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AGGIES CONTINUE MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY AT HAWAI'I SATURDAY NIGHT
Game will be televised live on Spectrum Sports Pay-per-View on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 9 p.m. (MT). 
 
UTAH STATE (4-5, 3-2 MW) vs. HAWAI'I (2-8, 1-4 MW)
Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 • 9 p.m. (MT) • Honolulu, O'ahu • Clarence T.C. Ching Complex (9,346)
 
GAME 10 INFORMATION
TV: Spectrum Sports Pay-per-View 
• Play-by-Play: Kanoa Leahey
• Analyst: Rich Miano
• Reporter: Scott Robbs
• Online: Team1 Sports App
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard 
• Analyst: Kevin White
• National: Sirius XM 385 / SXM App 975
• Online: kslsports.com/kslsportszone
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (4-5, 3-2 MW) continues Mountain West play this weekend with a road game at Hawai'i (2-8, 1-4 MW) on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 9 p.m. (MT), on Spectrum Sports Pay-per-View with Kanoa Leahey (play-by-play), Rich Miano (analyst) and Scott Robbs (reporter) on the call. To watch the game, download the Team1 Sports app on a tablet or mobile device. The stream is not available on desktop computers.   
 
• Utah State had two players recognized by the Mountain West this week as graduate senior PK Connor Coles was named the Special Teams Player of the Week, while true freshman ILB Max Alford was named the Freshman of the Week for their performances against New Mexico. USU has had four other players honored by the MW this season in junior P Stephen Kotsanlee (Special Teams Player of the Week), 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. 
 
• Utah State is 46-29 (.613) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 21-15 (.583) road record. Overall, USU is 5-1 in its last six MW road games and 6-1 in its last seven road games against MW opponents. In all, USU is 8-3 in road games under head coach Blake Anderson and 18-11 (.621) in its last 29 road games.   
 
• Utah State (46-29) has the third-best record in Mountain West games since it joined the league in 2013, behind Boise State (64-15) and San Diego State (56-21). Hawai'i has the 10th-best record (26-52).
 
• Utah State is 21-8 (.724) against teams from the West Division of the Mountain West, which is the second-best record by any school behind Boise State (24-8). Hawai'i is 8-22 (.267) against teams from the Mountain Division of the MW.
 
• Utah State has had 37 players make at least one start this season, which is tied for the 12th-most in the nation. New Mexico is first nationally with 48 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 13 starters miss a combined 34 games this year due to injury. USU has also had 20 players make their first-career start this year, while 30 players have made their Aggie debut.
 
• 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 66-45 overall record, including a 47-22 conference mark. He has posted a 15-8 record at USU, including a 9-4 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 HAWAI'I 
• Hawai'i is 2-8 on the season and 1-4 in Mountain West play following its 55-13 loss at Fresno State last weekend. The Rainbow Warriors are led by sophomore QB Brayden Schager, who is 157-of-282 (.557) passing for 1,610 yards (178.9 ypg) with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions. Senior RB Dedrick Parson leads the team in rushing with 586 yards on 140 carries (4.2 ypc/58.6 ypg) with 10 touchdowns. And, senior WR Dior Scott has caught 25 passes for 204 yards (8.2 ypr/22.7 ypg). Defensively, senior LB Penei Pavihi has a team-best 61 tackles, which includes 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss, while freshman S Peter Manuma has 48 tackles, which includes 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss. As a team, Hawai'i is averaging 17.8 points and 327.3 yards of total offense per game (193.4 passing, 133.9 rushing) and allowing 35.8 points and 449.6 yards of total offense (218.9 passing, 230.7 rushing). Hawai'i returns six starters (O-4, D-2) and 49 lettermen (O-25, D-21, S-3) from last year's team that went 6-7 overall and 3-5 in Mountain West play to finish tied for fourth place in the West Division. The Rainbow Warriors' season was cut short as their appearance in the Hawaii Bowl was canceled due to COVID-19. Timmy Chang is in his first season as a collegiate head coach at Hawai'i. 
 
AGGIES AND RAINBOW WARRIORS SERIES HISTORY 
• Utah State and Hawai'i will be facing one another for the 18th time this weekend with USU holding an 11-6 advantage. Overall, USU has won six straight games in the series, including each of the last three on the road. USU posted a 51-31 home win against UH last year and a 56-17 road win in 2018, the last time the two teams played one another on the Islands. Overall, USU is 5-4 all-time against the Rainbow Warriors on the road. 
 
UTAH STATE vs. HAWAI'I SERIES 18TH-MOST PLAYED IN SCHOOL HISTORY 
• Utah State and Hawai'i will be meeting for the 18th time in series history this weekend, which is tied for the 18th-most played series in USU history. 
 
