. 4, DirecTV Ch. 221) with Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst) and Sherree Burress (reporter) on the call. 
 
• Utah State will be playing a home game on the CBS mother station for the first time in school history and for the first time since the 2013 Mountain West Championship game at Fresno State.
 
• Utah State's 10 a.m. (MT) kickoff is the earliest home game in school history and the earliest start time for an Aggie football game since it played at LSU at 10 a.m. (MT) in 2019.
 
UTAH STATE INSIDE MAVERIK STADIUM
• Utah State has won 41 of its last 55 home games and is 153-110 all-time inside Maverik Stadium. USU has also won nine of its last 13 Mountain West games at home. 
 
AGGIES IN SEPTEMBER
• Utah State has won 11 straight games during the month of September, including seven straight at home, and is 12-1 in its last 13 games during the month. USU is also 5-4 all-time in games played on Sept. 25.
 
LOOKING AT UTAH STATE IN 2021
• Utah State is 3-0 on the season following its 49-45 Mountain West win at Air Force last weekend. USU is led by graduate junior QB Logan Bonner, who is 59-of-91 (.648) passing for 786 yards (262.0 ypg) with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. has rushed for 288 yards on 47 carries (6.1 ypc/96.0 ypg) with four touchdowns. And, senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 25 passes for 454 yards (18.2 ypr/151.3 ypg) and three touchdowns. Defensively, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice has 30 tackles, which includes 4.0 tackles for loss, to go along with three interceptions and one forced fumble. As a team, USU is averaging 41.0 points and 563.3 yards of total offense (206.3 rushing, 357.0 passing), and allowing 30.1 points and 472.7 yards of total offense (217.0 rushing, 255.7 passing).
 
AGGIES RALLY FROM THREE-STRAIGHT DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFICITS
• Utah State has rallied from double-digit deficits to win each of its first three games this season, marking the first time in school history that has happened. In fact, USU has overcome a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit in each of its two road wins this season. 
 
• In its 49-45 road win at Air Force this past weekend, 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. 
 
• The last time USU won back-to-back games where it trailed by double digits prior to this season was in 2011.
 
UTAH STATE DOMINATING THE FOURTH QUARTER 
• Through its first three games this year, Utah State has dominated the fourth quarter as it has outscored its three opponents 51-10 in the final 15 minutes of games. USU began the year by outscoring Washington State 15-3 in the fourth quarter, then outscored North Dakota 21-0 in the fourth quarter, before outscoring Air Force 15-7 in the final 15 minutes of play.
 
UTAH STATE HAVING SUCCESS ON FOURTH DOWN 
• Utah State has been very aggressive in its play calling this season and has converted 8-of-11 fourth downs (.727). Ironically, USU has gone on to score points in each of those eight drives it converted a fourth down on, with six touchdowns and two field goals.
 
UTAH STATE OFFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM AIR FORCE GAME 
•  Utah State had a season-high 628 yards of total offense, which are the 12th-most in school history, and the most since the 2018 season in its 49-45 Mountain West road win at Air Force last weekend. USU has now produced over 600 yards of total offense in back-to-back games for the first time since the 2018 season. USU also had a season-high 448 passing yards, which are the sixth-most in school history, and the most since 2018. 
 
UTAH STATE'S OFFENSE IS ROLLING IN ITS LAST TWO GAMES 
•  During its last two games, Utah State is averaging 48.5 points and 624.5 yards of offense (426 passing, 198.5 rushing) as it is averaging 82 plays and 7.62 yards per play. Furthermore, USU is 18-of-37 (.486) on third down and 6-of-9 (667) on fourth down in its last two games.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• In its win at Air Force last weekend, Utah State had four scoring plays and seven total plays of 20-plus yards, while the Falcons had four scoring plays and 10 total plays of 20-plus yards.
 
SCOUTING BOISE STATE
• Boise State is 1-2 on the season following its 21-20 home loss to Oklahoma State last weekend. The Broncos are led by junior QB Hank Bachmeier, who is 64-of-97 (.660) passing for 845 yards (281.7 ypg) with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Senior RB Cyrus Habibi-Likio leads the team in rushing with 61 yards on 23 carries (2.7 ypc/20.3 ypg) with one touchdown, and senior WR Khalil Shakir has 20 receptions for 335 yards (16.8 ypr/111.7 ypg) with two touchdowns. Defensively, junior S JL Skinner has a team-best 32 tackles, which includes 2.5 tackles for loss, to go along with two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. As a team, Boise State is averaging 35.0 points and 349.0 yards of total offense per game (281.7 passing, 67.3 rushing) and allowing 23.3 points and 412.3 yards of total offense (210.7 passing, 201.7 rushing). Andy Avalos is 1-2 in his first season as a collegiate head coach.
 
AGGIES AND BRONCOS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State trails in the all-time series against Boise State, 20-5, which includes a 3-9 home record. The first game played in the series was on Oct. 15, 1975, in Boise, with USU winning, 42-19. Boise State won 12 straight games in the series, including five straight in Logan, before USU posted a 52-26 home win in 2015. Boise State has since won each of the last five games, including a 42-13 win in Boise last year and a 56-21 win in Logan in 2019. This year's meeting will mark the second straight year and fifth time (2005, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2021) in the past 14 meetings, that the Broncos are not nationally ranked.
 
UTAH STATE AND BOISE STATE AS CONFERENCE FOES
• Utah State and Boise State have spent 20 years as league foes, including nine seasons in the Mountain West as Boise State joined the league in 2011 and Utah State joined in 2013. Both schools were also members of the Big West Conference from 1996 to 2000 and members of the Western Athletic Conference from 2005 to 2010.
 
AGGIES vs. BRONCOS SERIES 14TH-LONGEST IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and Boise State will be meeting for the 26th time in series history this weekend in what is the 14th-most played rivalry in school history.
 
COACHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BOISE STATE
• Boise State assistant head coach and defensive line coach Frank Maile spent 10 years at Utah State as an assistant and had a 2-2 record as interim head coach in 2018 and 2020. Overall, Maile was the co-defensive coordinator at USU from 2016-18 and in 2020. Maile was also a four-year letterwinner for the Aggies (2004-07) as a defensive lineman. BSU special teams coordinator and edge coach Stacy Collins spent five years at USU as an assistant, including serving as special teams coordinator in 2016 and 2019, and co-defensive coordinator in 2020. 
 
• Tony Knap was head coach for both Utah State and Boise State, compiling a 25-14-1 (.637) record at USU from 1963-66. In 1968, he succeeded Lyle Smith at BSU and led the Broncos to a 71-19-1 (.788) record in eight years, including three 10-win seasons.
 
PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BOISE STATE
• The following are connections between Utah State and Boise State players. USU graduate senior DE Nick Heninger and graduate senior RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole both began their collegiate careers at Utah, as did BSU junior DT Jackson Cravens. USU junior OL Quazzel White and BSU freshman S Jaylen Clark both attended Lincoln HS in Tacoma, Washington. USU sophomore ILB Kaleo Neves and sophomore WR Kyle Van Leeuwen both attended Timpview HS in Provo, Utah, as did BSU's Cravens. USU sophomore QB Garrett Larson and freshman TE Jackson Rigby both attended Davis HS in Kaysville, Utah, as did BSU freshman K/P Will Ferrin. USU sophomore LS Jesse Vasquez and BSU junior OL Dallas Holliday both attended Oaks Christian HS in Westlake Village, California. USU sophomore RB Elelyon Noa and BSU junior LB Ezekiel Noa both attended Helix HS in La Mesa, California. USU sophomore WR Quinton Hadnot and BSU senior OL Jake Stetz both attended Mission Hills HS in San Marcos, California. USU sophomore QB Josh Calvin and BSU freshman S Semaj Verner both attended Mayfair HS in Bellflower, California. Boise State senior CB Jared Reed spent two seasons at Utah State (2019-20).
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State's Blake Anderson and Boise State's Andy Avalos are the only first-year head coaches in the Mountain West. However, there are six coaches that are in their second year. 
 
• Utah State is 40-39-2 (.506) all-time against teams from the state of Idaho with a 20-17-2 record against Idaho, a 15-2 record against Idaho State and a 5-20 record against Boise State.
 
• Utah State has 37 players on its roster from the state of Utah, while Boise State has 16 players on its roster from the Gem State.
 
• Brothers will play each other as Utah State sophomore RB Elelyon Noa and Boise State junior LB Ezekiel Noa will face one another this weekend. 
 
• Boise State senior LB Riley Whimpey is the younger brother of former Utah State offensive linemen Kevin and Kyle Whimpey. Kyle was a two-year letterwinner (2012-13) for USU, while Kevin was a three-year letterwinner (2012-14) and earned first-team all-Mountain West honors in 2014. Following his collegiate career, Kevin signed an NFL free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
 
ON THIS DATE IN AGGIE FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Utah State posted a 13-0 road win at Arizona State on Sept. 25, 1965. Junior RB Roy Shivers scored both touchdowns for the Aggies on an 11-yard run in the third quarter and a 64-yard pass from junior QB Ron Edwards in the fourth quarter. Shivers rushed for 109 yards on 19 carries and added five receptions for 80 yards. Edwards was 11-of-21 passing for 113 yards. USU finished the game with 285 yards (113 rushing, 172 passing) of total offense as compared to 203 yards (43 rushing, 160 passing) for ASU. Sophomore DL Al Vermeil led the USU defense with six tackles and one interception. 
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BOISE STATE
• Boise State has scored at least 40 points in 12 of the last 16 meetings, and at least 50 points in seven of the last 16 meetings. USU has been held to less than 30 points in 13 of the last 14 meetings.
 
• Utah State has held Boise State to less than 400 yards of total offense in two of the last six meetings. Prior to that, BSU had over 400 yards of total offense in 12 of the previous 13 meetings, and over 500 yards of offense in four of the previous 13 meetings.
 
• Boise State has rushed for more yards in 10 of the previous 14 meetings, and passed for more yards in 11 of the last 14 meetings.
 
• The two teams have combined for just six turnovers in the last five meetings. Overall, Boise State has had fewer turnovers in nine of the previous 11 meetings, including zero in its last four games, and just one in its last five games against USU.
 
• Boise State has scored first in 13 of the last 14 games in the series, and has led at the half in 16 of the last 17 meetings.
 
• Boise State has converted at least seven third downs in nine of the last 14 meetings, and has recorded at least 20 first downs in 13 of the last 14 meetings.
 
• Boise State has had four 300-yard passers, five 100-yard receivers, and 11 100-yard rushers in the past 14 meetings, while Utah State has had one 100-yard rusher, one 300-yard passer and two
100-yard receivers in the last 14 meetings.
 
• In 25 previous meetings with Boise State, Utah State has had seven 100-yard rushers, eight 100-yard receivers and three 300-yard passers.
 
• There has only been one shutout in series history, a 52-0 Boise State home win in 2007.
 
• Boise State has been nationally ranked nine times in the last 14 meetings, with the exceptions being in 2005, 2013, 2017, 2020 and 2021.
 
• The 2018 matchup between No. 14 Utah State and No. 21 Boise State was the first Mountain West game with two nationally ranked Associated Press teams since 2010.
 
