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AGGIES HOST MOUNTAIN WEST-FOE AIR FORCE IN HOMECOMING GAME
Game will be televised live on Fox Sports 1 Saturday night at 5 p.m. 
 
AIR FORCE (4-1, 1-1 MW) vs. UTAH STATE (1-4, 0-1 MW)
Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022 • 5 p.m. (MT) • Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)
 
GAME 6 INFORMATION
TV: Fox Sports 1 
• Play-by-Play: Guy Haberman
• Analyst: Charles Arbuckle
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 265/691 HD
• DISH: Ch. 150
• DirecTV: Ch. 219
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard 
• Analyst: Kevin White
• National: Sirius XM 383 / SXM App 973
• Online: kslsports.com/kslsportszone
 
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: KSL (1280 AM/97.5 FM)
• Logan: KBLU-LP (92.3 FM)
• Green River: KRPX (102.7 FM)
• Moab: KRPX (100.3 FM)
• Montpelier, Idaho: KVSI (1450 AM/104.5 FM)
• Orangeville: KRPX (95.9 FM)
• Price: KRPX (95.3 FM)
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (1-4, 0-1 MW) returns to Mountain West play this week as it hosts Air Force (4-1, 1-1 MW) on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 5 p.m., on Fox Sports 1 (Xfinity Ch. 265/691 HD, DISH Ch. 150, DirecTV Ch. 219) with Guy Haberman (play-by-play) and Charles Arbuckle (analyst) on the call. 
 
• Utah State is the defending Mountain West Champion after winning the Mountain Division with a 6-2 record and posting a 46-13 win at No. 19 San Diego State in the 2021 MW Championship Game.
 
• Just five games into the 2022 season, Utah State has already lost four starters to season-ending injuries in graduate senior QB Logan Bonner, graduate senior DT Phillip Paea, junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen and redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki.
 
• Utah State has had 12 players make their first-career start this year, while 28 players have made their Aggie debut this season. By comparison, only five Aggies made their first-career start during the 2021 season.
 
• Utah State is 43-28 (.606) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 23-14 (.622) home record, and has won 54 of its last 82 (.656) league games dating back to 2011. All-time, USU is 156-115 (.576) inside Maverik Stadium, including a 43-19 (.694) record in its last 62 home games.  
 
• Utah State (44-29) has the third-best record against Mountain West opponents (including championship games) since USU joined the league in 2013. Boise State (61-15) has the best record in the league during that time, while San Diego State (53-21) has the second-best record. Air Force has the fifth-best record (39-32).
 
• Utah State is 56-33-2 (.626) all-time in Homecoming games, which includes a 1-1 record against Air Force.
 
HEAD COACH BLAKE ANDERSON
• Blake Anderson (hired on Dec. 12, 2020) concluded his first year as Utah State's head coach in 2021 and is the 29th head coach in program history. He has a 63-44 overall record, including a 44-21 conference mark. He has posted a 12-7 record at USU, including a 6-3 conference mark.
 
• Anderson has 29 years of coaching experience and has been part of six conference championships. He has also coached in 11 bowl games and won a national championship at the junior college level.
 
• In his first season at Utah State, Anderson led the Aggies to their first-ever Mountain West Championship with a 46-13 win at No. 19 San Diego State, their sixth bowl win in school history with a 24-13 victory against Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, and a school-record-tying 11 wins as USU was picked to finish fifth in the Mountain Division of the MW in the preseason polls.
 
• Under Anderson, Utah State tied for the best turnaround in the nation in 2021 as the Aggies became the first FBS program ever to go from zero or one win to 11 wins the following season. 
 
• During the 2021 season, Utah State set 10 school records, including 4,248 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes, and tied four more as it became the first FBS program in eight years to go 7-0 on the road. USU also ranked 15th in the nation in passing offense (303.4 ypg) and 23rd in total offense (445.6 ypg), and was top three in the MW in passing offense, total offense and scoring offense (32.6 ppg).
 
• Anderson, who was named the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year in 2021 at Utah State, mentored a pair of Aggies that broke several single-season school records in quarterback Logan Bonner and wide receiver Deven Thompkins. Bonner set school records in passing touchdowns (36) and passing yards (3,628), while Thompkins set school records for receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,704). 
 
• Overall, Anderson saw nine of his players earn all-Mountain West honors, including Thompkins, who was named a third-team All-American by The Associated Press.   
 
• Anderson came to Utah State after spending seven years as the head coach at Arkansas State, leading ASU 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. ASU also won back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Championships under Anderson in 2015 and 2016, and competed for another in 2017.
 
• 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.
 
• The Red Wolves won at least seven games, including at least five league games, six-straight years 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 at ASU, 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.
 
• 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 ypg), 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).
 
• 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). Anderson graduated with his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from SHSU in 1992. He also attained his master's degree in sports administration from Eastern New Mexico in 1994.
 
SCOUTING AIR FORCE
• Air Force is 4-1 on the season, and 1-1 in Mountain West play, following its 13-10 non-conference home win against Navy last weekend. The Falcons are led by senior QB Haazig Daniels, who is 17-of-35 (.486) passing for 374 yards (74.8 ypg) with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Senior RB Brad Roberts leads the team in rushing with 573 yards on 91 carries (6.3 ypc/114.6 ypg) with seven touchdowns, and senior WR David Cormier has caught five passes for 209 yards (41.8 ypr/41.8 ypg) with three touchdowns. Defensively, junior LB Alec Mock has 35 tackles, which includes 4.0 tackles for loss, while junior DB Trey Taylor has 27 tackles, which includes 2.0 tackles for loss. As a team, Air Force is averaging 32.8 points and 460.6 yards of total offense per game (369.8 rushing, 90.8 passing), and allowing 14.8 points and 278.8 yards of total offense (151.6 passing, 127.2 rushing). Air Force returns 11 starters (6-O, 5-D) and 77 lettermen (38-O, 29-D, 5-S) from last year's team that went 10-3 overall and finished second in the Mountain Division of the MW with a 6-2 record. Air Force concluded its season with a 31-28 win against Louisville in the 2021 First Responder Bowl. The Falcons are coached by Troy Calhoun, who is 115-76 in his 16th season as a collegiate head coach.
 