UTAH STATE AND HAWAI'I AS CONFERENCE FOES 
• Utah State and Hawai'i have spent 16 years as league foes as both schools were members of the Western Athletic Conference from 2005-11 and have been members of the Mountain West since 2013 when USU joined the league. As members of the WAC, USU went 2-5 against the Rainbow Warriors with a 1-2 home record and a 1-3 road mark. Since joining the Mountain West, USU is 5-0 against the Rainbow Warriors with a 3-0 home record and a 2-0 road mark. 
 
AGGIES FROM HAWAI'I 
• Utah State has three players on its roster from Hawaii in senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka (Honolulu/Punahou HS), redshirt junior S Dusten Ramseyer-Burdett (Anahola/Kapaa HS) and freshman OL Tavo Motu'apuaka (Honolulu/Radford HS). 
 
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND HAWAI'I PLAYERS 
• The following are connections between Utah State and Hawai'i players. USU graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs and UH junior DB Devyn King both began their collegiate careers at Maryland. USU graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr., and UH senior LB Isaiah Tufaga and junior DB JoJo Forest all began their collegiate careers at Oregon State. USU senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka attended Punahou HS in Honolulu, as did UH senior DB Noa Kamana, redshirt freshman LB D.J. Utu and freshman DB Matagi Thompson. USU senior DT Aurion Peoples, and UH senior QB Armani Edden, and junior DB Cam Bell, all began their collegiate careers at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California. USU junior OL Nikita Iuferov, UH junior LB Demarli Blanks and junior LS Scotty Atkinson all attended College of San Mateo in California. USU junior DT Poukesi Vakauta and UH freshman WR Pofele Ashlock both attended Trinity HS in Euless, Texas. USU junior RB Jordan Wilmore and UH freshman RB Derek Boyd II both attended Lawndale (California) HS. Wilmore and UH junior OL Luke Felix-Fualalo both began their collegiate careers at Utah. USU sophomore DT Tavian Coleman and UH sophomore TE Greyson Morgan both began their collegiate careers at Trinity Valley College in Athens, Texas. USU sophomore OL Kingsley Holliday and UH junior LB Noah Kema both began their collegiate careers at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. USU sophomore CB Jamie Nance and UH freshman DL Wynden Ho'ohuli both began their collegiate careers at Nebraska. USU sophomore WR Jalen Royals and UH senior DB Hugh Nelson II both attended Hillgrove HS in Powder Springs, Georgia. USU redshirt freshman CB Ty Barnett and UH sophomore WR Karsyn Pupunu both began their collegiate careers at Weber State. And, USU freshman OL Teague Anderson and UH junior QB Cammon Cooper both attended Lehi (Utah) HS. 
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST 
• Utah State is 174-191-8 (.477) 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 16-13 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. 
 