STATS FOR CURRENT AGGIES vs. BOISE STATE
• The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against Boise State in multiple games. Graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua has six knockdowns in four games. Graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan has 14 catches for 115 yards (8.2 ypc), including a long of 45 yards, and has returned five punts for 18 yards in four games. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson has five tackles in three games. Graduate senior DE Jaylin Bannerman has one tackle, including 1.0 tackles for loss, in two games. Graduate senior S Shaq Bond has nine tackles and one quarterback hurry in two games. Graduate senior OLB Cash Gilliam has nine tackles in two games. Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger has four tackles in two games. Senior ILB Kevin Meitzenheimer has 20 tackles, including 0.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss, in four games. Senior OL Alfred Edwards has one knockdown in three games. Senior CB Zahodri Jackson has seven tackles in three games. Senior WR Savon Scarver has returned five kickoffs for 125 yards (25.0 ypr), including a long of 33, in three games. Senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught eight passes for 104 yards (13.0 ypc), including a long of 47, and rushed two times for seven yards and returned four kickoffs for 82 yards in three games. Senior S Jarrod Green has six tackles in two games. His six tackles against the Broncos in 2020 are a career high. Senior WR Derek Wright has five catches for 64 yards (12.8 ypc) in two games. Junior OLB Ajani Carter has one tackle in two games. Junior CB Cam Lampkin has five tackles and one pass breakup in two games. Junior DT Hale Motu'apuaka has four tackles in two games. Junior OL Jacob South has three knockdowns in two games. And, junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh has two tackles, including 1.0 sacks and 1.0 tackles for loss, in two games.
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State team and individual statistical performances against Boise State over the years. 
• Utah State tied the single-game school record with its eight forced turnovers against Boise State in 2015 (five fumbles, three interceptions), joining the 1971 team that forced eight turnovers against Idaho (seven interceptions, one fumble), the 1969 team that forced eight turnovers against Idaho (seven interceptions, one fumble), the 1968 team that forced eight turnovers against San Diego State (four interceptions, four fumbles) and the 1961 team that forced eight turnovers against New Mexico (seven fumbles, one interception). 
 
• Utah State had 34 first downs against Boise State in 1996, which is tied for the second-most in school history. 
 
• Utah State's 509 passing yards at Boise State in 2000 are the fourth-most in a single game in school history. 
 
• Utah State's 595 yards of total offense against Boise State in 2000 are the 20th-most in school history. 
 
• Jose Fuentes passed for 509 yards against Boise State in 2000, which ranks second all-time in school history. 
 
• Aaron Jones set a school record with 297 receiving yards on 10 receptions against Boise State in 2000. 
 
• Demario Brown set a freshman school record with 166 rushing yards on 21 carries against Boise State in 1996. Brown also rushed for 239 yards against BSU in 1999, which ranks as the 10th-most in school history. 
 
• Marwin Evans' 90-yard interception return against Boise State in 2015 is tied for the seventh-longest in school history. 
 
• Dale Money had a 75-yard punt against Boise State in 1982, which is tied for the fourth-longest in school history. 
 
• Jake Thompson made a 52-yard field goal against Boise State in 2015 and Brad Bohn made a 51-yard field goal against BSU in 1999, which are tied for the 10th-longest and tied for the 17th-longest in school history, respectively. 
 
• Jordan Love's 83-yard touchdown pass to Gerold Bright against Boise State in 2018 is the 13th-longest pass play in school history.
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 165-187-8 (.468) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 40-26-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 35-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, a 17-7 record vs. UNLV, an 18-20-1 record vs. San José State, a 14-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 13-18-1 record vs. Fresno State, a 10-6 record vs. Hawai`i, a 7-19 record vs. Nevada, a 5-20 record vs. Boise State, a 4-6 record vs. Air Force, and a 2-13 record vs. San Diego State.
 
LAST MEETING vs. BOISE STATE
BOISE, Idaho - Utah State opened the 2020 campaign with a 42-13 loss to Boise State on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, at Albertsons Stadium. It was the season and Mountain West opener for both teams. 
 
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the game was played on the Blue Turf in front of an empty stadium. Cardboard cutouts lined the seats behind the Broncos' bench on the east side of the stadium. 
 
Senior RB Jaylen Warren accounted for both of Utah State's touchdowns as he scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter and a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter, pulling the Aggies (0-1, 0-1 Mountain West) to within 28-13. Warren, who tied his career-high with those two rushing touchdowns, finished the game with 89 yards on career-high 23 carries. Freshman RB Elelyon Noa added 15 yards on six carries as the Aggies ran the ball 43 times overall. 
 
Making the first start of his Aggie career, junior QB Jason Shelley completed 14-of-27 passes for 92 yards and one interception. His favorite target on the chilly night was junior WR Deven Thompkins, who caught five passes for 37 yards. Sophomore WR Justin McGriff caught four passes for 29 yards in his first game as an Aggie, while senior WR Jordan Nathan and senior WR Derek Wright each had two receptions. 
 
Utah State finished with just 203 yards of total offense (111 rushing, 92 passing), while Boise State (1-0, 1-0 Mountain West) gained 450 yards (279 passing, 171 rushing). Both teams finished the game with 30:00 minutes of possession time and the Aggies had just three penalties in the game, marking its third-straight outing dating back to last season were it has had fewer than five penalties in each game. USU was also 8-of-20 on third down and 3-of-4 on fourth down conversions, while BSU was 5-of-11 on third down and 1-of-1 on fourth down. 
 
The Broncos were led by QB Hank Bachmeier, who was 20-of-28 passing for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Khalil Shakir caught seven of Bachmeier's passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. 
 
Defensively, senior ILB Cash Gilliam and fellow senior ILB Kevin Meitzenheimer led the Aggies with eight tackles apiece. Meitzenheimer had a team-best 1.5 tackles for loss, while Gilliam added 0.5 sacks. For Gilliam, those eight stops were also a career high. Senior DL Marcus Moore had a career-high seven tackles, while junior S Jarrod Green had a career-best six stops, as did junior CB Zahodri Jackson. Sophomore OLB Elijah Shelton and sophomore ILB AJ Vongphachanh both registered their first-career sacks in the game, while senior DL Jaylin Bannerman and fellow senior DL Justus Te'i both recorded a tackle for loss. And, sophomore CB Cam Lampkin notched his third-career pass breakup. 
 
