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AGGIES HOST NEW MEXICO IN MOUNTAIN WEST GAME SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 1:30 p.m. 
 
NEW MEXICO (2-6, 0-4 MW) vs. UTAH STATE (3-5, 2-2 MW)
Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022 • 1:30 p.m. (MT) • Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)
 
GAME 9 INFORMATION
TV: CBS Sports Network 
• Play-by-Play: John Sadak
• Analyst: Randy Cross
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 269/753 HD
• DISH: Ch. 158
• DirecTV: Ch. 221
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard 
• Analyst: Kevin White
• National: Sirius XM 382 / SXM App 9762
• Online: kslsports.com/kslsportszone
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (3-5, 2-2 MW) continues Mountain West play this weekend as it hosts New Mexico (2-6, 0-4 MW) on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 1:30 p.m., on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753 HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221) with John Sadak (play-by-play) and Randy Cross (analyst) on the call.  

• Utah State is 45-29 (.608) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 24-14 (.632) home record, and has won 55 of its last 84 (.655) league games dating back to 2011. All-time, USU is 157-115 (.577) inside Maverik Stadium, including a 44-19 (.698) record in its last 63 home games.  

• Utah State (46-30) has the third-best record against Mountain West opponents (including championship games) since it joined the league in 2013. Boise State (64-15) has the best record, while San Diego State (55-21) has the second-best. New Mexico has the worst record (19-56).

• Utah State has had 36 different players make at least one start this season, which is tied for the 13th-most in the nation. New Mexico is first nationally with 47 players that have made a start this season, while Mountain West-foes Colorado State (41) and Hawai'i (40) are tied for fourth and seventh in the nation, respectively.

• Utah State has had 19 players make their first-career start this year, while 30 players have made their Aggie debut. Only five Aggies made their first-career start last year.

• Utah State is averaging 2.59 plays per minute this season to lead the Mountain West and rank 15th in the nation. Indiana leads the nation at 3.14 plays per minute.

• Utah State has had four players honored by the Mountain West this season as junior P Stephen Kotsnalee has been named the Special Teams Player of the Week once, while redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen, freshman RB Robert Briggs and freshman QB Bishop Davenport have all been named the MW Freshman of the Week once this year. 

• 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.
 
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 65-45 overall record, including a 46-22 conference mark. He has posted a 14-8 record at USU, including a 8-4 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 NEW MEXICO
• New Mexico is 2-6 on the season and 0-4 in Mountain West play following its 41-9 Mountain West home loss to Fresno State two weekends ago. The Lobos are led by senior QB Miles Kendrick, who is 84-of-143 (.587) passing for 863 yards (107.9 ypg) with three touchdowns and seven interceptions. Sophomore RB Nate Jones leads the team in rushing with 308 yards on 83 carries (3.7 ypc/44.0 ypg) with one touchdown. And, sophomore WR Luke Wysong has caught 23 passes for 204 yards (8.9 ypr/29.1 ypg) and one touchdown. Defensively, freshman S A.J. Haulcy has a team-best 61 tackles, which includes 2.5 tackles for loss, while sophomore LB Cody Moon has 60 tackles, which includes 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. As a team, New Mexico is averaging 16.8 points and 245.6 yards of total offense per game (131.3 rushing, 114.4 passing), and allowing 24.1 points and 352.1 yards of total offense (135.9 rushing, 216.3 passing). New Mexico returns 10 starters (O-3, D-7) and 42 lettermen (O-16, D-20, S-4) from last year's team that went 3-9 overall and 1-7 in MW play to finish sixth in the Mountain Division. Danny Gonzales is 7-20 in his third season as a collegiate head coach.
 
AGGIES AND LOBOS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State and New Mexico will meet for the 29th time this weekend with USU holding a 15-13 advantage all-time, which includes an 8-4 home record. USU has won each of the last five games played between the two teams and eight of the last 11 overall. The first game played in the series was in Albuquerque on Dec. 1, 1951, with UNM winning 17-13. USU won last year's meeting in Albuquerque, 35-10, and posted a 41-27 home win in 2020, which is the last time the two teams played one another in Logan. Overall, USU is 7-2 against the Lobos since joining the Mountain West in 2013.
 
UTAH STATE vs. NEW MEXICO SERIES 12TH-MOST PLAYED IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and New Mexico will be meeting for the 29th time this weekend in what is the 12th-most played series in school history. 
 
• Utah State and New Mexico have spent 21 years as league foes as both schools were members of the Skyline Conference from 1951 to 1961, along with its current membership in the Mountain West. The Lobos have been members of the MW since its inception in 1999, while USU joined the league prior to the 2013 season.
 
COACHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEW MEXICO
• Utah State head coach Blake Anderson spent three years (1999-2001) as an assistant (WR, RB) at New Mexico under Rocky Long, who was the head coach of the Lobos and is now UNM's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Current UNM head coach Danny Gonzales was a graduate assistant for the Lobos during Anderson's time on staff in Albuquerque. 
 
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEW MEXICO PLAYERS
• The following are connections between Utah State and New Mexico players. USU graduate senior CB Andre Grayson and UNM senior WR Geordon Porter both attended Etiwanda HS in Rancho Cucamonga, California. USU senior RB Cooper Jones and UNM senior OL Isaak Gutierrez began their collegiate careers at Butte College in Oroville, California. USU senior DT Aurion Peoples and UNM senior S Antonio Hunt began their collegiate careers at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California. USU sophomore RB Bailey Davenport and freshman QB Bishop Davenport both attended Spring HS in Houston, Texas, as did UNM freshman RB Myron Carter. USU sophomore LS Jacob Garcia and UNM redshirt freshman OL Shancco Matautia both attended Servite HS in Anaheim, California. And, USU sophomore WR Jalen Royals and UNM sophomore OL Tavien Ford began their collegiate careers at Georgia Military Academy.
 
STATS FOR CURRENT AGGIES WITH MULTIPLE GAMES PLAYED vs. NEW MEXICO
• The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against New Mexico in multiple games played. Graduate senior OL Alfred Edwards has 2.0 knockdowns in four games. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson has five tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, in three games. Senior CB Ajani Carter has eight tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, in three games. Senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka has three tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, in three games. Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh has 13 tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss and a career-high 1.0 sacks, and one quarterback hurry in three games. Senior CB Michael Anyanwu has five tackles in two games. Junior OLB Kaleo Neves has one tackle in three games. Junior RB John Gentry has 33 yards rushing on nine carries (3.7 ypc) and one catch for minus one yard in two games. Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee has eight punts for 349 yards (43.6 ypp), including a long of 52 and four inside the 20-yard line, in two games. Redshirt sophomore S Luke Marion has one tackle, to go along with the only interception and only pass breakup of his career, in two games. Sophomore QB Levi Williams is 7-of-19 passing (.368) for 124 yards and one interception, to go along with 52 yards rushing on 14 carries (3.71 ypc), in two games. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 33 players in its program from the Beehive State, while New Mexico has 35 players on its roster from the Land of Enchantment.
• Utah State is 47-21 (.691) all-time against Division I teams from the state of New Mexico with a 32-8 record against New Mexico State and a 15-13 record versus New Mexico.
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEW MEXICO
• Utah State has won each of the last five games in the series by double digits and has outscored New Mexico 199-91 (39.8-18.2) in those games.
• Utah State has held New Mexico to less than 30 points in each of the last nine meetings and in 25 games in series history. USU has scored at least 35 points in each of its last four meetings. 
• Utah State has held New Mexico to 10 or fewer points eight times in series history and is 8-0 in those games.
• Utah State has held New Mexico to less than 400 yards of offense in each of the last five meetings and in 10 of the last 13 meetings overall.
• Each of the last five games, all Utah State wins, have been by double digits. However, 11 of the 28 games (.407) in the series have been decided by one score. 
• Eleven of Utah State's last 13 wins in the series have been by double digits, while five of New Mexico's last seven wins have been by single digits.
• New Mexico has controlled the time of possession in 10 of the last 13 meetings.
• New Mexico has rushed for more yards in eight of the previous 13 meetings, while Utah State has passed for more yards in 11 of the last 13 meetings.
• The team with the most rushing yards has won 10 of the last 13 meetings, with the only exception being Utah State's wins in 2002, 2017 and 2019.
• The team with fewer turnovers has won 10 of the last 13 meetings, and there have been fewer than three turnovers by both teams in eight of the last 13 meetings.
• In the last 13 meetings, Utah State is 6-2 when scoring first and 6-2 when leading at the half, while New Mexico is 3-2 when scoring first and 2-2 when leading at the half. 
• The team that scores first has won eight of the last 10 games in the series, while the team that leads at the half has also won eight of the last 10 games.
• New Mexico has had four 100-yard receivers and four 100-yard rushers in the past 13 meetings, but no 300-yard passers, while Utah State has had five 100-yard rushers and four 100-yard receivers in the last 13 meetings, to go along with four 300-yard passers.
• In 28 previous meetings with New Mexico, Utah State has had 10 100-yard rushers, four 100-yard receivers and four 300-yard passers.
• There have been four shutouts in series history, three by Utah State's defense and one by New Mexico's defense. 
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State team and individual statistical performances against New Mexico over the years. 
• Utah State set a then-school record with 704 yards of total offense against New Mexico in 2018. That total is now the second-most in school history. 
• Utah State's 516 passing yards against New Mexico in 2018 are the second-most in school history. 
• Utah State's 39-36 loss at New Mexico in 1998 is its only triple-overtime game in school history and the Aggies have never played in an overtime game that went longer than three periods. In fact, USU has played just 12 overtime games in school history and two have been against New Mexico as the Aggies posted a 45-44 overtime home win against UNM in 2002. 
• New Mexico is Utah State's only opponent that it has played multiple overtime games against. 
• Utah State's eight forced turnovers vs. New Mexico in 1961 is tied for the most in school history, along with the eight turnovers it forced against Boise State in 2015, Idaho in 1971 and 1969, and San Diego State in 1968. USU's seven recovered fumbles against UNM in 1961 is a school record. 
• Utah State allowed just two first downs against New Mexico in 1953, which is tied for the school record, also doing so against Idaho in 1961. 
• Utah State's 470 rushing yards against New Mexico in 1960 are the second-most in school history, while its 337 rushing yards against UNM in 2013 rank as the 25th-most. 
• Utah State allowed New Mexico zero passing yards and no completions in 1954, both of which are tied for single-game school records. 
• Jordan Love's 448 passing yards against New Mexico in 2018 are the fifth-most in school history. 
• Jose Fuentes' 80-yard pass to Kevin Curtis against New Mexico in 2002 is tied for the 18th-longest pass play in school history, while Travis Cox's 79-yard pass to Barry Tolli against UNM in 2003 is tied for the 25th-longest pass play in school history. 
• Brad Bohn set a then-school record for points scored by a kicker with 18 against New Mexico in 1998, a record that was broken by Dominik Eberle. Bohn also tied the then-school record for field goals made in that game against the Lobos as he was 5-of- 5 on field goals (37, 23, 23, 41, 33) and 3-for-3 on extra points. That record was also broken by Eberle. 
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 173-191-8 (.476) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 40-28-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 37-39-2 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 5-6 record vs. Air Force, and a 3-13 record vs. San Diego State.
 