AGGIES IN OVERTIME 
• Utah State is 6-6 all-time in overtime, winning three of its last five. USU is 4-3 in one overtime, 2-2 in double overtime, and 0-1 in triple overtime. USU's last overtime game was a 26-20 loss against New Mexico State in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl on Dec. 29, 2017. 
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND HAWAI'I
The following are series notables between Utah State and Hawai'i dating back to 1927 and encompassing the last 17 meetings. 
• In 17 games in series history, Utah State has outscored Hawai'i by 151 points (578-427).
• During their current six-game winning streak in the series, the Aggies have outscored the Rainbow Warriors 262-103 for an average margin of victory of 26.5 points (43.7-17.2).
• Utah State has held Hawai'i to less than 18 points in four of its last five meetings and in nine games in series history, and USU is 9-0 in those games. USU has scored at least 35 points in six-straight games and has scored at least 30 points 12 times in series history and is 10-2 in those games. 
• Only two games in series history have been decided by one score, while 15 games have been decided by double digits, including 10 games by at least 20 points. 
• Ten of Utah State's 11 wins in the series have been by double digits, while five of the Rainbow Warriors' six wins have been by double digits.
• Utah State has controlled the time of possession in eight of the last 12 meetings, including four of the last five.
• The team with the most rushing yards has won nine straight games in the series, while the team that controls the time of possession is just 6-6 in the last 12 meetings.
• The team that leads at the half has won 11 of the last 12 games, while the team that scores first has won 10 of the last 12 games.
• Hawai'i has had 13 100-yard receivers, six 300-yard passers and four 100-yard rushers in the last 12 meetings, while Utah State has had six 100-yard rushers, three 100-yard receivers and three 300-yard passers in the last 12 meetings. In fact, USU has had a 100-yard rusher in each of the last five games in the series, including two in its last meeting at Hawai'i.
• There have been two shutouts in series history, a 48-0 USU win in 1966, which ranks as the 21st-largest winning margin in school history, and a 38-0 USU win in 2017.
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State team and individual statistical performances against Hawai'i. 
• Utah State's 406 passing yards against Hawai'i in 2021 are the 15th-most in a game in school history. 
• Utah State held Hawai'i to minus four yards rushing in 1965 and 12 rushing yards in 2021, tied for the 10th- and 19th-fewest in a single game in school history, respectively. 
• Utah State's defense held Hawai'i to 15 rushing attempts in 1996, the fewest allowed in a game in USU history. 
• Utah State's 428 rushing yards against Hawai'i in 1996 are tied for the seventh-most in a single game in school history. 
• Utah State held Hawai'i to 115 yards of total offense in 1965, tied for the 13th-fewest in a single game in school history. 
• Kent Myers completed his first 12 pass attempts against Hawai'i in 2014, which is a school record. Myers completed 14-of-15 passes in that game, and that 93.3 completion percentage is a USU and Mountain West record. 
• Kevin Robinson set the then-school record for kickoff return average against Hawai'i in 2007 as he returned three kickoffs for 156 yards, for an average of 52.0 yards per return. 
• Robinson's 100-yard kickoff return against Hawai'i in 2007 is tied for the third-longest in school history. 
• Darell Garretson threw for a USU freshman record 370 yards against Hawai'i in 2013, which also ranks as the 26th-most passing yards in a single game in school history. 
• MacArthur Lane had an 84-yard run against Hawai'i in 1966, which is the 10th-longest in school history. 
• Leon Jackson's 77-yard pass to Kevin Robinson against Hawai'i in 2007 is tied for the 27th-longest pass play in school history. 
• Kyler Fackrell's 99-yard interception return for a touchdown against Hawai'i in 2013 is the fourth-longest in school history and tied for the fifth-longest in Mountain West history. 
• Jim Swindle's 90-yard interception return for a touchdown against Hawai'i in 1959 is tied for the sixth-longest in school history. 
• Altie Taylor's 82-yard punt return against Hawai'i in 1966 is tied for the seventh-longest in school history. 
• Jake Thompson's 52-yard field goal against Hawai'i in 2013 is tied for the 10th-longest in school history. 
• Tom Larscheid's 172 receiving yards against Hawai'i in 1959 are the second-most by a USU underclassman in school history. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 33 players in its program from the state of Utah, while Hawai'i has 47 players on its roster from the Hawaiian Islands.
 
POLYNESIAN CONNECTIONS
• Utah State has 21 Polynesian players on its 2022 roster in graduate senior DT Phillip Paea, senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka, redshirt junior S Dusten Ramseyer-Burdett, junior OL Falepule Alo, junior ILB Kaleo Neves, junior ILB MJ Tafisi, junior DT Poukesi Vakauta, redshirt freshman DT Johnson Hansen, redshirt freshman DT Bo Maile, redshirt freshman OL Elia Migao, redshirt freshman DT Enoka Migao, redshirt freshman ILB Sione Moa, redshirt freshman WR Otto Tia, redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki, freshman S Saco Alofipo, freshman OLB Lofa Fonoti-Maikui, freshman OL Weylin Lapuaho, freshman OL Tavo Motu'apuaka, freshman ILB Bronson Olevao, freshman S Jett Solomon and freshman QB Chase Tuatagaloa. 
 
THE GAME THAT CHANGED UTAH STATE FOOTBALL
• Utah State's current run of success (having played in nine bowl games in the last 11 seasons, recorded four 10-plus win seasons, seven winning campaigns, five bowl victories and two conference championships) can be directly traced back to its 35-31 come-from-behind win at Hawai'i on Nov. 5, 2011. Prior to that win at Hawai'i, USU was 2-5 on the season and had gone 14 years without a winning season. Against Hawai'i on Nov. 5, 2011, USU was trailing 28-7 at the half and its starting freshman QB, Chuckie Keeton, had been injured late in the second quarter. Keeton, who would miss the next four games, was replaced by junior QB Adam Kennedy, who led USU to a dramatic come-from-behind 35-31 win at Hawai'i that night, followed by four more wins to make USU bowl eligible for the first time since 1997. 
 
LAST MEETING vs. HAWAI'I
LOGAN, Utah - Senior WR Deven Thompkins became Utah State's first 1,000-yard receiver since 2002, graduate junior QB Logan Bonner threw four touchdowns and the Aggies (6-2, 4-1 Mountain West) became bowl eligible with a 51-31 Mountain West home win against Hawai'i (4-5, 1-3 MW) on Saturday, Oct. 30 2021, at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
Thompkins led all receivers with seven catches for 176 yards. On the season, he has 63 receptions for 1,009 yards, becoming just the 12th player in school history to reach the 1,000- yard receiving plateau, including the first since Kevin Curtis in 2002. 
 
Thompkins also returned one kickoff for 45 yards to finish the game with a career-high 221 all-purpose yards. As a team, Utah State finished with 564 yards of total offense. 
 