Utah State, which had 15 players make their Aggie debut and seven players make their first-career start Saturday night, forced Boise State to go three-and-out on the game's opening possession. 
 
However, the Aggies also went three-and-out the first time they touched the ball. In fact, USU punted six times in the first half and gained just 45 yards of total offense with one first down.
 
LAST HOME MEETING vs. BOISE STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Junior QB Jordan Love was 21-of-36 passing for 229 yards and one touchdown in Utah State's 56-21 Mountain West home loss to 20th-ranked Boise State on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
With the loss, Utah State is now 5-19 all-time against Boise State, including a 1-9 record when the Broncos are nationally ranked. Overall, USU is now 5-59 all-time against Associated Press Top-25 teams. 
 
The Broncos' Jaylon Henderson was 16-of-28 passing for 187 yards and three touchdowns, while George Holani rushed for a career-high 178 yards and two scores on 16 carries, to help Boise State (10-1, 7-0 Mountain West) win the Mountain Division. CT Thomas led the Broncos' receivers with five catches for 36 yards and one touchdown. 
 
Love's touchdown pass was on a 7-yard completion to senior graduate transfer TE Caleb Repp that tied the game at 7-all with 7:28 remaining in the first quarter. Repp, who made a one-handed catch on the play, finished the game with a career-high-tying five receptions for 47 yards. 
 
Following Repp's touchdown, the Broncos scored 49 unanswered points to seize control for good. 
 
Utah State (6-5, 5-2 MW) tacked on a couple of late touchdowns, a 6-yard run by senior RB Gerold Bright and a 2-yard run by sophomore QB Henry Colombi. Colombi finished the game 6-of-11 passing for 78 yards. 
 
Utah State's top receiver on the night was junior WR Jordan Nathan, who caught seven passes for 46 yards. Senior graduate transfer WR Siaosi Mariner added four receptions for 66 yards and junior WR Derek Wright added career-highs with three receptions for 46 yards, including a career-long of 28 yards. Sophomore WR Deven Thompkins added two catches for 62 yards, including a 47-yard reception to set up the Aggies' first score. In all, 10 different players caught a pass in the game for Utah State. 
 
Utah State finished with 428 yards of total offense (307 passing, 121 rushing) as compared to 484 yards for Boise State (297 rushing, 187 passing). USU was also 13-of-21 on third down, while BSU was 10-fo-15. BSU also had 27 first downs in the game and possessed the ball for 33:26, while USU notched 20 first downs. 
 
Junior LB Kevin Meitzenheimer led the Aggies with nine tackles, junior S Troy Lefeged Jr. added eight, and senior DE Jacoby Wildman and junior LB Eric Munoz had seven stops apiece. Munoz also had 0.5 tackles for loss. Senior DT Christopher Unga had a season-high seven tackles, as he tied his career-highs with 1.0 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss. Senior DT Devon Anderson added four stops, including a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss. Senior CB Cameron Haney led the team in pass breakups with two. 
 
Junior P Christopher Bartolic punted six times in the game for Utah State for an average of 35.8 yards with a long of 42 as he had one punt downed inside the 20-yard line. 
 
Utah State honored its 16 seniors prior to the game. The Aggies are now 70-40-3 all-time on Senior Day. 
 
GAME 3 RECAP vs. AIR FORCE
USAFA, Colorado - Junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on a 61-yard run with 3:54 to go, lifting Utah State to a wild 49-45 come-from-behind win at Air Force in the Mountain West opener for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Falcon Stadium. 
 
Tyler finished with a career-high 132 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns on a career-best 19 carries for the Aggies (3-0, 1-0 MW), who rallied from four separate double-digit deficits to beat the Falcons (2-1, 0-1 MW). 
 
Utah State, which trailed 10-0 in the first quarter, 24-13 at halftime, 31-20 early in the third quarter and 45-34 with 10:37 to go in the game, racked up 628 yards of total offense (448 passing, 180 rushing) – just nine more than Air Force (437 rushing, 182 passing). 
 
The Aggies have now won all three of their games this season after trailing by double digits, marking the first time in school history Utah State has ever accomplished that feat. 
 
Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner completed 21-of-34 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with one interception. He was injured after throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass to junior WR Justin McGriff that cut Air Force's lead to 24-20 in the third. 
 
Fellow junior QB Andrew Peasley played most of the second half and was 10-of-15 passing for 195 yards and a career-high-tying three touchdowns, including a 72-yarder to senior WR Deven Thompkins that pulled Utah State to within 45-40 with 9:51 remaining in the game. The Aggies elected to go for the two-point conversion and got it thanks to a wild scramble from the pocket for Peasley, who ran it into the end zone himself. 
 
Peasley also threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling and a 5-yarder to senior TE Carson Terrell, who was making his season debut for the Aggies. 
 
After the 72-yard bomb to Thompkins that came on a third-and-seven play, Utah State's defensive forced Air Force to punt, giving the ball back to the Aggies with 5:56 left. Two minutes later, USU was in the end zone on Tyler's long run. 
 
The Falcons got the ball back with 3:54 to go and were driving when graduate senior ILB Justin Rice stripped the ball from Air Force QB Haaziq Daniels. Junior S Monte McGary recovered the fumble at USU's 25-yard line and the Aggie offense ran out the clock. 
 
Rice had a career-high-tying 14 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with an interception in the end zone that led to a USU touchdown, and the forced fumble. 
 
