Box Score LOGAN, Utah – There would be no coming back for Utah State this time around.
 
Boise State scored the first 17 points of the game and limited the Aggies to just a field goal as Utah State dropped its Mountain West home opener 27-3 in front of 23,715 fans Saturday on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.
 
The Aggies (3-1, 1-1 Mountain West) outgained the Broncos (2-2, 1-0 MW) 443-435, but could not overcome a blocked field goal, a missed field goal, three turnovers and a turnover on downs on a fake punt early in the second half.
 
"Obviously, I am disappointed in the way we played," said first-year Utah State head coach Blake Anderson. "The energy level was good, but the execution was poor. The offense was as bad as we've executed since the beginning of the season. We had yards, but couldn't finish in the red zone. It just seemed like we had every little off-schedule issue – false starts, busts up front, a couple of drops. We couldn't maintain a rhythm whenever we got any at all. I am proud of the defense and how they held in there. They kept us in it and gave us a chance way longer than we probably deserved today."
 
Grad senior inside linebacker Justin Rice led the Aggies' defensive effort with 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Junior inside linebacker AJ Vongphachanh added nine stops, including 1.0 tackles for loss, while junior outside linebacker Ajani Carter had his best game as an Aggie with a career-high five tackles and his first-career interception, to go along with a quarterback hurry.
 
"I did not think Boise State was the most physical team on the field today, or even the most talented team," Vongphachanh said. "My guys were there step-by-step. There was just a lack of execution by us on defense, including myself. We can all get better and just learn from the film and get ready for the short week."
 
Hank Bachmeier completed 22-of-39 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns for the Broncos. His favorite target on the day was Khalil Shakir, who had a game-best seven receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown.
 
Grad junior quarterback Logan Bonner started under center for the Aggies, going 11-for-25 for 173 yards and two interceptions. Junior quarterback Andrew Peasley was 2-of-6 for just 35 yards.
 
Grad senior wide receiver Brandon Bowling and senior wide receiver Deven Thompkins had four catches apiece for 62 and 60 yards, respectively, for the Aggies.
 
Utah State was led on the ground by graduate junior running back Calvin Tyler Jr., who posted his second-career 100-yard rushing game, including his second in as many games, as he rushed for 126 yards on a career-high 20 attempts.
 
The Aggies, who overcame double-digit deficits to win their first three games of the season, crossed midfield seven times, but only had a 20-yard fourth-quarter field goal by graduate senior placekicker Connor Coles to show for it.
 
"We just didn't execute like we usually do on offense," Tyler said. "I don't think they did anything special to stop us, we just hurt ourselves on a lot of drives."
 
The Aggies were held without a touchdown for the first time since their 42-6 loss at No. 5 LSU in 2019, and they were held scoreless in the first half for the first time since the 2020 season opener at Boise State.
 
Prior to Saturday's game, which was televised nationally on CBS, Utah State had won 11 straight games during the month of September.
 
"We just have to learn and we have to get better," Anderson said. "We've exceeded a lot of expectations early. Today, the expectations were high and we didn't meet them – ours, or anyone else's."
 
UP NEXT 
 
Utah State remains at home to face in-state rival BYU on Friday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m., in a game that will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network.
 
GET YOUR TICKETS 
 
For Aggie football ticket information, fans can contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office over the phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or 435-797-0305 during regular hours of operation. Fans can also buy their tickets in person at the USU Ticket Office inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or online by clicking on the "Buy Tickets" tab at www.UtahStateAggies.com. 
 
For more information on the Utah State football program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUFootball, on Facebook at USUFootball and on Instagram at USUFootball. 
 
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