• Utah State is in its 10th year as a member of the Mountain West in 2022 and has been a Division I-A/Bowl Championship Series football playing school in each of its 125 seasons of competition. USU joined the Mountain States/Skyline Conference in 1938 until 1961. USU then played as a football independent from 1962-77 when the Aggies became members of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association in 1978. The PCAA changed its name to the Big West Conference in 1988. Following the 2000 season, when the Big West no longer sponsored football, USU spent two years as an independent (2001-02) and two years in the Sun Belt Conference (2003-04), before joining the Western Athletic Conference for eight seasons from 2005-12. USU joined the Mountain West in 2013.
 
LAST MEETING vs. NEW MEXICO
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico - Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner passed for 306 yards and a career-high five touchdowns and senior WR Deven Thompkins set the single-season school record for receiving yards as Utah State clinched a berth in the Mountain West championship game with a 35-10 win at New Mexico on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2021. 
 
The Aggies (9-3, 6-2 Mountain West) have won six of their last seven games to secure their first appearance in the conference championship game since 2013, their inaugural season in the MW. The Lobos (3-9, 1-7) ended their season with four-straight losses. 
 
Thompkins caught five passes for 35 yards to set the school record for most receiving yards in a single season. He now has 1,543 on the year, surpassing the previous mark of 1,531 set by Kevin Curtis in 2021. 
 
Utah State finished the game with 440 yards of total offense (122 rushing, 318 passing) despite possessing the ball for just 24:36. 
 
In just three quarters of work, Bonner was 16-of-23, throwing touchdown passes of 27, 39, 36, 76 and 10 yards, respectively, to tie the school record of five set by five other quarterbacks. Bonner now has 32 touchdown passes on the season, which is tied with Jordan Love for the single-season school record. 
 
Bonner staked the Aggies to a 28-0 lead at the break as he was 12-of-16 passing for 242 yards and a career-high-tying four touchdowns in the first half alone. Senior WR Derek Wright was on the receiving end of three of those passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns – from 27 and 76 yards out, respectively. 
 
Utah State's defense stymied New Mexico all game long as the Lobos were held to just 186 yards of offense, including 101 on the ground. 
 
Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice and graduate senior DE Nick Heninger led all tacklers in the game with 10-apiece. Heninger was also credited with 3.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds also recovered a fumble for the Aggies, while junior DE Byron Vaughns tied his career-high with eight stops, which included 2.0 tackles for loss. 
 
Overall, Utah State's defense finished the game with 12.0 tackles for loss and won the turnover battle, 2-0. 
 
Wright caught four passes for a career-high 150 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns. His first score of the game, a 27-yarder, gave Utah State a 7-0 lead with 8:42 to go in the first quarter. 
 
Bonner and the Aggies poured it on in the second quarter as the signal caller threw touchdown passes of 39 yards to graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan, 36 yards to graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling and a 76-yard bomb to Wright. 
 