Thompkins and Bowling each eclipsed the century mark in receiving yards with 188 and 136, respectively, both of which are career highs. Thompkins added a career-high nine receptions, while Bowling tied his career high with two touchdowns. 
 
Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger and junior S Dominic Tatum each had eight tackles. 
 
Air Force scored the first 10 points of the game before the Aggies cracked the scoreboard for the first time on a 1-yard touchdown run by Tyler with 1:17 left in the opening quarter, cutting the deficit to 10-7. 
 
Following Rice's interception, Bonner marched the Aggies 92 yards in 11 plays, capping the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Bowling. The extra point was blocked, but the Aggies had their first lead of the night at 13-10 with 10:16 to go in the opening half.
 
Air Force closed the first 30 minutes of play with a pair of touchdowns to take a 24-13 lead into the locker room. 
 
RICE NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAIN 
• For the second time in as many weeks, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice has been named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in Utah State's 49-45 Mountain West road win at Air Force last weekend. Against the Falcons, Rice posted his first double-digit tackle outing of the season and the 11th of his career with a career-high-tying 14 tackles, which included 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with an interception and forced fumble. His interception was in the end zone and led to a USU touchdown, while his forced fumble was on the Falcons' last drive of the game to secure the win. For Rice, he is the first Aggie to have interceptions in back-to-back games since DJ Williams in 2018.
 
• Rice was also named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in Utah State's 48-24 home win against North Dakota two weekends ago. Rice had a career-high two interceptions, to go along with a team-best nine tackles, which included 1.0 tackles for loss. For Rice, he is the first Aggie to have multiple interceptions in a game since DJ Williams had a pair of picks at New Mexico in 2019.
 
• Overall, it is the third time in his career that Rice has been named the MW Defensive Player of the Week, as he also received the honor at Fresno State in 2019. For his career, Rice has now been named the Defensive Player of the Week in his conference four times, as he was honored by the Sun Belt in 2020. 
 
THOMPKINS POSTS BACK-TO-BACK 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has posted back-to-back 100-yard receiving games, the first two of his career, as he had a career-high nine receptions for a career-best 188 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown, this past weekend against Air Force. In his previous game, he tied his career high with eight receptions for a career-best 172 yards, which included a career-long 75-yard reception for a touchdown against North Dakota. Those 188 receiving yards are the most by an Aggie since Hunter Sharp had 193 yards against Air Force in 2015.
 
• Thompkins is one of only two players in the nation to have multiple catches of at least 70 yards on the season, along with Michigan State's Jayden Reed. Thompkins had a 75-yard touchdown against North Dakota and a 72-yard touchdown against Air Force.
 
THOMPKINS SETS SCHOOL RECORD 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins is the first player in school history to have back-to-back games with at least 170 receiving yards. The previous record was held by Hunter Sharp, who had 160-plus receiving yards in back-to-back games in 2014. Furthermore, Thompkins is the first Aggie to have at least eight receptions in three-straight games since Kevin Curtis had nine-plus receptions in five straight games in 2001. 
 
BOWLING POSTS BACK-TO-BACK 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES 
• Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling has posted back-to-back 100-yard receiving games and is the first Aggie to accomplish the feat (along with Deven Thompkins) since Siaosi Mariner during the 2019 season. In his last game at Air Force, Bowling had nine receptions for a career-high 136 yards and tied his career high with two touchdowns. In his previous game against North Dakota, Bowling caught six passes for a then-career-high 118 yards, which included a career-long reception of 54 yards that resulted in a touchdown. Overall, Bowling now has three-career 100-yard receiving games and three-career games with multiple touchdown receptions.
 
TYLER HAS CAREER GAME AT AIR FORCE 
• Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. had the best game of his career this past weekend at Air Force as he rushed for a career-high 132 yards on a career-high 19 carries and tied his career high with two touchdowns runs (1, 61). Overall, it was Tyler's first-career 100-yard rushing game.
 
• Tyler has carried the ball 47 times this season and has yet to have a negative rush.
 
PEASLEY COMES OFF THE BENCH TO FINISH AGGIES' WIN AT AIR FORCE 
• Junior QB Andrew Peasley led Utah State on four second-half touchdown drives in five possessions as the Aggies rallied for a 49-45 win at Air Force. Against the Falcons, Peasley was 10-of-15 passing for 195 yards and a career-high-tying three touchdowns (5, 37, 72). Peasley entered the game in the third quarter after graduate junior QB Logan Bonner was injured following a 24-yard touchdown pass to junior WR Justin McGriff on the opening drive of the second half. Bonner also had a touchdown pass in the first half for USU.
 
OFFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM AIR FORCE GAME 
• Junior WR Justin McGriff  had a career-high six catches, including his third-career touchdown on a 24-yard reception in the third quarter. Senior TE Carson Terrell caught his first touchdown of the season and the third of his career on a 5-yard reception in the third quarter. Freshman TE Josh Sterzer had a career-high three receptions for a career-high 21 yards.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM AIR FORCE GAME 
• Junior S Dominic Tatum tied his career high with eight tackles. Junior CB Cam Lampkin tied his career high with six tackles and had his seventh-career pass breakup. Junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. had a career-high four tackles. Graduate junior DT Phillip Paea had a career-high four tackles. Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger had his 10th-career sack. Sophomore DT Poukesi Vakauta had 1.0 tackles for loss. Junior DE Byron Vaughns notched his second-career pass breakup. Junior S Monte McGary recovered his first-career fumble on the last drive of the game. 
 
COLES SCORES CAREER-HIGH 12 POINTS IN NORTH DAKOTA GAME
• Senior PK Connor Coles scored a career-high 12 points as he was 6-for-6 on extra points and 2-of-2 on field goals (26, 37) two weekends ago against North Dakota.  
 