AGGIES AND FALCONS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State and Air Force will be meeting for the 11th time in series history this weekend with the Falcons holding a 6-4 advantage, which includes a 2-2 record in Logan. The Falcons won the first meeting, 38-13, on Nov. 8, 1969, at the USAF Academy. USU then won the next two games with a 52-20 win at the USAF Academy on Sept. 7, 2013, and a 34-16 home win on Oct. 11, 2014. The Falcons then won three straight meetings with a 35-28 home win on Nov. 14, 2015, a 27-20 road win on Sept. 24, 2016, and a 38-35 home win on Nov. 25, 2017. USU then posted a 42-32 win on Sept. 22, 2018, AFA then won two straight with a 31-7 home win on Oct. 26, 2019 and a 35-7 win in Logan on Dec. 3, 2020. Last year, USU posted a 49-45 road win on Sept. 18, 2021.
 
PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND AIR FORCE
• The following are connections between Utah State and Air Force players. USU senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh and AFA sophomore WR Cameron Breier both attended Chiawana HS in Pasco, Washington. USU redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki and AFA sophomore RB Sione Angilau both attended East HS in Salt Lake City, Utah. USU sophomore WR Kyrese Rowan and AFA sophomore WR Cade Harris both attended Roy (Utah) HS. USU junior TE Broc Lane and AFA senior TE Kyle Patterson both attended Perry HS in Gilbert, Arizona. And, USU redshirt freshman WR Ryder MacGillivray and AFA sophomore DL James Tomasi both attended Provo (Utah) HS.
 
STATS FOR CURRENT AGGIES WITH MULTIPLE GAMES VERSUS AIR FORCE
• The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against Air Force in multiple games. Senior OL Alfred Edwards has two knockdowns in four games. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson has eight tackles in three games. Graduate senior OL Jacob South has five knockdowns in three games. Senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka has seven tackles in three games. Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh has 20 tackles in three games. Senior CB Michael Anyanwu has two tackles in two games. Senior CB Ajani Carter has two tackles in two games. Senior RB Pailate Makakona has 20 yards rushing on seven carries in two games. Senior WR Justin McGriff has seven catches for 66 yards (9.4 ypc) and one touchdown in two games. Redshirt junior S Dominic Tatum has 14 tackles in three games. Junior OL Falepule Alo has three knockdowns in two games. Junior RB John Gentry has 10 carries for 30 yards (3.0 ypr), to go along with one catch for five yards and five kickoff returns for 118 yards (23.6 ypr), in two games. And, junior P Stephen Kotsanlee has punted six times for 270 yards (45.0 ypp), including a long of 48 yards, in two games. Three of those punts have been downed inside the 20-yard line.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 34 players on its roster from the Beehive State, while Air Force has 11 players on its roster from the Centennial State.
 
• Utah State is a combined 75-79-6 (.488) against teams from the state of Colorado, with a 36-39-2 mark versus Colorado State, a 13-19-3 ledger against Denver, a 6-11-1 record against Colorado, a 7-0 mark versus Western State, a 5-4 record against Colorado Mines, a 3-0 record versus Colorado College, a 1-0 mark versus Regis, and a 4-6 record against Air Force.
 
• U.S. Air Force Academy Colonel and former Falcon football player (1973-76) and Athletics Director (1996-2003) Randy Spetman spent four years as the Director of Athletics at Utah State (2004-07). Air Force assistant head coach and defensive backs coach Charlie Jackson spent the 2006 season at Utah State as the special assistant to the head coach. 
 