Utah State, which racked up 281 yards in the first half and held New Mexico to 63, led 28-0 at the break. The Aggies made it 35-0 with 5:57 left in the third quarter when Bonner put the exclamation point on his day with a 10-yard touchdown pass to junior WR Justin McGriff. 
 
With the win, Utah State became just the eighth team in school history to win nine or more games. 
 
The Aggies have won five straight against the Lobos and improved to 15-13 all-time in the overall series. 
 
LAST HOME MEETING vs. NEW MEXICO
LOGAN, Utah - Sophomore QB Andrew Peasley certainly made the most of his first-career start at quarterback for Utah State as he accounted for a career-high 357 yards of total offense and four touchdowns to help the Aggies rally for a 41-27 Thanksgiving night win against New Mexico on Thursday, Nov. 26, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
Peasley, who came out of quarantine this past Sunday after testing positive for COVID-19, completed a career-best 14-of-21 passes for a career-high 239 yards and a career-best three touchdowns – all to different receivers. He also led Utah State (1-4, 1-4 Mountain West) on the ground with a career-high 118 yards and the game-clinching 62-yard touchdown run with 4:03 left in the fourth quarter. 
 
After trailing by six at the half, the Aggies took control of the contest with a stellar third-quarter performance, one in which they scored three times on offense and once on defense, to go along with a blocked punt that set up one of its scores. 
 
Peasley's first touchdown pass of the night was a beautiful 36-yarder to sophomore WR Justin McGriff that tied the score at 13-apiece with 12:20 left in the third. McGriff finished with four receptions for 99 yards, both career highs, while senior WR Derek Wright also had four catches for 70 yards, also career highs. 
 
After the defense forced the Lobos (0-5, 0-5 MW) to go three-and-out on the ensuing possession, USU struck paydirt again when Peasley found senior WR Savon Scarver wide open for a 26-yard touchdown pass that put the hosts up for good, 20-13. 
 
Freshman ILB Kina Maile – the nephew of Frank Maile – set up the Aggies' next score when he blocked a New Mexico punt. Three plays later, USU was in the end zone again when Peasley found senior TE Carson Terrell for a 25-yard touchdown pass, making it 27-13. 
 
On the Lobos' very next series, Maile found the end zone himself on a scoop-and-score. Senior OLB Nick Heninger sacked UNM quarterback Trae Hall on a third-and-14 play from the visitor's 21-yard line, forcing the signal caller to fumble in the process. Maile scooped up the loose pigskin and rumbled 16 yards into the end zone to give the hosts an insurmountable 34-13 lead with 2:50 left in the third. 
 
Defensively, senior S Shaq Bond led the Aggies with 10 tackles, including a career-high-tying 2.0 tackles for loss, while sophomore ILB AJ Vongphachanh added nine stops, including 1.0 sacks. Heninger had eight tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry, all of which are career highs. 
 
New Mexico cut it to 34-27 with 7:08 to go in the game following a 28-yard touchdown pass from Bryson Carroll to Andre Erickson, and a 1-yard touchdown run by Bobby Cole. 
 
But, Peasley cemented the Aggies' first win of the season when he eluded what would have been a sack on third down and scrambled out of the pocket, eventually making his way to the end zone for his 62-yard score. 
 
Freshman S Luke Marion put the exclamation point on the win when he intercepted a UNM pass with less than three minutes to go. 
 
All of Utah State's points in the first half came off the foot of junior PK Connor Coles, who made both of his field goal attempts, one from 27 yards and the other from 44, giving the Aggies leads of 3-0 and 6-3, respectively. 
 
GAME 8 RECAP vs. WYOMING
LARAMIE, Wyoming - Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown, while true freshman QB Bishop Davenport added a rushing touchdown of his own, but it wasn't enough as Wyoming beat the Aggies 28-14, on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, at War Memorial Stadium. 
 
Former Utah State QB Andrew Peasley, now in his first season with the Cowboys, was 13-of-26 passing for 199 yards through air, to go along with 29 yards rushing on six carries. 
 
Wyoming RB Titus Swen led all rushers in the game with 160 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries. 
 
Wyoming finished with 529 yards of total offense (330 rushing, 199 passing) and held USU to just 217 yards (113 rushing, 104 passing). Both teams also had one turnover in the game as the Aggies recovered a muffed punt that set up Davenport's touchdown, while the Cowboys intercepted a pass early in the third quarter. 
 
Tyler finished the game with 98 all-purpose yards as he had two receptions for 15 yards to go along with his 15 carries for 83 yards, while Davenport was 17-of-26 passing for 104 yards and rushed for 19 yards on 18 carries. 
 
Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs had five catches for 45 yards for the Aggies, while junior WR Terrell Vaughn had five receptions for 21 yards. 
 
The Cowboys scored the first 14 points of the game before Davenport scored on a five-yard run to make it 14-7 with 3:48 to go in the second quarter. 
 
Wyoming led 17-7 at the break, though, after John Hoyland kicked a 43-yard field goal. Utah State pulled to within 17-14 with 7:09 remaining in the third quarter after Tyler scored on a 31-yard run. Unfortunately for the injury-riddled Aggies, that's as close as they would get the rest of the way. 
 
Hoyland kicked his second field goal of the game, this time from 51 yards out, to make it 20-14 with 3:06 left in the third, and Swen cemented the win with his third rushing touchdown of the night, a six-yarder with 4:11 remaining in the fourth. 
 
The Cowboys had possession of the ball for more than 35 minutes on the night, and tallied 28 first downs – more than double the Aggies' 13. 
 
Utah State senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh finished with a game-high 10 tackles, which included a career-high-tying 1.0 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss, while graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds and junior OLB Kaleo Neves added eight stops apiece. Those eight tackles for Neves were a career high. 
 
Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak also tied his career high in tackles with six, while freshman ILB Max Alford had a career-high six stops and redshirt freshman ILB Sione Moe had a career-high four tackles, including his first-career sack. Junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. tied his career high with four tackles and sophomore DE John Ward tied his career high with three stops. 
 
Graduate senior S Gurvan Hall Jr. tied his career high with two pass breakups, and junior CB Jamie Nance recovered his first-career fumble following a muffed punt. 
 
Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee had a career high five punts of at least 50 yards, to go along with three punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line. 
 
UTAH STATE PLAYED WITHOUT SIX STARTERS IN WYOMING LOSS 
• Utah State started its game at Wyoming without six starters due to injury, and had to start its fourth-string quarterback, in its 28-14 Mountain West loss to the Cowboys two weekends ago. And, by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, when the game was still in question, USU was without two more starters on defense due to injuries sustained during the game.
 
• Part of the reason for Utah State's struggles on offense was due to starting a true freshman at quarterback in Bishop Davenport, who was playing in just his second game and made his first-career start against the Cowboys. USU was down to its fourth-string quarterback because graduate senior Logan Bonner is out with a season-ending injury suffered against UNLV (9/24), while junior Cooper Legas, who had started the last three games for USU and sophomore Levi Williams, were both injured the previous weekend at Colorado State (10/15). The last time USU had to play its fourth-string quarterback was during the 2014 campaign. USU was also without junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen, who suffered a season-ending injury against Weber State (9/10).
 
• Defensively, Utah State entered the Wyoming game without four starters as senior CB Ajani Carter and junior DE Byron Vaughns were both injured the previous weekend at Colorado State (10/15), while graduate senior DT Phillip Paea suffered a season-ending injury against Weber State (9/10) and redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki suffered a season-ending injury against UNLV (9/24).
 
• Utah State then lost two more starters during the course of the game due to injury in junior ILB MJ Tafisi and graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak.
 
• Against Wyoming, Utah State managed just 217 yards of total offense (113 rushing, 104 passing), which were its second-fewest in a game this year and Wyoming had 529 yards (330 rushing, 199 passing), which is the second-most allowed by the Aggies this season.
 
UTAH STATE ONLY FBS TEAM TO PLAY FOUR QUARTERBACKS DUE TO INJURY
• Utah State is the only Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team that has had to use four quarterbacks this season due to injury. Liberty and Rutgers have also played four different quarterbacks, but not due to injury. USU is also one of only two FBS programs this season (San Diego State) that has had to play three quarterbacks in the same game due to injury. And, USU is the only FBS program that has had three quarterbacks lead their team to a win this season, as Logan Bonner was the starter in USU's victory against UConn, while Cooper Legas was the starter in its win against Air Force, and Bishop Davenport rallied USU for a second-half come-from-behind win at Colorado State.
 
UTAH STATE POSTS THIRD COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN OF THE SEASON 
• Utah State has had to come-from-behind to win all three of its games this year as it trailed UConn 14-0 in the first quarter before posting a 31-20 win, trailed Air Force 24-20 in the fourth quarter before scoring 14 of the final 17 points to post a 34-27 win, and scored 10 of the final 13 points to defeat Colorado State 17-13, after trailing 10-7 at halftime.
• During the 2021 season, USU rallied from six double-digit deficits to post wins and won three games when trailing after three quarters. In fact, USU won each of its first five road games last season after trailing by double digits.
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE LIMITING POINTS FOLLOWING TURNOVERS
• In its last six games, Utah State's defense has given up 12 points (3 by Weber State, 3 by UNLV, 6 by Colorado State) following 15 turnovers. WSU and BYU did, however, return interceptions for scores. On the season, USU's opponents have scored 29 points on 19 turnovers. If you take away the two pick-sixes, USU's defense has allowed just 15 points on 17 turnovers.
 