• Coles is a perfect 8-of-8 on field goal attempts in his career. The school record for consecutive made field goals is 10 held by Dene Garner (1985) and Doug Beach (1990). Ironically, Garner's school-record 10 made field goals in a row, were the first 10 of his career.
 
• Coles was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time in his career following his performance against Washington State in the season opener as he was 3-of-3 on field goals (23, 39, 28) and 1-for-1 on extra points as he scored 10 points against the Cougars. Those three made field goals against WSU are a career high.
 
SCARVER HAS SIX-CAREER KICKOFF RETURNS FOR TOUCHDOWN
• Senior WR Savon Scarver has returned six kickoffs for touchdowns during his career, which breaks the school record that was previously held by Kevin Robinson (2004-07), who returned four kickoffs for touchdowns during his career. 
 
• Scarver's six kickoff returns for touchdown are the second-most in Mountain West history, behind San Diego State's Rashaad Penny (2014-17), who had seven. 
 
• The NCAA record for kickoff returns for touchdowns in a career is seven set by four players (Clemson's C.J. Spiller (2006-09), Houston's Tyron Carrier (2008-11), Memphis' Tony Pollard (2015-18) and Penny), and Scarver's six kickoff returns for touchdowns is tied with four other players (Tulsa's Ashlan Davis (2004-05), UCF's Quincy McDuffie (2009-12), Oklahoma State's Justin Gilbert (2010-13) and Duke's Devon Edwards (2013-16) for the fifth-most in NCAA history. 
 
• Of his six career kickoff returns for touchdowns, three have been from 100 yards, while the others were from 99, 96 and 94 yards, respectively.
 
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.
 
UTAH STATE HAS HAD 22 PLAYERS MAKE THEIR AGGIE DEBUT THIS SEASON
• Utah State has had 22 players make their Aggie debut in 2021, while four players have started their first-career game this season.
 
UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 36 of its last 43 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 1-0 record this year, and 39 of its last 44 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game, including a 1-0 record this year. USU has also won 57 of its last 62 games when scoring at least 30 points. 
 
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. 
 
LOOKING AT THE 2021 ROSTER 
• Under the direction of first-year head coach Blake Anderson, who is in his eighth year as a collegiate head coach, Utah State football returns 18 starters (O-9, D-9) as part of 44 letterwinners (O-20, D-21, S-3) from last year, which includes 13 Super Seniors. Along with 44 returning lettermen, USU welcomes back 24 more players (O-12, D-9, S-3) that were in the program in 2020, while adding 41 newcomers (O-20, D-20, S-1), 15 of which are four-year transfers. Those 13 'Super Seniors' include: OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, DE Jaylin Bannerman, S Shaq Bond, WR Sean Carter, OLB Cash Gilliam, DE Nick Heninger, RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole, ILB Kevin Meitzenheimer, DT Marcus Moore, WR Jordan Nathan, WR Savon Scarver, TE Carson Terrell and WR Derek Wright.   
 
• Highlighting Utah State's returners in 2021 are seven players that earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors a season ago in graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, graduate senior S Shaq Bond, graduate senior DE Nick Heninger, graduate senior DT Marcus Moore, senior KOR Savon Scarver, junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh and sophomore P Stephen Kotsanlee. Bond has been named honorable mention all-MW each of the past two seasons, while Scarver was a consensus All-American in 2018 and is the preseason MW Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021.
 
• Other starters returning for Utah State in 2021 include Henry-Cole, Meitzenheimer, Terrell, Wright, senior OL Alfred Edwards, senior CB Andre Grayson, senior CB Zahodri Jackson, senior WR Deven Thompkins, junior CB Cam Lampkin, junior WR Justin McGriff, junior OL Jacob South, junior S Dominic Tatum and sophomore OL Falepule Alo.
 
• Utah State welcomes three transfers that earned all-Sun Belt Conference honors at Arkansas State a season ago in graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice and graduate junior QB Logan Bonner. Rice earned first-team all-conference honors at ASU in 2020 and was first-team all-Mountain West at Fresno State in 2019, while Bowling and Bonner both garnered honorable mention all-Sun Belt honors last season for the Red Wolves. 
 
• Utah State has 11 Power 5 transfers on its roster in in graduate senior RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole (Utah), graduate senior DE Nick Heninger (Utah), graduate senior DT Marcus Moore (UCLA), graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. (Oregon State), graduate senior CB Kyle Mayberry (Kansas), graduate junior DE Phillip Paea (Michigan), graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds (Michigan), junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. (Miami), junior DE Byron Vaughns (Texas), junior OL Quazzel White (TCU) and redshirt freshman WR Jamie Nance (Nebraska). 
 
UTAH STATE HAS MOST DIVERSE COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• Utah State is the only staff in the nation that has minority coaches serving in the roles of offensive coordinator (Anthony Tucker), defensive coordinator (Ephraim Banda) and head strength and conditioning coach (Paul Jackson).
 
UTAH STATE HAS THE SECOND-YOUNGEST COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• Of Utah State's 10 full-time assistant coaches, four are in their 20s, four are in their 30s and two are in their 40s. The average age of those 10 assistants is 33.7 years, which ranks as the second-youngest staff in the nation behind Old Dominion (32.2).
 
FIVE FORMER AGGIE PLAYERS ON STAFF
• Utah State head coach Blake Anderson has five former Aggies on his staff in running backs coach Chuckie Keeton (2011-15), tight ends coach DJ Tialavea (2010-13), defensive line coach Al Lapuaho (2011-12), and analysts Austin Albrecht (2014-16) and Jumanne Robertson (2011-12). 
 