ON THIS DATE IN AGGIE FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Freshman QB Chuckie Keeton threw for 213 yards and a school-record-tying five touchdowns, and junior RB Robert Turbin rushed for 111 yards and added two more scores as Utah State scored the final 42 points in a dominating 63-19 home win against Wyoming on Oct. 8, 2011. In all, USU scored touchdowns on its first eight possessions of the game.  Keeton finished the game completing 15-of-20 passes and added 44 rushing yards on four carries, while Turbin posted his fourth-straight 100-yard rushing game. Senior RB Michael Smith added a career-best three touchdowns during the game as he finished with 51 rushing yards on eight carries and one reception for 53 yards. Junior LB Bobby Wagner led Utah State's defense with 12 tackles and added his third career interception late in the second quarter. Utah State finished the game with 548 yards of total offense (318 rushing, 230 passing) and Wyoming produced 394 yards (129 rushing, 265 passing). USU, who averaged 6.0 yards per play on the night, finished with 29 first downs and converted its first eight third downs. UW won the time-of-possession battle, 31:06 to 28:54.
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND AIR FORCE
• In 10 games, Air Force has scored 30 more points than Utah State, 317-287.
• The 1,247 yards (628 by USU, 619 by AFA) and 94 combined points in the 2021 meeting are the most in series history.
• Utah State's win in 2021 by four points was its first one-possession win in series history. Its previous three wins had all been by double digits. 
• Air Force's last two wins in the series have both been by 20-plus points, while its previous three wins were by one score and a total of 17 points (5.7 ppg). 
• The winning team has scored at least 27 points in all 10 meetings, while eight of the 10 winners have scored at least 34 points. Conversely, the losing team has only scored less than 20 points four times. 
• The team that has more yards of total offense has won eight of the 10 meetings in the series, with the exception being when Utah State lost back-to-back games despite having 88 more yards of total offense (414-326) in 2016 and 81 more yards (521-440) in 2017. 
• The team that controls the time of possession has won six of the last nine games.
• The team with the most rushing yards has won seven of the 10 games in the series.
• The team that scores first has won seven of the 10 games played in the series, while the team that leads at the half has won eight of the 10 games played in the series.
• Air Force has had four 100-yard receivers in series history, but has never had a 300-yard passer. 
• Air Force has had a 100-yard rusher in four of the last five meetings, including two in 2017 and two in 2021. In the first five games in the series, AFA did not have a 100-yard rusher against Utah State.
• Utah State has had four 300-yard passers and six 100-yard receivers in series history, and has had a 100-yard rusher in three of the last five games played in the series.
• The team with fewer turnovers has won five of the last eight games played in the series.
• Utah State has passed for at least 280 yards in seven of the last nine games against Air Force. In 2021, Logan Bonner was 21-of-34 for 253 yards and two touchdowns, while Andrew Peasley was 10-of-15 for 195 yards and a career-high-tying three touchdowns. In 2018, Jordan Love was 26-of-38 for a then-career-high 356 yards and two touchdowns. In 2017, Love was 17-of-30 for 284 yards with two touchdowns. In 2016, Kent Myers was 29-of-47 for 360 yards and one touchdown. In 2015, Myers was 25-of-47 for a career-high 364 yards and four touchdowns. In 2014, Darrel Garretson was 20-of-29 for 298 yards and two touchdowns. And in 2013, Chuckie Keeton was 32-of-40 for 360 yards and five touchdowns.
• Utah State has traditionally put up some big offensive numbers against Air Force. In its first six Mountain West meetings from 2013-18, USU averaged 35.2 points and 471.4 yards of total offense per game (341.2 passing, 130.2 rushing), which included two games of 500-plus yards (2013, 2017), two games with over 200 yards rushing (2013, 2017), and passing for over 300 yards in every game except 2017, when it passed for 284 yards. 
• During its 2021 meeting, Utah State had 628 yards of total offense (180 rushing, 448 passing) to rank as the 12th-most total yards in a single game in school history. Furthermore, its 448 passing yards in that game are the sixth-most in school history. USU also had a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers in the game.
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State team and individual statistical performances against Air Force over the years.
• Chuckie Keeton tied his own school record with five touchdown passes at Air Force in 2013. 
• Jess Garcia punted a school-record 14 times against Air Force in 1969.
• Kent Myers' 364 passing yards at Air Force in 2015 are tied for the 28th-most in a single game in Utah State history. 
• Hunter Sharp's 193 receiving yards at Air Force in 2015 are tied for the 20th-most in school history.
• Zach Vigil had a career-high 22 tackles against Air Force in 2014, which is tied for the fifth-most in a single game in school history.
• Utah State punted 14 times against Air Force in 1969, which is tied for the most in a single game in school history.
• Utah State held Air Force to 24 passing yards in its 2019 meeting and 33 passing yards in 2017, which are the 12th-and 16th-fewest in school history.
• Utah State had 628 yards of total offense in 2021, to rank as the 12th-most in a single game in school history. Furthermore, its 448 passing yards in that game are the sixth-most in school history.
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 171-190-8 (.474) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 40-27-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 36-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, an 18-8 record vs. UNLV, a 19-20-1 record vs. San José State, a 15-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 13-18-1 record vs. Fresno State, an 11-6 record vs. Hawai`i, a 7-19 record vs. Nevada, a 5-21 record vs. Boise State, a 4-6 record vs. Air Force, and a 3-13 record vs. San Diego State.
 
LAST MEETING 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. 
 
LAST HOME MEETING vs. AIR FORCE
LOGAN, Utah - In its final home game of the 2020 season, Utah State scored a touchdown on its opening drive, but could not score again in a 35-7 Mountain West loss to Air Force at Maverik Stadium on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020.
 
Utah State (1-5, 1-5 MW) took the opening kickoff and marched 65 yards in 15 plays, capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass from sophomore QB Andrew Peasley to senior WR Jordan Nathan. It was the Aggies' longest drive of the year as they took more than eight minutes off of the clock.
 
Peasley, the defending MW Offensive Player of the Week, was 17-of-32 passing for 123 yards and the one touchdown, to go along with a pair of interceptions. He also led the Aggies in rushing with 53 yards on eight carries.
 
Senior WR Derek Wright and sophomore WR Tim Patrick Jr. led Utah State's receiving corps as each caught three passes for 21 yards. Senior WR Taylor Compton and freshman RB Elelyon Noa added three catches apiece for 18 and 15 yards, respectively. Senior TE Carson Terrell added two receptions for a team-best 27 yards and Nathan finished the game with two catches for 15 yards. Noa also carried the ball 10 times for 30 yards.
 
Freshman RB John Gentry led Utah State with 129 all-purpose yards as he returned five kickoffs for 118 yards and added 11 rushing yards on four carries.
 
Utah State finished with 232 yards of total offense (123 passing, 109 rushing). Conversely, Air Force recorded 461 total yards, including 351 on the ground. The Falcons came into the game with a nation-leading rushing average of 336.5 yards per game. USU started the game by converting its first five third downs and finished the game 9-of-14 on third down, as compared to 5-of-10 for Air Force. The Falcons also went 3-of-4 on fourth down and possessed the ball for 34:54.
 
Air Force QB Haazig Daniels completed 7-of-9 passes for 127 yards, including a 49-yard touchdown pass to Ben Peterson that gave the Falcons (3-2, 2-2 Mountain West) the lead for good, 14-7, with 9:32 remaining in the second quarter. Right before intermission, Daniels scored on a 37-yard touchdown run to cap an eight-play, 99-yard drive, giving the Falcons a 21-7 lead at the break.
 