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.
 
AGGIE TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON
#27 | Hunter Reynolds | S | 6-0 | 200 | G-SR | South Orange, New Jersey | Michigan
• Was named a ProFootballFocus Mid-Season Second-Team All-American this fall.
• Has started all eight games this year and ranks fifth in the Mountain West and 33rd in the nation with two interceptions, which is tied for the team lead. Reynolds also shares the team lead with six pass breakups and is third with 46 tackles.
• Reynolds has recorded at least four tackles in every game this season, including a season-high 10 stops against Weber State on Sept. 10. He also had a career-high two pass breakups against Air Force on Oct. 8. 
• Reynolds played in all 14 games, making 12 starts, in his first season at Utah State in 2021 and was second on the team with 83 tackles.
• Reynolds spent four years at Michigan (2017-20) and appeared in 20 games as he recorded 22 tackles.
 
DAVENPORT MAKES FIRST-CAREER START AT WYOMING
• Freshman Bishop Davenport, who began the season as Utah State's fourth-string quarterback, made his first-career start at Wyoming. He finished the game 17-of-26 passing for 104 yards with an interception, and rushed for 19 yards on 18 carries, including a 5-yard touchdown. 
• In his Aggie debut at Colorado State in his previous game, Davenport was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week, as he came off the bench late in the second quarter and led USU to a pair of third-quarter scoring drives to help the Aggies rally from a 10-7 halftime deficit to post a 17-13 win. On the first drive of the third quarter, Davenport led USU on an eight-play, 46-yard drive that culminated in a 48-yard field goal. On his second drive of the third quarter, USU went 59 yards in eight plays, and scored a touchdown on Davenport's 4-yard run. Against the Rams, Davenport was 3-of-9 passing for 41 yards and rushed for 29 yards on 11 carries, including a touchdown. 
 
TYLER HAS 100-YARD RUSHING STREAK SNAPPED AT WYOMING
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. gained 83 yards on 15 carries, including a 31-yard touchdown, in his last game at Wyoming. Tyler entered the contest with three-straight 100-yard rushing games as he gained 129 yards on 24 carries at Colorado State, rushed for 109 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown against Air Force, and rushed for 104 yards on 18 carries at No. 19 BYU. He also had a career-high 161 yards on a career-best 33 attempts in the season-opener against UConn.    
 
• Overall, Tyler has four 100-yard rushing games this season and eight in his career, and has two rushing touchdowns this season and 11 in his career. Tyler's four 100-yard rushing games this year are tied for the second-most in the Mountain West as Brad Roberts (Air Force) has six and George Holani (Boise State) has four.
• Tyler was the first Aggie running back to post three-straight 100-yard rushing games since Kerwynn Williams did so during the 2012 season.  
 
TYLER NOW 13TH ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN RUSHING
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. has rushed for 1,601 yards on 350 attempts (4.57 ypc) and nine touchdowns in his Utah State career, which ranks 13th all-time in school history. Overall, Tyler is one of 33 Aggies to rush for 1,000 yards in a career and one of 14 Aggies to rush for 1,500 yards.
• During his collegiate career, which includes four years at Oregon State, Tyler has now rushed for 1,725 yards on 380 carries (4.54 ypc) and 11 touchdowns.
 
LEGAS MISSES LAST TWO GAMES DUE TO INJURY
• Junior QB Cooper Legas missed the Wyoming game and the last three quarters of Utah State's win at Colorado State due to injury. In the first quarter against CSU, Legas was 9-of-12 passing for 85 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 27 yards on four carries.
• In his previous game against Air Force, Legas was 18-of-23 passing for a career-high 215 yards with a career-high-tying two touchdowns (31, 34) and one interception. He also carried the ball 13 times for a career-high 76 yards, including a 32-yard score. Overall, it was his first-career 200-yard passing game.
• In three games as USU's starting quarterback, Legas is 46-of-66 (.697) passing for 488 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions, and has rushed for 155 yards on 37 carries (4.2 ypc) and two touchdowns.
• 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.
 
McGRIFF CATCHES 11TH-CAREER TOUCHDOWN IN COLORADO STATE GAME
• Senior WR Justin McGriff had a 32-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter against Colorado State for his third touchdown catch of the season and the 11th of his career. He finished the game with four receptions for 63 yards, both of which are his second-most in a game this season.
 
VAUGHN TIES CAREER HIGH WITH SIX RECEPTIONS IN COLORADO STATE GAME
• Junior WR Terrell Vaughn tied his career high with six receptions for 48 yards at Colorado State. In his first two games at the Division I level, Vaughn had two receptions for 17 yards. In his last six games, he has 30 receptions for 277 yards (9.2 ypr) and three touchdowns.
 