Bonner was 21-of-30 passing for 361 yards and four touchdowns (45, 46, 21, 14). He also had 25 yards rushing to help the Aggies remain all alone atop the Mountain Division standings and become bowl eligible for the ninth time in the last 11 years. 
 
Hawai'i QB Chevan Cordeiro was 23-of-39 passing for 296 yards and three touchdowns, to go along with one interception. Calvin Turner Jr. caught seven passes for 110 yards and one touchdown for the Rainbow Warriors. Dedrick Parson gave the visitors two 100-yard receivers on the day as he hauled in seven passes for 115 yards and one touchdown. 
 
The Aggies limited the Rainbow Warriors to just 12 yards rushing, which is tied for the 19th-fewest in a single game in school history, and the fewest allowed since Wake Forest had minus 25 yards rushing in 2014. Overall, UH had just 360 yards of total offense, which is tied for the second-fewest allowed by USU this season. 
 
Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice led the Aggies with eight tackles, including 0.5 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss. Junior DE Byron Vaughns had four stops, including a career-high 2.0 sacks and a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss, to go along with a forced fumble. Vaughns also had a pass breakup in the first quarter that resulted in an interception in the end zone. Utah State racked up 12.0 tackles for loss, including 5.0 sacks, both season highs. 
 
Utah State graduate senior OLB Cash Gilliam thwarted a Hawai'i scoring drive in the first quarter when he intercepted his first-career pass in the end zone. Graduate junior S Monte McGary also recorded his first-career interception in the fourth quarter, while sophomore DT Poukesi Vakauta recovered his second fumble of the season. 
 
Utah State, which never trailed on the day, scored the first 17 points of the game on a 3-yard touchdown run by sophomore RB Elelyon Noa, a 45-yard touchdown pass from Bonner to junior WR Justin McGriff and a 40-yard field goal by graduate senior PK Connor Coles. 
 
McGriff finished with five receptions for 90 yards and the lone score, while Noa notched his first 100-yard rushing day of his career with 111 yards on 23 carries. 
 
Hawai'i cut the deficit to 17-10 before Coles kicked a 22-yard field goal to give USU a 20-10 lead at the break. Coles also kicked a 22-yarder in the fourth quarter to make it 44-25 for the Aggies. 
 
Utah State came out firing on all cylinders after the break as the Aggies scored touchdowns the first three times they touched the ball. Bonner threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to senior WR Derek Wright, a 21-yarder to senior TE Carson Terrell and a 14-yarder to graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling to make it 41-10. 
 
Bowling also returned an onside kick attempt 45 yards for a touchdown to give USU its final margin of victory. Utah State has now won six-straight games against the Rainbow Warriors. 
 
LAST ROAD MEETING vs. HAWAI'I
HONOLULU - Junior RB Darwin Thompson rushed for a 141 yards and three touchdowns – both career highs – as No. 18 Utah State extended its winning streak to eight straight after defeating Hawai'i 56-17 at Aloha Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. 
 
Fellow junior RB Gerold Bright added 121 yards rushing and a career-high three touchdowns of his own for the Aggies (8-1, 5-0 Mountain West), whose eight consecutive wins are the second-longest in school history, trailing the 1960 team that won its first nine games. 
 
Sophomore QB Jordan Love completed 10-of-13 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown, to go along with 13 yards rushing and another score, before leaving in the second quarter due to injury. 
 
Despite not having their starting signal caller, the Aggies were just fine with backup Henry Colombi at the helm. The redshirt freshman quarterback completed 9-of-11 passes for 48 yards while orchestrating four third-quarter scoring drives. 
 
Utah State racked up 601 yards of total offense, its third-most in a game this season, including a season-high 426 on the ground to rank as the 10th-most in school history as seven players combined to carry the ball 54 times, which is a season-high for USU. The Aggies limited Hawai'i (6-5, 3-3 MW) to 390 total yards, including just 43 rushing yards. 
 
Utah State also controlled the time of possession for the second-straight game, 33:33 to 26:27 and converted 8-of-14 third downs, while limiting Hawai'i to just 2-of-14 on third down and 2-of-6 on fourth down attempts. 
 
Sophomore LB David Woodward led the Aggies defensively with seven tackles, including an interception, while junior CB DJ Williams also had an interception. Senior S Gaje Ferguson and junior LB Tipa Galeai both finished the game with 1.0 sacks as part of their six total tackles, while junior CB Cameron Haney had four tackles and a season-high two pass breakups. 
 
The Aggie offense was on fire early, amassing 240 total yards and 28 points in the first quarter alone. Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver started the fireworks show for Utah State when he caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Love on its opening series of the game. 
 
Utah State's next three first-quarter scores came courtesy of the ground game as Thompson scored on a 1-yard run, Bright found paydirt from 18 yards out and Love added a 1-yard touchdown run of his own. 
 