Kadin Remsberg led the Falcons' ground attack with 107 yards and one touchdown on just 11 carries. Brad Roberts added 98 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
 
Defensively, Utah State was led by senior OLB Nick Heninger. The reigning MW Defensive Player of the Week recorded a career-high 14 stops to lead the Aggies, while senior lLB Kevin Meitzenheimer added 10 tackles. For Heninger, it was his first-career double-digit tackle outing, while Meitzenheimer record the third of his career. 
Senior S Shaq Bond had seven tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, while senior DL Justus Te'i had USU's only sack of the game. 
Freshman P Stephen Kotsanlee had all three of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
 
Utah State had four players make their first-career starts in the game in redshirt freshman OLB Kaleo Neves, freshman S Luke Marion, freshman TE Josh Sterzer and Noa, to give USU 23 first-time starters on the season. Sophomore RB Cooper Jones and redshirt freshman DL Aaron Bredsguard also made their Aggie debut.
 
GAME 5 RECAP vs. BYU
PROVO, Utah - Junior QB Cooper Legas passed for 188 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for another score, but it wasn't enough as Utah State wrapped up non-conference play with a 38-26 loss at No. 19 BYU on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.
 
Legas, playing in place of the injured Logan Bonner, made his first-career start for the Aggies (1-4) and completed 19-of-31 passes. He also threw two interceptions. His favorite target on the night was graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs, who caught a career-high 10 passes for 96 yards and a career-best two touchdowns.
 
Jaren Hall was 17-of-27 for 273 yards and three touchdowns for the Cougars (4-1), who outscored Utah State 21-9 in the second half.
 
BYU finished with 396 yards of total offense, while Utah State tallied 394 total yards, including 206 on the ground.
 
The Aggies scored on their opening possession for the first time this season when Legas led them on a 12-play, 75-yard drive that he capped with a 7-yard touchdown run, the first of his career. The native of Orem, Utah, finished with a career-high 54 yards rushing on a career-best 20 carries.
 
Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. led all rushers in the game with 104 yards on 18 carries for his second 100-yard rushing game this season and the sixth of his career. Freshman RB Robert Briggs added 10 carries for 46 yards for USU.
 
Tyler also caught two passes for 18 yards, while junior WR Terrell Vaughn had five catches for 46 yards.
 
BYU tied the game at 7-all with 9:56 remaining in the first quarter, then grabbed a 14-7 lead less than two minutes later when Max Tooley intercepted a pass from Legas and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown.
 
A season-long 50-yard field goal from graduate senior PK Connor Coles cut the deficit to 14-10 with 9:34 left in the second quarter. Utah State moved back in front 17-14 when Cobbs caught the first of his two touchdowns, a 14-yarder from Legas with 5:04 remaining.
 
Coles also made a 33-yard field goal in the third quarter as he finished the game scoring eight points.
 
The two teams went into the halftime break knotted at 17-apiece after Jake Oldroyd made a 45-yard field goal with 2:32 left in the quarter.
 
BYU scored 21 of the first 24 points in the second half to pull away from the Aggies, who fought until the very end. Cobbs caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Legas with 1:09 to go in the game, making it 38-26.
 
Utah State elected to go for a two-point conversion, but did not get it. The Aggies also tried an onside kick, but the Cougars recovered and ran out the remainder of the clock.
 
Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh and graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds had nine tackles apiece for the Aggies, while junior ILB MJ Tafisi added eight stops. 
Reynolds also had a tackle for loss and pass breakup for the Aggies, while Tafisi had 1.0 sacks and Vongphachanh had 0.5 TFLs.
 
Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen also had a sack for USU, while junior OLB Kaleo Neves tied his career-high with 1.5 tackles for loss. 
 
UTAH STATE DROPS FOURTH-STRAIGHT GAME
• Since posting a season-opening 31-20 home win against UConn, Utah State has dropped four-straight games, which is its longest losing streak since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. 
The last time USU lost five-straight games was at the end of the 2016 campaign.
 
• Utah State is now 6-65 all-time against Associated Press top-25 teams, which includes a 1-14 ranked against nationally-ranked BYU teams, following its 38-26 loss at BYU last week. USU is also 1-3 under head coach Blake Anderson against AP top-25 opponents, including an 0-2 record this season.  
 
USU HAS NINE TURNOVERS AND ZERO TAKEAWAYS IN ITS LAST TWO GAMES
• During its last two games, Utah State has committed nine turnovers (seven interceptions, two fumbles) and has zero takeaways, which includes one interception returned for a touchdown.
 
• In its loss at No. 19 BYU, Utah State committed three turnovers with two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and one fumble in the red zone. In its previous game against UNLV, USU committed six turnovers as it threw five interceptions, to go along with one fumble. Those six turnovers are the most in a game for USU since it had six turnovers against Boise State in 2008, while its five interceptions are its most since it threw five picks at Texas Tech in 1996.
 
• In its first three games of the season, Utah State had seven takeaways and six turnovers.
 
UTAH STATE PLAYS BETTER IN LOSS AT 19TH-RANKED BYU
• Despite losing at No. 19 BYU 38-26 in its last game, Utah State continued to show improvement as it rushed for 204 yards on 49 attempts (4.2 ypc) and controlled the ball for 33:21. USU also finished the game with four more first downs (24-20) than BYU and had 392 yards of total offense as compared to 397 yards for the Cougars. Furthermore, seven of BYU's points came on a pick-six, while USU turned the ball over via a fumble on the first play of the second quarter at the BYU 16-yard line, trailing 14-7.
 
• Offensively, Utah State scored points on its opening drive of the game for the first time this season as it scored a touchdown after driving 75-yards on 12 plays. USU also had a season-high in time of possession (33:21) and tied its season-high in third down conversions with six as it was 6-of-17 in the game.
 
