WEEKLY AGGIE UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 27, 2021
FOOTBALL
Contact: Doug Hoffman - (435) 797-3714
This Week
Fri., Oct. 1 --- #13 BYU, 7 p.m. (CBSSN)
• Utah State football (3-1, 1-1 MW) continues its 2021 season this week with a non-conference home game against No. 13 BYU (4-0) on Friday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221). USU trails in the all-time series, 37-49-3, which includes a 19-18-2 home record.
Last Week
L, 3-27 --- BOISE STATE
• 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. 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. In all, USU rushed for 235 yards on the day, marking the third time this season it has gained at least 200 yards on the ground. USU threw an interception on its opening series of the game and then turned it over on downs on its next drive. Its third drive resulted in a blocked field goal, followed by another interception on its fourth and final drive of the first quarter. USU then punted on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter and finished the half with another missed field goal. All told, Utah State generated 317 yards of offense in the first half and came away with zero points. Despite all the miscues, USU's defense held Boise State to just 236 yards of offense in the first half and 10 points. The red zone proved to be the difference in the game as Boise State scored on all five of its trips inside the 20-yard line with three touchdowns and two field goals, while Utah State was 1-of-4 in the red zone with just one field goal. Graduate senior linebacker Justin Rice led the Aggies' defensive effort with 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Junior linebacker AJ Vongphachanh added a season high nine stops, including 1.0 tackles for loss, while junior 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. 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. Graduate 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. Graduate 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. Sophomore running back John Gentry rushed for a career-high 57 yards on seven carries, which included a career-long 41-yard run, and fellow sophomore running back Elelyon Noa rushed for a career-high 48 yards on four carries, which included a career-long 35 yards run. 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.
SOCCER
Contact: Kyle Cottam - (435) 797-2066
This Week
Fri., Oct. 1 --- at New Mexico, 7:30 p.m. (MWN)
Sun., Oct. 3 --- at San Diego State, 1 p.m. (MT) (MWN)
• Utah State soccer (9-1-1, 2-0-0) continues its 2021 season this week with back-to-back Mountain West road matches at New Mexico (7-2-0, 2-0-0) on Friday, Oct. 1, at 7:30 p.m., and at San Diego State (3-7-0, 1-1-0) on Sunday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. (MT). USU is 2-6-2 all-time against the Lobos, including a 1-3-1 road record, and 0-7-2 all-time against the Aztecs, including an 0-2-2 road record. Fans can watch both matches on the Mountain West Network, online at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.
Last Week
W, 2-1 --- NEVADA
W, 2-0 --- at UNLV
• Utah State opened its Mountain West slate with a perfect 2-0 record for the first time since 2016 with a 2-1 home win against Nevada and a 2-0 road win at UNLV. Against the Wolf Pack, senior midfielder Ashley Cardozo scored an equalizing goal in the 52nd minute before senior forward Jordan Foraker scored the game-winner in the 86th minute, assisted by Cardozo. Against the Rebels, Foraker scored the game-winner in the 22nd minute and senior forward Sammie Murdock sealed the victory with her fourth goal of the season coming in the 87th minute. Both goals were assisted by Cardozo as she increased her season total to nine and moved into a tie for second in single-season assists. Junior keeper Diera Walton recorded her league-leading fourth shutout of the year and increased her career total to 14, tying for fourth on the all-time record books.
CROSS COUNTRY
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Fri., Oct. 1 --- at Lehigh Paul Short Run, 8 a.m. (MT)
• Utah State's men's and women's cross country teams will return to action on Friday, Oct. 1, as the Aggies travel to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to compete in the Lehigh-hosted Paul Shot Run at the Goodman Campus Cross Country Course.
Last Week
M: 1/3; W: 1/3 --- at Idaho State Invitational
• Behind a first-place finish from graduate senior Connor Weaver, the 17th-ranked Utah State men won the Idaho State Invitational last weekend with 26 points. Utah Valley was a distant second at 46 points and the host Bengals were third with 58 points. On the women's side, all five of USU's scoring runners finished in the top 11 as the Aggies scored 32 points to hold off host Idaho State, which placed second with 34 points. Utah Valley was third with 58 points. After Weaver, four other Aggies finished in the top 10. Senior Devin Pancake placed fourth with a time of 18:42.0, freshmen Garrett Woodhouse and Chase Leach captured fifth and sixth, respectively with times of 18:42.4 and 18:48.8, and junior Justin Hodges was ninth with a time of 18:51.3. In the women's 6K race, USU senior LeAnn Larkin-Hatch placed second with a time of 22:28.0 to lead the Aggie finishers. Junior Taylor Smart claimed fifth with a time of 22:44.0, while sophomore Sammi Lee took sixth (22:57.5), freshman Madison Strasner finished eighth (23:01.8) and sophomore Taylia Norris rounded out the top-five scores for USU by placing 11th (23:20.1).
VOLLEYBALL
Contact: Megan McCuistion - (435) 797-5547
This Week
Thur., Sept. 30 --- NEVADA, 7 p.m. (MWN)
Sat., Oct. 2 --- SAN JOSÉ STATE, 1 p.m. (MWN)
• Utah State volleyball (9-5, 1-1 MW) continues its 2021 season this week with a pair of Mountain West home matches. The Aggies will host Nevada (3-10, 0-2 MW) on Thursday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m., then San José State (8-4, 2-0 MW) on Saturday, Oct. 2, at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on the Mountain West Network, online at www.utahstateaggies.com/watch.