COBBS HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST AIR FORCE
• Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs had eight receptions for a career-high 136 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown, against Air Force for his second 100-yard receiving game this season and of his career. In his previous game at No. 19 BYU, Cobbs had a career-high 10 receptions for 96 yards and a career-high two touchdown catches (14, 27). In his last five games, Cobbs has 32 catches for 384 yards (12.0 ypr/76.8 ypg) and three touchdowns.
• Cobbs' two 100-yard receiving games are tied for the second-most in the Mountain West as Elijah Cooks (San José St.) has three, and Tory Horton (Colorado St.) and Nikko Remigio (Fresno St.) both have two. 
 
BRIGGS NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK IN UCONN GAME
• 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 (8/27).
 
VONGPHACHANH POSTS FOURTH DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLE GAME THIS YEAR 
• Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh posted his fourth double-digit tackle game of the season and the fifth of his career with 10 stops in his last outing at Wyoming. He also tied his career high with 1.0 sacks and had 1.5 tackles for loss against the Cowboys. Overall, he has now posted at least nine tackles in each of his last six games, which includes double-digit tackles in four of those contests.    
 
GRZESIAK TIES CAREER HIGH WITH SIX TACKLES AT WYOMING  
• Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak tied his career high with six tackles, which included 0.5 tackles for loss, in his last game at Wyoming. In his previous game at Colorado State, he had five tackles, which included a career-high 3.0 sacks and a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss, to go along with a forced fumble, pass breakup and quarterback hurry.      
 
TAFISI HAD CAREER-HIGH 13 TACKLES AGAINST AIR FORCE
• Junior ILB MJ Tafisi had his second-straight double-digit tackle outing, and his fifth this season and of his career, with 12 stops against Colorado State two weekends ago. He also had 1.5 tackles for loss to give him 8.5 TFLs on the season and 10.0 TFLs in his career. In his previous game against Air Force, he had a career-high 13 tackles.       
 
DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM WYOMING GAME
•  Junior OLB Kaleo Neves had a career-high eight tackles. Freshman ILB Max Alford had a career-high six tackles. Junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. tied his career high with four tackles, to go along with his first past breakup this season and the second of his career. Graduate senior S Gurvan Hall Jr. tied his career high with two pass breakups, to give him two PBU's this season and eight in his career. Sophomore DE John Ward tied his career high with three tackles. Redshirt freshman ILB Sione Moa had a career-high four tackles, which included his first-career sack. Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen had his second pass breakup of the season. Sophomore CB Jamie Nance recovered his first-career fumble on a muffed punt. Senior CB Xavion Steele had his first-career pass breakup.  
 
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.
 
KOTSANLEE NAMED TO RAY GUY AWARD "RAY'S 8"  
• For the second time this season, junior P Stephen Kotsanlee was named to the Ray Guy Award "Ray's 8" list following his performance against Wyoming in his last outing. Against the Cowboys, Kotsanlee punted eight times for 405 yards (50.6 ypp), including a career-high five 50-yard punts (56, 53, 53, 52 and 59), to go along with three punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
• In his previous game at Colorado State, Kotsanlee was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career as he punted five times for an average of 47.2 yards with three 50-yard punts (58, 55, 59), to go along with one punt being downed inside the 20-yard line.
• Kotsanlee has 18 punts this year and 31 in his career of at least 50 yards, to go along with 17 punts this year and 53 in his career that have been downed inside the 20-yard line. 
• Overall, Kotsanlee has punted 133 times in his career for an average of 42.7 yards, which is the fourth-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.
 
COLES IN THE UTAH STATE RECORD BOOKS  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is 6-of-8 this season and 29-of-40 (.725) on field goals and ranks fifth all-time in career field goal percentage. Coles, who is ninth all-time at USU in field goals made and 10th all-time in field goal attempts, is 79-of-82 (.963) all-time in extra points and that percentage ranks as the eighth-best all-time in school history. He also is tied for seventh all-time in extra points made and is eighth all-time in extra point attempts.
• 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.
 
VAUGHN SCORES FIRST-CAREER TOUCHDOWN ON KICKOFF RETURN  
• Junior WR Terrell Vaughn returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Weber State (9/10), 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 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.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS WITH BONNER
• Graduate senior QB Logan Bonner, who suffered both a season- and career-ending injury against UNLV (9/24/22), 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 sixth-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.
 
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.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Utah State has 12 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. and junior DE Daniel Grzesiak.
 
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.
 