• Defensively, Utah State held BYU to just 117 rushing yards, which was 44.0 yards below its season average, and to 397 yards of total offense, which was 60.5 yards below its season average of 457.7 yards per game. 
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE HAS BEEN SOLID ITS LAST THREE GAMES
• In its last three games, Utah State has limited its opponents to just 3.25 yards per rush attempt as Weber State, UNLV and BYU combined to rush 129 times for 419 yards. Against Weber State, the Wildcats rushed 55 times for 199 yards (3.6 ypc). Against UNLV, the Rebels rushed 42 times for 103 yards (2.5 ypc). And against BYU, the Cougars rushed 32 times for 117 yards (3.7 ypc).
 
• In its first two games of the season, Utah State's opponents rushed for 523 yards on 71 attempts (7.4 ypr).
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE LIMITING POINTS FOLLOWING TURNOVERS
• In its last three games, Utah State's defense has only given up 6 points (3 by Weber State, 3 by UNLV and 0 by BYU) following 11 turnovers. Weber State and BYU did, however, return interceptions for a touchdown. On the season, USU's opponents have scored just 23 points on 15 turnovers. If you take away the two pick sixes, USU's defense has allowed just nine points on 13 turnovers this season.  
 
LOOKING BACK AT THE UNLV LOSS
• Utah State lost to UNLV by 10 points (34-24) despite having 101 more yards of total offense as it finished the game with 421 yards (325 passing, 96 rushing) as compared to 320 yards (217 passing, 103 rushing) for the Rebels.
 
• Utah State's defense played well in its 34-24 Mountain West home loss to UNLV as it had a season-high 4.0 sacks and a season-best 12.0 tackles for loss, while its four pass breakups were tied for its most in a game this year (UConn). USU also blocked its second punt of the season, which resulted in a safety.
 
• Utah State limited UNLV to 320 yards of total offense, which was 159.7 yards below its season average of 479.7 yards per game, and to 103 rushing yards on 42 carries (2.5 ypc), which was 102.7 yards below its season average of 205.7 yards per game. UNLV entered the game averaging 5.4 yards per rush and 6.9 yards per play on the season, but was limited to just 2.5 yards per rush and 4.4 yards per play against USU.  
 
• And finally, Utah State's defense only gave up three points following six turnovers.
 
LEGAS PLAYS WELL IN FIRST-CAREER START
• Junior QB Cooper Legas was 19-of-31 passing for 188 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his first-career start last week at No. 19 BYU. Legas also carried the ball 20 times for 52 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown. All of his stats are career highs as he was playing in just his fifth-career game. 
 
• In the only other game where Legas saw significant playing time, he was 11-of-20 passing for 171 yards with two touchdowns (62, 5) and one interception in Utah State's 24-13 win against Oregon State in the 2021 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. Against the Beavers, Legas became the first FBS quarterback ever to throw a touchdown on his first collegiate pass in a bowl game.
 
• Legas' 20 rushing attempts against BYU are the most by an Aggie quarterback since Diondre Borel rushing for 105 yards on 22 carries against Fresno State in 2009.
 
COBBS HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST BYU
• Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs had a career-high 10 receptions for 96 yards and a career-high two touchdown catches (14, 27) in his last outing against BYU. Overall, he now has three touchdown receptions this season and five in his career.
 
• In the season opener against UConn, Cobbs became just the fourth player in school history to record 100 receiving yards in his Aggie debut, as he caught a then-career high eight passes for a career-best 108 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown. In fact, it was Cobbs' first-ever 100-yard receiving game. The only other Aggies to have 100 receiving yards in their first-ever USU game was Ken Thompson, who caught seven passes for 150 yards against San José State in 1979, Kevin Curtis, who caught 11 passes for 171 yards against Utah in 2001, and Siaosi Mariner, who caught eight passes for 118 yards at Wake Forest in 2019. 
 
TYLER POSTS SIXTH-CAREER 100-YARD RUSHING GAME AGAINST BYU
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. posted his second 100-yard rushing game this season and the sixth of his career as he rushed for 104 yards on 18 carries in his last outing against BYU.
 
• Tyler also rushed for a career-high 161 yards on a career-best 33 attempts in the season-opener against UConn. Overall, it was the most rushing yards and attempts by an Aggie since Gerold Bright rushed for 179 yards on 36 attempts against Colorado State in 2019. 
 
TYLER NOW 22ND ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN CAREER RUSHING YARDS
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. has now rushed for 1,280 yards on 292 attempts (4.4 ypc) and seven touchdowns in his Utah State career, which ranks 22nd all-time in school history. Overall, Tyler is one of 33 Aggies to rush for 1,000 yards in a career.
 
• During his collegiate career, which includes four years at Oregon State, Tyler has now rushed for 1,404 yards on 322 carries (4.4 ypc) and nine touchdowns.
 
VAUGHN HAS CAREER DAY AGAINST UNLV
• In his first-career start against UNLV, Utah State junior WR Terrell Vaughn had a career game as he had a career-high six receptions for a career-best 74 yards and a career-high two touchdowns on receptions of 10 and 39 yards. Vaughn also returned one kickoff for 37 yards as he finished the game with 111 all-purpose yards.
 
• In his first two games at the Division I level, Vaughn had two receptions for 17 yards. In his last three games, he has 15 receptions for 156 yards (10.4 ypr) and two touchdowns. 
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS WITH BONNER
• Graduate senior QB Logan Bonner, who suffered both a season- and career-ending injury against UNLV, finished his Utah State career 325-of-539 (.603) passing for 4,381 yards with 42 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Those 42 touchdowns are the fifth-most in school history, while his completion percentage is the seventh-best.
 