Tarver finished the game with five receptions for 40 yards, while six other Aggies each posted two receptions. In all, USU's two quarterbacks combined to complete 19-of-24 (.792) passes in the game. 
 
The Aggie defense was equally up to the challenge in the first half as it limited the high-powered Rainbow Warriors to 220 total yards and a 41-yard field goal off the foot of Ryan Meskell. USU led 28-3 at the break. 
 
Utah State scored touchdowns on all four of its third-quarter possessions, the first two courtesy of Thompson. The first of Thompson's two scores in the quarter was as good as they come as he broke a total of seven tackles on his way to a 26-yard score. He added a 1-yarder with 7:19 to go in the third, giving the visitors a 42-11 lead. 
 
Not to be outdone by his backfield mate, Bright scored on touchdown runs of 47 and 9 yards, respectively, helping the Aggies open a 56-11 lead with 3:16 left in the third. 
 
Utah State has now won seven of its last eight Mountain West games dating back to last season, including five of the last six on the road. 
 
GAME 9 RECAP vs. NEW MEXICO
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State successfully orchestrated both a fake punt and fake field, the latter resulting in the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter, as the Aggies scored the final 20 points in a 27-10 Mountain West win against New Mexico on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
New Mexico (2-7, 0-5 MW) was leading Utah State (4-5, 3-2 MW) 10-7 with 10:51 remaining in the third quarter when graduate senior PK Connor Coles lined up for a 23-yard field goal attempt. Once junior P/H Stephen Kotsanlee fielded the ball from sophomore LS Jacob Garcia, he wasted little time flipping the pigskin to Coles, who ran untouched into the end zone from six yards out, putting the Aggies on top 14-10. 
 
Not only did Coles score his first-career touchdown on the cold and rainy day, but he also booted a pair of field goals from 49 and 27 yards out, respectively, and made good on all three of his extra points as he tied his career-high with 15 points scored. 
 
Kotsanlee also converted a first down on a fake punt as he rushed for 10 yards on a fourth-and-3 play from USU's own 41-yard line in the second quarter. 
 
Utah State finished the game converting all four of its fourth down attempts, which is a season high. USU was just 3-of-17 on third down, while New Mexico was 6-of-16. 
 
Kotsanlee punted six times on the day for an average of 44.5 yards, including a long of 58. He also had one punt downed inside the 20-yard line. 
 
Utah State's defense also found the end zone as graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown, giving the hosts a 27-10 lead with 3:00 left in the game. 
 
Reynolds finished with a game-high 10 tackles as the Aggies limited the Lobos to just 258 yards of total offense – a season low for a USU opponent, which included just 42 passing yards. It was Reynolds second double-digit tackle outing of the season and the third of his career, and his second-career fumble recovery. 
 
Junior CB Jamie Nance recovered his second fumble in as many games on a muffed punt in the third quarter that led to Coles' 49-yard field goal to extend USU's lead to 17-10. 
 
The Aggies' lone offensive touchdown came on their opening possession courtesy of a 38-yard pass from junior QB Cooper Legas to junior WR Terrell Vaughn, making it 7-0. 
 
Legas was 13-of-27 passing for 149 yards and the one touchdown as Utah State totaled 280 yards of total offense. Vaughn finished with five catches for a career-high 83 yards, while freshman RB Robert Briggs led the Aggies' ground game with 82 yards rushing on a season-high 19 carries. Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs added four receptions for 31 yards. 
 
Freshman ILB Max Alford had a career-high eight tackles, including a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss, while redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen also recorded a career-high eight stops. 
 
Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak tied his career-high with six tackles, which included 1.0 sacks, while junior DT Poukesi Vakauta tied his career-high with three stops. Redshirt junior S DominikTatum added a season-high six tackles. 
 
Utah State finished the game with 3.0 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss, while New Mexico had 4.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss. 
 
UTAH STATE SPECIAL TEAMS LEADS THE WAY IN WIN AGAINST NEW MEXICO 
• Utah State's special teams was the difference in its 27-10 Mountain West home win against New Mexico last weekend as those groups accounted for 15 points and set up another score. 
• On the opening kickoff of the game, the Lobos returned a kickoff from the end zone and were tackled at the 1-yard line. After a 3-and-out and a 34-yard punt, the Aggies scored their only offensive touchdown of the game on their second play of the drive via a 38-yard touchdown pass from junior QB Cooper Legas to junior WR Terrell Vaughn. 
• In the second quarter, Utah State converted a fourth-and-three as junior P Stephen Kotsanlee rushed for 10 yards on a fake punt. USU's drive stalled at the UNM 35 as the Aggies had to punt into a strong wind.
• In the third quarter, Utah State culminated a 15-play, 88-yard drive that took 4:09 off the clock with a 6-yard run on a fake field goal by graduate senior PK Connor Coles to take a 14-10 lead.
• And, later in the third quarter, junior CB Jamie Nance recovered a muffed punt that set up a 49-yard Coles field goal. Coles also made a 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
 