AGGIES HAVE NEW COORDINATORS FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR IN 2021
• Utah State has new offensive, defensive and special teams coordinators for the fourth straight season this fall. In fact, USU has had a different defensive coordinator in each of its last five seasons and a different special teams coordinator in each of its last seven seasons. The last time USU had the same defensive coordinator for multiple years was Todd Orlando (2013-14), while its last special teams coordinator to coach multiple seasons was Dave Ungerer (2013-15). Ironically, USU has had the same offensive coordinator for multiple seasons twice during the past nine seasons with David Yost (2017-18) and Kevin McGiven (2013-14).
 
• Overall, Utah State is the only FBS school to have new coordinators on offense, defense and special teams in each of the past four seasons.
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• Utah State defensive coordinator and safeties coach Ephraim Banda was named one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation in January of 2021, by Rivals.com.
 
• Banda is the only hispanic-latino defensive coordinator in the nation at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. Overall, Banda is one of 32 hispanic-latino coaches at the FBS level, with six of those serving other coordinator positions.
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• According to College Football Focus and ESPN, Utah State had the third-most efficient special teams units in the nation in 2020. USU led the Mountain West and was 11th in the nation in punt return defense (1.4 ypr), and was first in the MW and 15th in the nation in kickoff return defense (17.4 ypr). USU was also second in the MW and 15th in the nation with two blocked kicks (1 field goal, 1 punt), third in the MW and 31st in the nation in net punting (40.4 ypp), and fifth in the MW and 20th in the nation in kickoff returns (24.5 ypr).
 
UTAH STATE THIRD IN THE NATION IN TOTAL OFFENSE
• Utah State is averaging 563.3 yards per game to lead the Mountain West and rank third in the nation. USU also ranks second in the MW and eighth in the nation in passing offense (357.0 ypg), second in the MW and 15th in the nation in sacks allowed with three (1.0 pg), second in the MW and 30th in the nation in rushing offense (206.3 ypg), second in the MW and 32nd in the nation in passing efficiency (157.7), third in the MW and 22nd in the nation in scoring offense (41.0 ppg), and fifth in the MW and 63rd in the nation in completion percentage (.626).  
 
• Utah State also ranks second in the MW and 35th in the nation in fourth down conversions at 72.7 percent (8-of-11), third in the MW and 22nd in the nation in first downs (24.7 pg), second in the MW and 23rd in the nation in fumbles lost with one (0.50 pg), fourth in the MW and 30th in the nation in passing yards per completion (13.91), and fourth in the MW and 43rd in the nation in third down conversions at 46.2 percent (24-of-52).
 
UTAH STATE 55TH IN THE NATION IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is averaging 6.3 tackles for loss per game to rank seventh in the Mountain West and 55th in the nation. USU also ranks 10th in the MW in pass efficiency defense (136.2), passing defense (255.7 ypg) and scoring defense (30.7 ppg), 11th in the MW in sacks with four (1.33 pg) and total defense (399.5 ypg), and 12th in the MW in rushing defense (217.0 ypg).  
 
• Utah State also ranks fourth in the MW and 56th in the nation in red zone defense at 78.6 percent (11-of-14), fifth in the MW and 38th in the nation with its two fumble recoveries (0.67 pg), and fifth in the MW and 40th in the nation with three passes intercepted (1.0 pg).   
 
UTAH STATE 12TH IN THE NATION IN PUNT RETURN DEFENSE
• Utah State has punted nine times this season and has not allowed a single return yard as the Aggies are tied for second in the Mountain West and 12th in the nation in punt return defense (0.0 ypr). USU also ranks third in the MW and eighth in the nation in punt returns (19.0 ypr), sixth in the MW and 62nd in the nation in kickoff return defense (18.4 ypr), sixth in the MW and 63rd in the nation in net punting (39.9 ypp), and ninth in the MW in kickoff returns (14.5 ypr). 
 
UTAH STATE HAS FORCED FIVE TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has forced five turnovers during the first three games of the 2021 season with three interceptions an two fumbles. Overall, USU has forced three or more turnovers in 26 of its last 85 games and has scored 25 defensive touchdowns in its last 94 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 (151.3 ypg), is first in the MW and eighth in the nation in all-purpose yards (158.7 ypg), second in the MW and fifth in the nation in receptions (8.3 pg), third in the MW and 16th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with three (1.0 pg), and eighth in the MW and 62nd in the nation in yards per reception (18.2). Senior PK Connor Coles is tied for first nationally in field goal percentage (1.000), fourth in the MW and 15th in the nation in field goals made per game (1.7), and fifth in the MW and 50th in the nation in scoring (9.0 ppg). Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice is tied for first in the nation with three interceptions (1.0 pg), fourth in the MW and 14th in the nation in tackles (10.0 pg), fourth in the MW and 25th in the nation in passes defended (1.3 pg), fifth in the MW and 40th in the nation in tackles for loss (1.3 pg), and fifth in the MW and 48th in the nation in forced fumbles with one (0.3 pg). Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner is second in the MW and 17th in the nation in passing touchdowns with seven (2.3 pg), second in the MW and 35th in the nation in passing efficiency (156.2), third in the MW and 31st in the nation in points responsible for (14.7 pg), fourth in the MW and 47th in the nation in completion percentage (.648), fifth in the MW and 33rd in the nation in yards per completion (13.3), sixth in the MW and 31st in the nation in passing (262.0 ypg), sixth in the MW and 35th in the nation in total offense (271.0 ypg), and seventh in the MW and 41st in the nation in completions (19.7 pg). Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is first in the MW and 36th in the nation in rushing yards per carry (6.1 ypc), third in the MW and 27th in the nation in rushing touchdowns with four (1.3 pg), third in the MW and 29th in the nation in rushing yards (96.0 ypg), and sixth in the MW and 67th in the nation in scoring (8.0 ppg). Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling is third in the MW and 16th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with three (1.0 pg), fifth in the MW and 29th in the nation in receiving yards (88.0 ypg), sixth in the MW and 55th in the nation in receptions (5.3 pg), and 10th in the MW and 93rd in the nation in yards per reception (16.5). Junior CB Michael Anyanwu is fifth in the MW and 16th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.3 pg), and fifth in the MW and 48th in the nation in fumbles forced with one (0.3 pg). Graduate junior S Monte McGary is fifth in the MW and 16th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.3 pg). Senior WR Savon Scarver is fourth in the MW and 32nd in the nation in kickoff returns (19.5 ypg). And, junior QB Andrew Peasley is 10th in the MW in passing (95.0 ypg).   
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 11 drives this season of at least 10 plays, including a season-long 15-play drive at Washington State. By comparison, USU had a total of 13 drives of 10-plus plays the entire 2019 season and three such drives in 2020.
 