• In his first season at Utah State in 2021, Bonner set five single-season school records, including 3,628 passing yards and 36 touchdown passes. He finished the season 263-of-429 (.613) passing to rank fourth in school history in completions, sixth in attempts and seventh in completion percentage, while his 3,694 yards of total offense were the second-most in school history. Furthermore, his 36 touchdown passes tied for the fourth-most in Mountain West history and seventh-most in school history, while his completion percentage (.613) is the third-best. He also tied the school record for passing touchdowns in a game (5) against New Mexico (11/26/21). He was also named the MW Championship Game Offensive MVP as he was 29-of-42 passing for 318 yards and four touchdowns, setting season highs in both completions and attempts against No. 19 San Diego State.  
 
BRIGGS NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
• Utah State RB Robert Briggs was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week after setting the school record for rushing yards by a true freshman in their first-ever game, as he gained 85 yards on 10 carries, including a 23-yard touchdown, against UConn. The previous record was set by QB Kent Myers, who rushed for 28 yards on three carries against UNLV in 2014.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM BYU GAME
• Junior ILB MJ Tafisi tied his career high with 1.0 sacks to give him 2.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss in his career, including 6.5  TFLs this season to lead the team. He finished the game with eight tackles. Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh had nine tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, to give him 4.5 TFLs on the season and 15.0 TFLs in his career. Graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds had nine tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, to give him 1.5 TFLs on the season and 7.5 TFLs in his career. He also had one pass breakup to give him three PBUs this season and five in his career. Junior OLB Kaleo Neves tied his career high with 1.5 tackles for loss to give him 3.5 TFLs on the season and in his career. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson had his first pass breakup of the season to give him 12 PBUs in his career. Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen had 1.0 sacks, which was the first sack of his career.
 
VONGPHACHANH HAS DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLES AGAINST UNLV  
• Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh had 10 tackles for his second double-digit tackle outing of the season and the third of his career against UNLV. He also tied his career high with 1.0 sacks and had a career-best 2.0 tackles for loss. Vongphachanh also had his first pass breakup of the season and the second of his career against the Rebels.    
 
TAFISI TIES CAREER HIGH WITH 10 TACKLES AGAINST UNLV 
• Junior ILB MJ Tafisi tied his career high with 10 tackles against UNLV for his third double-digit tackle outing of the season and his career.      
 
MOTU'APUAKA HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST UNLV 
• Senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka had a career game against UNLV as he had a career-high seven tackles, to go along with a career-best 2.0 sacks and a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss. Overall, he now has 4.5 sacks and 11.5 TFLs in his career.     
 
LARSEN BLOCKS SECOND PUNT OF THE SEASON IN UNLV GAME
• Utah State S Ike Larsen blocked his second punt of the season against UNLV, which resulted in a safety for the Aggies. Larsen also blocked a punt at No. 1 Alabama as he was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week after recording a career-high seven tackles, to go along with his second interception in as many games, and his first-career blocked punt.
 
• The last time a USU player blocked two punts in one season was in 2017, when DJ Nelson and Louy Compton both accomplished the feat.
 
COLES IN THE UTAH STATE RECORD BOOKS  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles was 2-of-2 on field goals (50, 33) against BYU and is now 3-of-3 this season and 26-of-35 (.743) on field goals and ranks fourth all-time in career field goal percentage. Coles, who is tied with Al Knapp (1973-74) for ninth all-time in school history in field goals made and 10th all-time in field goal attempts, is 71-of-74 (.959) all-time in extra points and that percentage ranks as the ninth-best all-time in school history. He also ranks eighth all-time in school history in both extra points made and attempted.
 
• For his career, Coles has been named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week twice, against New Mexico in 2020 and against Washington State in 2021.
 
KOTSANLEE RANKS SEVENTH ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN PUNTING  
• Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee has punted 118 times in his career for an average of 41.8 yards, which is tied with Russell Griffith (1983) for the seventh-best average in school history. Last season, Kotsanlee punted 53 times for an average of 42.5 yards, which is the ninth-best single-season average in school history.
 
• As a freshman in 2020, Kotsanlee earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors as he punted 37 times for an average of 40.7 yards per punt with 17 of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He also had four punts of at least 50 yards, including a season long of 63 yards.
 
• Kotsanlee has 10 punts this year and 23 in his career of at least 50 yards, to go along with 13 punts this year and 49 in his career that have been downed inside the 20-yard line. 
 
VAUGHN SCORES FIRST-CAREER TOUCHDOWN ON KICKOFF RETURN  
• Junior WR Terrell Vaughn returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter against Weber State, which is the first of his career, and tied for the third-longest in school history. It is also one of eight kickoff returns in school history that have gone at least 100 yards.   
 
UTAH STATE THIRD IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN SACKS ALLOWED 
• Utah State's offense has allowed six sacks (1.20 pg) this season to rank third in the Mountain West and 28th in the nation. USU is also fourth in the MW and 104th in the nation in passing offense (201.6 ypg), fifth in the MW and 100th in the nation in total offense (354.4 ypg), sixth in the MW and 73rd in the nation in rushing offense (152.8 ypg), ninth in the MW and 115th in the nation in completion percentage (.545), eighth in the MW and 120th in the nation in passing efficiency (107.8), and 10th in the MW and 120th in the nation in scoring offense (17.6 ppg).      
 
• Utah State's offense is also second in the MW and 19th in the nation in tackles for loss allowed with 20 (4.0 pg), eighth in the MW and 76th in the nation in fumbles lost with four (0.80 pg), sixth in the MW and 98th in the nation in passing yards per completion (11.1), and eighth in the MW and 103rd in the nation in fourth down conversion percentage at 35.3 percent (6-of-17).
 
UTAH STATE LEADING THE NATION IN FOURTH DOWN ATTEMPTS
• Utah State is 6-of-17 (.353) on fourth down this season and is leading the nation with its 17 fourth down attempts.
 