UTAH STATE SCORES ON SPECIAL TEAMS AND DEFENSE AGAINST LOBOS 
• Utah State scored touchdowns on special teams and defense for the first time since 2019 in its 27-10 Mountain West home win against New Mexico last weekend. USU's special teams touchdown came via a 6-yard run from graduate senior PK Connor Coles on a fake field goal in the third quarter, while graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The last time USU had a special teams and defensive touchdown in the same game was on Sept. 28, 2019, when it had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Savon Scarver and an 8-yard fumble return for a touchdown by David Woodward in a 34-24 home win against Colorado State.
• The last time Utah State scored a touchdown on a fake field goal was against Wyoming in 2017, as DJ Nelson scored on a 4-yard run. And, the last time USU scored a defensive touchdown was against New Mexico in 2020, as Kina Maile returned a fumble 16 yards for the score. 
 
UTAH STATE CONVERTS ALL FOUR OF ITS FOURTH DOWNS vs. NEW MEXICO 
• Utah State was a perfect 4-for-4 on fourth down attempts in its last game against New Mexico, which is tied for the most successful fourth down conversions under head coach Blake Anderson. USU was 4-of-6 on fourth down against North Dakota in 2021, as those six attempts are the most under Anderson. Two of those four conversions were via special teams as USU successfully ran a fake punt and a fake field goal, the latter of which resulted in a touchdown. The other two conversions were both runs on fourth-and-1, while the fake punt was on a fourth-and-3 and the fake field goal was on a fourth-and-6.
 
UTAH STATE DEFENSE ALLOWS SEASON LOWS AGAINST NEW MEXICO 
• Despite allowing 216 rushing yards to New Mexico, Utah State's defense limited the Lobos to just 42 passing yards and 258 yards of total offense, both of which are season lows for an Aggie opponent. Furthermore, UNM managed just 10 points in the game, which is a season low for an Aggie opponent and tied for the fewest allowed in a game under head coach Blake Anderson, as USU also gave up 10 points at New Mexico in 2021.
• After allowing 10 points and 187 yards of total offense in the first half on 37 plays (5.1 yards per play) against New Mexico, Utah State's defense pitched a shutout in the second half with zero points allowed, while limiting the Lobos to just 71 yards on 27 plays (2.6 ypp).
 
UTAH STATE WINS TURNOVER BATTLE FOR FOURTH TIME THIS YEAR 
• Utah State won the turnover battle for the fourth time this year and is now 3-1 in those games as it forced two turnovers (2 fumbles) and didn't turn the ball over in its last game against New Mexico. It is just the second time this year that USU did not commit a turnover as it also had zero turnovers at No. 1 Alabama. Overall, it is just the fourth time this year that USU has forced multiple turnovers (3 vs. UConn, 3 vs. Weber State, 2 vs. Air Force).
 
UTAH STATE POSTS FOURTH COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN OF THE SEASON 
• Utah State has had to come-from-behind to win all four 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, scored 10 of the final 13 points to defeat Colorado State 17-13, after trailing 10-7 at halftime, and scored the final 20 points to post a 27-10 home win against New Mexico, after trailing 10-7 at halftime.
• Utah State is now 3-4 this season and 8-7 under head coach Blake Anderson when trailing at the half. In all, USU has now won 11 games under Anderson when it has trailed.
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE LIMITING POINTS FOLLOWING TURNOVERS
• In its last seven 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.
 
LEGAS RETURNS AFTER MISSING TWO GAMES DUE TO INJURY
• Junior QB Cooper Legas was 13-of-27 passing for 149 yards and one touchdown against New Mexico (11/5) after missing the previous two games due to injury. Legas missed the Wyoming (10/22) game and the last three quarters of Utah State's win at Colorado State (10/15) due to injury. 
• In four games as USU's starting quarterback, Legas is 59-of-93 (.634) passing for 637 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also rushed for 169 yards on 50 carries (3.4 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.
 
VAUGHN CATCHES FOURTH-CAREER TOUCHDOWN IN NEW MEXICO GAME
• Junior WR Terrell Vaughn caught his fourth-career touchdown on a 38-yard reception in his last game against New Mexico (11/5), as he had five receptions for a career-high 83 yards. In his first two games at the Division I level, Vaughn had two receptions for 17 yards. In his last seven games, he has 35 receptions for 360 yards (10.3 ypr) and four touchdowns.
 