UTAH STATE 50TH IN THE NATION IN SACKS ALLOWED 
• Utah State's offense has allowed 14 sacks (1.75 pg) this season to rank fifth in the Mountain West and 50th in the nation. USU is also fifth in the MW and 58th in the nation in rushing offense (166.0 ypg), fifth in the MW and 113th in the nation in passing offense (183.1 ypg), sixth in the MW and 102nd in the nation in total offense (349.1 ypg), seventh in the MW and 107th in the nation in completion percentage (.567), eighth in the MW and 119th in the nation in passing efficiency (109.9), and ninth in the MW and 117th in the nation in scoring offense (19.1 ppg).       
 
• Utah State's offense is also third in the MW and 46th in the nation in tackles for loss allowed with 40 (5.00 pg), sixth in the MW and 48th in the nation in fumbles lost with five (0.63 pg), and seventh in the MW and 92nd in the nation in fourth down conversion percentage at 42.9 percent (9-of-21).  
 
UTAH STATE 26TH IN THE NATION IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is second in the Mountain West and 26th in the nation in tackles for loss with 53 (6.6 pg), third in the MW and 42nd in the nation in passing efficiency defense (124.9), fourth in the MW and 27th in the nation in passing defense (194.5 ypg), 10th in the MW and 107th in the nation in sacks with 12 (1.50 pg), 10th in the MW and 109th in the nation in scoring defense (31.2 ppg), 11th in the MW and 86th in the nation in total defense (398.9 ypg), and 11th in the MW and 118th in the nation in rushing defense (204.4 ypg).   
 
UTAH STATE HAS FORCED 11 TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has forced 11 turnovers (8 interceptions, 3 fumbles) this year to rank seventh in the Mountain West and 75th in the nation. USU is also third in the Mountain West and 36th in the nation with eight interceptions (1.0 pg) and ninth in the MW and 98th in the nation in fumbles recovered with three (0.38 pg). Conversely, USU is sixth in the MW and 48th in the nation in fumbles lost with five (0.63 pg) and 12th in the MW and 130th in the nation in interceptions thrown with 14 (1.8 pg).
 
UTAH STATE EIGHTH IN THE NATION WITH TWO BLOCKED PUNTS
• Utah State has blocked punts against both Alabama and UNLV this season, and is tied for eighth in the nation with its two blocked punts on the year. Overall, USU is one of 20 teams in the nation that has blocked two or more punts on the season. In all, USU has blocked four punts in its last 10 games dating back to the 2021 season.
 
• Utah State is third in the Mountain West and 33rd in the nation in kickoff returns (21.9 ypr), third in the MW and 57th in the nation in net punting (39.0 ypp), sixth in the MW and 83rd in the nation in punt return defense (8.2 ypr), sixth in the MW and 72nd in the nation in punt returns (7.1 ypr), and ninth in the MW and 80th in the nation in kickoff return defense (20.7 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 (0.13 pg), and is first in the Mountain West and ninth in the nation in kickoff returns (27.5 ypr), sixth in the MW in receiving touchdowns with three (0.38 pg), and seventh in the MW in receptions (4.0 pg). Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen is first in the MW and second in the nation with two blocked kicks (0.25 pg), and seventh in the MW and 76th in the nation with two interceptions (0.25 pg). Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs is second in the MW and 52nd in the nation in receptions (5.5 pg), second in the MW and 84th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with four (0.50 pg), and fourth in the MW and 81st in the nation in receiving (67.8 ypg). Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in rushing (89.6 ypg), fourth in the MW and 72nd in the nation in all-purpose yards (98.3 ypg), and seventh in the MW and 87th in the nation in rushing yards per carry (4.7). Senior RB Cooper Jones is third in the MW and 38th in the nation in punt returns (7.1 ypr). Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh is third in the MW and 33rd in the nation in tackles (8.9 pg). Senior CB Ajani Carter is fourth in the MW and 23rd in the nation in forced fumbles with two (0.29 pg). Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee is fourth in the MW and 27th in the nation in punting (44.2 ypp). Junior ILB MJ Tafisi is fourth in the MW and 44th in the nation in tackles (8.6 pg).Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak is fourth in the MW and 68th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.13 pg). Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson is fourth in the MW and 68th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.13 pg). Junior CB Jamie Nance is fourth in the MW and 68th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.13 pg). Senior WR Justin McGriff is fourth in the MW and 89th in the nation in yards per reception (15.8), and sixth in the MW in receiving touchdowns with three (0.38 pg). Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is sixth in the MW and 57th in the nation in field goal percentage (.750), and ninth in the MW and 98th in the nation in field goals made with six (0.9 pg). Graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds is seventh in the MW and 76th in the nation with two interceptions (0.25 pg). And, junior QB Cooper Legas is ninth in the MW with five passing touchdowns (1.0 pg). 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is one of just 19 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams that has returned a kickoff for a touchdown thus far this season. 
 
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 Virginia (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.