UTAH STATE EIGHTH IN THE NATION IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is first in the Mountain West and eighth in the nation in tackles for loss with 40 (8.0 pg), fifth in the MW and 61st in the nation in passing defense (219.8 ypg), eighth in the MW and 85th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (138.5), ninth in the MW and 96th in the nation in total defense (408.2 ypg), 10th in the MW and 104th in the nation in sacks with seven (1.40 pg), 10th in the MW and 120th in the nation in scoring defense (36.4 ppg), and 11th in the MW and 108th in the nation in rushing defense (188.4 ypg).  
 
UTAH STATE HAS FORCED SEVEN TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has forced seven turnovers (6 interceptions, 1 fumble) in five games this year, and is fourth in the Mountain West and 22nd in the nation with six interceptions (1.25 pg), fifth in the MW and 62nd in the nation with seven forced turnovers, and ninth in the MW and 111th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.20 pg).
 
UTAH STATE SIXTH IN THE NATION WITH TWO BLOCKED PUNTS
• Utah State has blocked punts against both Alabama and UNLV this season, and is tied for sixth in the nation with its two blocked punts on the year. Overall, USU is one of just 13 teams in the nation that has blocked two or more punts on the season. In all, USU has blocked four punts in its last seven games dating back to the 2021 season.
 
• Utah State is also second in the MW and 27th in the nation in kickoff returns (24.2 ypr), third in the MW and 70th in the nation in punt return defense (7.3 ypr), sixth in the MW and 71st in the nation in net punting (38.8 ypp), seventh in the MW and 73rd in the nation in punt returns (7.5 ypr), and 10th in the MW and 97th in the nation in kickoff return defense (22.6 ypr). 
 
AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
• Junior WR Terrell Vaughn is tied for first in the nation with his one kickoff return for touchdown (0.20 pg), first in the Mountain West and fifth in the nation in kickoff returns (32.3 ypr), and sixth in the MW in receiving touchdowns with two (0.40 pg). Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen is first in the MW and second in the nation with two blocked kicks (0.40 pg), and fifth in the MW and 30th in the nation with two interceptions (0.40 pg). Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak is second in the MW and 27th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.20 pg). Junior ILB MJ Tafisi is second in the MW and 29th in the nation in tackles for loss (1.3 pg), and sixth in the MW and 59th in the nation in tackles (8.2 pg). Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs is third in the MW and 45th in the nation in receptions (5.6 pg), third in the MW and 58th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with three (0.60 pg), and fifth in the MW and 80th in the nation in receiving (67.4 ypg). Senior RB Cooper Jones is fourth in the MW and 42nd in the nation in punt returns (7.5 ypr). Graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds is fifth in the MW and 30th in the nation with two interceptions (0.40 pg). Senior WR Justin McGriff is fifth in the MW and 83rd in the nation in yards per reception (16.6), sixth in the MW in receiving touchdowns with two (0.40 pg), and 11th in the MW in receiving (46.4 ypg). Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee is sixth in the MW and 55th in the nation in punting (42.0 ypp). Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is fifth in the MW and 47th in the nation in rushing (79.2 ypg), eighth in the MW in rushing  yards per carry (4.1), and 10th in the MW in all-purpose yards (89.8 ypg). Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh is ninth in the MW and 72nd in the nation in tackles (7.8 pg). Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is 10th in the MW and 95th in the nation in field goals per game (0.75). And, senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka is 10th in the MW and 97th in the nation with two sacks (0.50 pg).                
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Through five weekends of the 2022 season, Utah State is one of just 16 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams that has returned a kickoff for a touchdown along with Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Eastern Michigan, Florida State, Kentucky, Miami, Fla., New Mexico, North Carolina, North Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma State, South Florida, Texas A&M, UTSA and Western Michigan. 
 
BLAKE ANDERSON ENTERS SECOND SEASON AT UTAH STATE
• Blake Anderson is entering his second season as Utah State's head coach after leading the Aggies to their best-ever season in his first year in 2021 as USU tied the school record with 11 wins (11-3, 6-2 MW), won its first-ever Mountain West Championship with a 46-13 victory at No. 19 San Diego State, posted a 24-13 win against Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl and finished the season ranked 24th in the nation in both polls.
 
• Anderson was one of 19 first-year head coaches at the FBS level in 2021 and was the only one to win nine or more games. Anderson is also the only first-year head coach in school history to win double-digit games. The previous record was nine wins set by Matt Wells in 2013.  
 
• Anderson was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 5 Coach of the Year in 2021 and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. 
 
• Anderson has won three conference championships as a head coach with two Sun Belt titles at Arkansas State (2015, 2016), along with one Mountain West title at Utah State (2021). Anderson coached in his seventh bowl game in eight seasons last year and has a 3-4 bowl record.
 
UTAH STATE RETURNS MAJORITY OF ITS COACHING STAFF  
• Utah State is returning eight of its 10 full-time assistants, as only cornerbacks coach Ray Brown (Washington State) and defensive line coach Al Lapuaho (Nevada) did not return. Those eight returning assistants are the most since the 2010 staff returned all nine of its assistant coaches from the previous season.
 
• Utah State is returning all three of its coordinators in Anthony Tucker (offense), Ephraim Banda (defense) and Nick Paremski (special teams) for the first time since 2013, when Kevin McGiven (offense), Todd Orlando (defense) and Dave Ungerer (special teams) were each in their second seasons, respectively.
 
• Utah State head coach Blake Anderson has four former Aggies on staff in running backs coach Chuckie Keeton (2011-15), tight ends coach DJ Tialavea (2010-13), defensive graduate assistant AJ Pataiali'i (2012-13) and director of player personnel Austin Albrecht (2014-16).
 