BRIGGS HAS CAREER HIGH IN CARRIES IN NEW MEXICO GAME
• Utah State RB Robert Briggs rushed for 82 yards on a career-high 19 carries in his last outing against New Mexico (11/5). In his previous three games combined, he rushed for 46 yards on 10 carries.
• 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 a season-high 85 yards on 10 carries, including a 23-yard touchdown, against UConn (8/27).
 
TYLER NOW 13TH ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN RUSHING
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. has rushed for 1,624 yards on 360 attempts (4.51 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 1,748 yards on 390 carries (4.48 ypc) and 11 touchdowns.
 
TYLER HAS EIGHT-CAREER 100-YARD RUSHING GAMES
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. 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 seven, while George Holani (Boise State), Avery Morrow (Colorado State), Jordan Mims (Fresno State) and Tyler all have four 100-yard rushing games this season.
• Tyler, who rushed for 100 yards in three-straight games earlier this season against BYU (104), Air Force (109) and Colorado State (129), is the first Aggie running back to post three-straight 100-yard rushing games since Kerwynn Williams did so during the 2012 season.
 
COBBS HAS TWO 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES THIS SEASON
• Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs has two 100-yard receiving games this year as he had eight receptions for a career-high 136 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown, against Air Force (10/8), and eight receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown against UConn (8/27). Cobbs also had a career-high 10 receptions for 96 yards and a career-high two touchdowns (14, 27) at No. 19 BYU (9/29). In his last six games, Cobbs has 36 catches for 415 yards (11.5 ypr/69.2 ypg) and three touchdowns.
• Cobbs' two 100-yard receiving games this year are the fourth-most in the Mountain West as Elijah Cooks (San José St.), Tory Horton (Colorado St.) and Nikko Remigio (Fresno St.) all have three 100-yard receiving games on the season. 
 
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.
• Tied his season high with 10 tackles in his last game against New Mexico, to go along with his first-career touchdown, as he returned a fumble 55 yards for the score. Overall, it was his second double-digit tackle outing of the season and the third of his career.
• Has started all nine games this year and ranks eighth in the Mountain West and 64th in the nation with two interceptions, which is tied for the team lead. Reynolds is also second on the team with six pass breakups and is third with 64 tackles.
• Reynolds has recorded at least four tackles in every game this season, including a season-high 10 stops against Weber State (9/10) and New Mexico (11/5). 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.
 
ALFORD NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK 
• Freshman ILB Max Alford was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week following his performance against New Mexico last weekend as he had a career-high eight tackles, which included a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss. Alford, who entered the game with 11 total tackles, has now posted 14 tackles in his last two games, as he had a then-career high six tackles at Wyoming (10/22).    
 
NANCE HAS RECOVERED MUFFED PUNTS IN EACH OF HIS LAST TWO GAMES
• Junior CB Jamie Nance has recovered muffed punts in each of his last two games against New Mexico (11/5) and Wyoming (10/22), which led to 10 points for the Aggies with a field goal against the Lobos and a touchdown against the Cowboys.       
 
GRZESIAK TIES CAREER HIGH WITH SIX TACKLES IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES  
• Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak tied his career high with six tackles for the second time in as many games. In his last outing against New Mexico (11/5), he had six tackles, which included 1.0 sacks. In his previous game at Wyoming (10/22), he had six tackles, which included 0.5 tackles for loss. And, in his previous game at Colorado State (10/15), 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. 
• In his last three games, Grzesiak has 17 tackles, which includes 4.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss, to go along with a forced fumble, pass breakup and quarterback hurry.  
 
DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM NEW MEXICO GAME
• Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen had a career-high eight tackles. Junior OLB Kaleo Neves had his first-career sack to give him 4.5 tackles for loss this season and in his career. Neves also tied his career-high with one pass breakup to give him two pass breakups this season and in his career, and he forced his first-career fumble. Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh forced his second fumble this season and the third of his career. Redshirt junior S Dominic Tatum had a season-high six tackles. Junior DE Byron Vaughns had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 2.5 TFLs on the season and 13.0 TFLs in his career. Junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. had 1.0 sacks and now has 1.0 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss this season, and 4.5 sacks and 12.5 TFLs in his career. Senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 3.5 TFLs on the season and 12.0 TFLs in his career. Junior DT Poukesi Vakauta tied his career-high with three tackles. Senior CB Michael Anyanwu had one pass breakup to give him seven PBUs this season and nine in his career.   
 
COLES NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time this year and third time in his career as he scored a career-high-tying 15 points in Utah State's 27-10 Mountain West home win against New Mexico (11/5) last weekend. Coles, who was 2-of-3 on field goals (49, 27) and 3-for-3 on extra points, scored his first-career touchdown on a 6-yard run on a fake field goal.
• Coles was also named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week against New Mexico in 2020 and against Washington State in 2021.
 