• Utah State has 12 drives of at least 70 yards this season, including a season-long 92-yard drive at Air Force. By comparison, USU had 32 drives of 70-plus yards in 2019 and four in 2020.
 
SCARVER NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN AS KICK RETURNER
• Utah State senior KOR Savon Scarver was named an Athlon Sports preseason third-team All-American and a fourth-team preseason All-American by Phil Steele's Magazine.
 
• Scarver enters his final season with the Aggies known as one of the top return specialists in the nation having already been named a preseason first-team all-Mountain West selection by Phil Steele's Magazine and Athlon Sports.
 
• The native of Las Vegas, Nevada, is Utah State's all-time record-holder with six-career kickoff returns for touchdown, which is the second-most in Mountain West history, and tied for the fifth-most in NCAA history. Scarver's next kickoff return for a touchdown will tie four other players for the NCAA record.
 
• For his career, Scarver has returned 80 kickoffs for 2,294 yards and his 28.7 yards per return average ranks third all-time in school history.
 
• This past season, Scarver earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors as he returned 10 kickoffs for 314 yards and one touchdown – a 94-yarder against Fresno State.
 
• Scarver was also named first-team all-Mountain West as both a sophomore and junior in 2018 and 2019. As a junior, he returned 22 kickoffs for 613 yards and two touchdowns.
 
• In 2018, Scarver was named a consensus All-American as a returner/all-purpose player as he received first-team All-America honors from two of the five outlets that comprise the NCAA Consensus All-America team, including the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Football Writers Association of America. Scarver also received the Jet Award in 2019 as the nation's most outstanding return specialist as he led the nation in kickoff returns (33.7 ypr) and tied for second with a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns.
 
THIRTEEN AGGIES GARNER PRESEASON RECOGNITION
• Utah State has 13 student-athletes that garnered preseason recognition this fall, highlighted by senior KOR Savon Scarver, who was named a preseason third-team All-American by Athlon Sports and a preseason fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele's Magazine, along with being a first-team all-Mountain West selection by both publications. Graduate transfer senior ILB Justin Rice was also named first-team all-Mountain West by Phil Steele and to the second team by Athlon Sports. Graduate senior safety Shaq Bond was named to the all-MW third team by both publications, while graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua and sophomore P Stephen Kotsanlee represented USU on Phil Steele's third team and the Athlon Sports fourth team. Fellow senior OL Alfred Edwards was named to Athlon Sports third team. Graduate senior DT Marcus Moore, graduate transfer senior CB Kyle Mayberry, senior WR Deven Thompkins and junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh were all selected as fourth-team picks by Phil Steele's Magazine, while graduate transfer senior WR Brandon Bowling, graduate senior RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole and graduate senior DE Nick Heninger represented Utah State on the Athlon Sports fourth team.
 
HENINGER NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN
• Utah State graduate senior DE Nick Heninger was named to the 2020-21 Academic All-America Division I second team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Heninger is just the eighth football player in Utah State history to be named an academic All-American, joining USU legend Merlin Olsen (1961), along with Dennis Ferguson (1970), Gary Anderson (1971), Randy Stockham (1974, 1975), Mike Perko (1981), Steve Neeleman (1991) and McKade Brady (2012). Stockham is the only football player in school history to earn the award twice. Heninger earned honorable mention all-MW honors and second-team all-conference honors from ProFootballFocus.com as he finished third on the team with 42 tackles, including 7.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks, to go along with three forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry during the 2020 season. The graduate student from South Jordan, Utah, garnered academic all-MW honors and was one of four student-athletes to receive the USU Whitesides Award as the top student-athlete. He also earned academic all-conference accolades following his first season at Utah State in 2019. Heninger earned his bachelor's degree from Utah in the business scholars' program and his master of business administration from Utah State in the spring of 2021. He is currently working on his second bachelor's degree in unmanned aerial systems, and is a licensed remote pilot under Part 107. 
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Utah State has 20 players on its roster that have already received their bachelor's degree in senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, senior DE Jaylin Bannerman, senior S Shaq Bond, junior QB Logan Bonner, senior WR Brandon Bowling, senior WR Sean Carter, senior PK Connor Coles, senior OLB Cash Gilliam, senior CB Andre Grayson, senior DE Nick Heninger, senior RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole, senior OL Maisen Knight, senior CB Kyle Mayberry, junior S Monte McGary, senior DT Marcus Moore, senior WR Jordan Nathan, junior DT Phillip Paea, junior S Hunter Reynolds, senior ILB Justin Rice and junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr.
 
• Utah State football has a 91 percent Graduation Success Rate, which ranks first in the Mountain West, and a 2.97 cumulative grade-point average.
 
• Utah State had 54 football players earn academic all-Mountain West honors in 2020, while 15 players were named MW Scholar-Athletes. 
 
HEAD COACH BLAKE ANDERSON
• Blake Anderson (hired on Dec. 12, 2020) is in his first season as Utah State's head coach and is the 29th head coach in program history. He is 54-37 all-time as a head coach, including a 39-18 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.