BANDA ONE OF TWO HISPANIC DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS IN THE NATION
• Utah State defensive coordinator and safeties coach Ephraim Banda is one of only two hispanic defensive coordinators in the nation at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level along with Penn State's Manny Diaz. Overall, Banda is one of 13 hispanic coaches at the FBS level, which includes five head coaches. 
 
• Banda was also named one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation in January of 2021, by Rivals.com.
 
CEFALO HAS COACHED THREE-STRAIGHT BILETNIKOFF SEMIFINALISTS
• Utah State passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo has coached a Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist in each of his last three seasons. In his first year at USU in 2021, Cefalo coached Deven Thompkins, who set school records with 102 receptions for 1,704 yards. At Arkansas State, Cefalo coached Jonathan Adams in 2020 and Omar Bayless in 2019, as both players were named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Players of the Year.
 
UTAH STATE HAS MOST DIVERSE COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• For the second straight year, 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).
 
• Of Utah State's 10 full-time assistant coaches, six are minorities, which is tied for the fifth-most minorities on a staff in the nation behind Hawai'i (8), Miami, Fla. (8), Northern Illinois (7) and Virigina (7), and tied with Arizona State, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia State, Illinois, LSU, Michigan State, Missouri, Penn State, Rice and Texas A&M.
 
UTAH STATE HAS THE THIRD-YOUNGEST COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• Of Utah State's 10 full-time assistant coaches, two are in their 20s, five are in their 30s and three are in their 40s. The average age of those 10 assistants is 35.1 years, which ranks as the third-youngest staff in the nation behind Old Dominion (33.5) and Georgia State (35.0).
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• For just the second time in program history, Utah State is returning its head coach, Blake Anderson, after finishing the previous season nationally ranked. John Ralston is the only other Aggie head coach to return as his 1961 team finished that season ranked 10th in the nation in both the AP and UPI polls with a 9-1-1 record. The three other times USU concluded a season nationally ranked, its head coach left for another head coaching position. Chuck Mills went to Wake Forest after the 1972 team went 8-3 record and was 19th in the final UPI poll. Gary Andersen went to Wisconsin after the 2012 team finished the year 16th in the AP poll and 17th in the Coaches poll as it went 11-2 and set the school record for wins. And, Matt Wells went to Texas Tech after the 2018 team finished the year 21st in the Coaches poll and 22nd in the AP poll as it went 11-2 and tied the school record for wins. 
 
UTAH STATE HAS TWO QUARTERBACKS ON ITS ROSTER WITH BOWL WINS
• Utah State is one of just two Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs in the nation to have multiple quarterbacks on its roster with bowl wins, joining South Carolina. Ironically, for USU, neither of USU's quarterbacks with a bowl win is its starter as junior Cooper Legas led the Aggies to a 24-13 win against Oregon State in the 2021 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, while sophomore transfer Levi Williams led Wyoming to a 52-38 win against Kent State in the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and to a 38-17 win against Georgia State in the 2019 Arizona Bowl. USU starter, graduate senior Logan Bonner, started the LA Bowl, but was hurt early in the game with USU trailing 7-0.
 
UTAH STATE HAS ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED O-LINES IN THE NATION
• Utah State returns four of its starters along the offensive line from last season in graduate senior Alfred Edwards (GP-47, GS-46), graduate senior Jacob South (GP-27, GS-17), graduate senior Chandler Dolphin (GP-22, GS-14) and sophomore Cole Motes (GP-12, GS-9). Combined, this group has appeared in 108 career games with 86 starts.
 
• Overall, Utah State is one of just 19 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs to return at least four starts along the offensive line from last season, while its 76 combined career starts are tied for the 13th-most in the nation and its 95 combined games played are the 19th-most.
 
AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS 
•  Utah State has 11 players on its 2022 roster who have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in senior OL Wade Meacham, junior TE Josh Sterzer, junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen, redshirt freshman CB Ty Barnett, redshirt freshman DT Johnson Hansen, redshirt freshman ILB Sione Moa, redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki, redshirt freshman WR Timm Van Leeuwen, freshman P Ryan Marks, freshman ILB Bronson Olevao and freshman OL Adam Pond.
 
AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED 
• Utah State has three players on its 2022 roster who are married in senior OL Wade Meacham, junior TE Josh Sterzer and sophomore OL Cole Motes.
 
UTAH STATE HAS ONLY RUSSIAN IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT FBS LEVEL
• Utah State has the only Russian on a roster at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level in junior OL Nikita Iuferov, who transferred to USU from San Mateo (California) Junior College.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Utah State has 14 players on its roster that have already received their bachelor's degree in senior QB Logan Bonner, senior WR Brian Cobbs, senior PK Connor Coles, senior OL Alfred Edwards, senior OL Chandler Dolphin, senior CB Andre Grayson, senior S Gurvan Hall Jr., senior OL Wade Meacham, senior DT Phillip Paea, senior S Hunter Reynolds, senior OL Jacob South, senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr., junior DE Daniel Grzesiak and junior WR Xavier Williams.
 
UTAH STATE HAS SIX BOWL TEAMS ON ITS 2022 SCHEDULE
• Utah State has six teams on its 2022 schedule that played in a bowl game last season in Alabama (CFP Cotton Bowl, CFB National Championship), BYU (Independence Bowl), Air Force (First Responder Bowl), Wyoming (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl), Hawai'i (Hawaii Bowl) and Boise State (Arizona Bowl).
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is one of 16 teams that ended the 2021 season nationally ranked in The Associated Press poll to return both its head coach and starting quarterback in 2022. The others are Arkansas, Alabama, BYU, Clemson, Georgia, Houston, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest and Utah.
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• Utah State finished the 2021 season with 114.0 tackles for loss, which tied for the second-most in the nation. In fact, those 114.0 tackles for loss tied the 2014 team for the second-most in school history and was one shy of the school record of 115.0 set in 1999.