Last Week
W, 3-2 --- at Wyoming
L, 0-3 --- at Colorado State
• Utah State posted a 1-1 Mountain West road record last week, as it defeated Wyoming (3-2) and fell at Colorado State (3-0). Against the Cowgirls, three players recorded double-digit kills. Senior middle blocker Corinne Larsen led all players with a career-best 18 kills, hitting .405 on the night. Sophomore outside hitter Tatum Stall was just behind Larsen with a season-high 17 kills, and junior middle Kennedi Boyd added 15 kills, while hitting a team-best .444. As a team, Utah State hit .204 (62-25-181), while holding Wyoming to a .107 (61-39-205) attack, its second-lowest hitting percentage of the season. Four Aggies put up double-digit dig numbers, where sophomore libero Abby Peterson led with a season-high 25. Three USU players posted double-double performances. Freshman setter Kalia Thunstrom tallied 23 assists and 18 digs, while junior setter Kalena Vaivai had 23 assists and 15 digs. Stall added 11 digs to her kill total for her third double-double of the season. Utah State finished the match with 13 team blocks, led by Boyd and Larsen with seven and six, respectively. Against the Rams, junior middle blocker Kylee Stokes and freshman middle Katie Langford led Utah State with seven kills apiece, with Langford hitting .538 (7-0-13). Peterson had a team-high 10 digs, while Vaivai led with nine assists. In all, USU hit .068 (24-18-88), while CSU hit .400 (44-8-90).
GOLF
Contact: Wade Denniston - (435) 797-1361
This Week
Mon.-Tues., Sept. 27-28 --- at Colorado Invitational, All Day
• Utah State's golf team will continue its 2021 fall season on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 27-28, at the 11th Annual Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational. The 54-hole tournament will be played at the par-72, 7,676-yard Colorado National Golf Club in Erie, Colorado, and feature 18 teams. Playing in foursomes, the golfers will play 36 holes in a shotgun start on Monday, at 8:15 a.m. The final 18 holes will be played on Tuesday in a staggered shotgun start (top four teams will play in five tee times off No. 1 at 8:10 a.m.; the rest in a shotgun at 8:30 a.m.).
Last Week
16th/16 --- at Colorado State Invitational
• Utah State shot a 20-over 300 on the final day of the Colorado State-hosted Ram Masters Invitational to finish in 16th place in the 16-team field at the Fort Collins Country Club in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Aggies posted a 54-hole team score of 122-over 962 (331-331-300). Colorado State shot a 5-under 275 to wrap up the team title – its seventh in a row – at 61-over 901. Jesse Henderson turned in the Aggies' best round on the final day as the USU senior shot a 4-over 70. Climbing 12 spots up the leaderboard, he finished tied for 62nd overall at 32-over 242. Freshman Esteban Jaramillo was the top Aggie placer as he tied for 46th (239, +29). Fellow freshman Luis Gerardo Cantú and senior Cameron Tucker both tied for 62nd, while sophomore Purin Yingpisit placed 72nd (244, +34).
MEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Sat.-Sun., Oct. 2-10 --- at ITA All-American, Tulsa, Oklahoma, All Day
• Utah State senior Felipe Acosta will compete at the ITA All-Americans, held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, starting on Saturday, Oct. 2.
Last Week
NTS --- at ITA Regionals, Provo, Utah
• Utah State continued its fall season at the ITA Regionals in Provo, Utah, last week as junior transfer Bodin Zarkovic advanced to the semifinals in singles play. The semifinal round is the farthest an Aggie has advanced at the ITA Regionals since 2016. Zarkovic defeated the tournament's No. 6, No. 27 and No. 32 seeds on his way to the semifinals. Playing with junior David Cierny in doubles play, the duo also advanced to the quarterfinal round before falling to the tournament's No. 1-ranked doubles team. Cierny also reached the Round of 16 in singles play, taking out the tournament's No. 3 seed in the round of 32. Senior Felipe Acosta and junior Javier Ruiz also reached the consolation semifinals of the tournament as a duo. Every player representing USU at the ITA Regionals won at least one singles or doubles match during the week,
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Contact: Daniel Hansen - (435) 797-8584
This Week
Fri.-Sun., Oct. 1-3 --- at Utah Invitational, All Day
• Utah State women's tennis continues its fall season this weekend at the Utah Invitational from Friday, Oct. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 3.
Last Week
NTS --- at Washington State Invitational
• Utah State women's tennis continued its fall tournament season last weekend at the Washington State Classic. Sophomore Lisa Kung captured a third-place finish in her draw in singles play, while seniors Gabrielle Dekkers and Annaliese County also won the consolation finals in their respective draws, each winning three consecutive matches to do so. Overall, the Aggies went 13-8 in singles matchups during the weekend. In doubles play, juniors Carolina Millan and Zeynep Naz Ozturk also advanced into the finals of their doubles draw, defeating duos from Boise State and Eastern Washington in the first two rounds.