COLES IN THE UTAH STATE RECORD BOOKS  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is 8-of-11 this season and 31-of-43 (.721) in his career 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 attempted, is 82-of-85 (.965) all-time in extra points and that percentage ranks as the eighth-best all-time in school history. He is also sixth all-time in both extra points made and attempted.
 
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 (10/22), as he 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 (10/15), 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 20 punts this year and 33 in his career of at least 50 yards, to go along with 18 punts this year and 54 in his career that have been downed inside the 20-yard line. 
• Overall, Kotsanlee has punted 139 times in his career for an average of 42.6 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.
 
UTAH STATE HAS HAD 13 STARTERS MISS A COMBINED 34 GAMES THIS YEAR
• Utah State has had 13 starters miss a combined 34 games this season due to injury in graduate senior DT Phillip Paea (6), junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen (6), graduate senior QB Logan Bonner (5), redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki (5), senior CB Ajani Carter (2), junior QB Cooper Legas (2), junior DE Byron Vaughns (2), graduate senior OL Alfred Edwards (1), senior CB Michael Anyanwu (1), senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka (1), junior TE Josh Sterzer (1), junior ILB MJ Tafisi (1) and junior DT Poukesi Vakauta (1).  
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
UTAH STATE 59TH IN THE NATION IN RUSHING 
• Utah State's offense is fifth in the MW and 59th in the nation in rushing (161.1 ypg), fifth in the MW and 64th in the nation in sacks allowed with 18 (2.0 pg), sixth in the MW and 103rd in the nation in total offense (341.4 ypg), seventh in the MW and 110th in the nation in completion percentage (.558), seventh in the MW and 118th in the nation in passing offense (179.3 ypg), eighth in the MW and 113th in the nation in scoring offense (20.0 ppg), and eighth in the MW and 120th in the nation in passing efficiency (109.6).        
 
• Utah State's offense is also fifth in the MW and 65th in the nation in fourth down conversions at 52.0 percent (13-of-25), and sixth in the MW and 56th in the nation in tackles for loss allowed with 48 (5.33 pg).   
 
UTAH STATE 14TH IN THE NATION IN PASSING DEFENSE
• Utah State is third in the Mountain West and 14th in the nation in passing defense (177.6 ypg), second in the MW and 27th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (119.9), second in the MW and 30th in the nation in tackles for loss with 59 (6.6 pg), ninth in the MW and 86th in the nation in scoring defense (28.9 ppg), ninth in the MW and 95th in the nation in sacks with 15 (1.67 pg), 10th in the MW and 75th in the nation in total defense (383.2 ypg), and 11th in the MW and 120th in the nation in rushing defense (205.7 ypg).   
 
UTAH STATE HAS FORCED 13 TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has forced 13 turnovers (8 interceptions, 5 fumbles) this year to rank sixth in the Mountain West and 61st in the nation. USU is also fifth in the MW and 49th in the nation with eight interceptions (0.9 pg) and sixth in the MW and 63rd in the nation in fumbles recovered with five (0.56 pg). Conversely, USU is fifth in the MW and 41st in the nation in fumbles lost with five (0.56 pg) and 12th in the MW and 130th in the nation in interceptions thrown with 14 (1.56 pg).
 
UTAH STATE NINTH IN THE NATION WITH TWO BLOCKED PUNTS
• Utah State has blocked punts against both Alabama and UNLV this season, and is tied for ninth 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 11 games dating back to the 2021 season.
 
• Utah State is first in the Mountain West and 24th in the nation in kickoff returns (22.4 ypr), fourth in the MW and 65th in the nation in net punting (38.6 ypp), fourth in the MW and 77th in the nation in punt returns (6.8 ypr), sixth in the MW and 71st in the nation in punt return defense (7.5 ypr), and ninth in the MW and 62nd in the nation in kickoff return defense (19.5 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 (0.11 pg), and is second in the Mountain West and eighth in the nation in kickoff returns (27.7 ypr), second in the MW in receiving touchdowns with four (0.44 pg), and seventh in the MW in receptions (4.1 pg). Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen is first in the MW and third in the nation with two blocked kicks (0.22 pg), and eighth in the MW and 64th in the nation with two interceptions (0.22 pg). Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs is second in the MW in receiving touchdowns with four (0.44 pg), fourth in the MW and 58th in the nation in receptions (5.3 pg), and fourth in the MW and 87th in the nation in receiving (63.7 ypg). Junior CB Jamie Nance is second in the MW and ninth in the nation in fumbles recovered with two (0.22 pg). Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee is third in the MW and 23rd in the nation in punting (44.1 ypp). Senior CB Ajani Carter is third in the MW and 25th in the nation in forced fumbles with two (0.29 pg). Senior RB Cooper Jones is third in the MW and 40th in the nation in punt returns (6.8 ypr). Junior ILB MJ Tafisi is third in the MW and 43rd in the nation in tackles (8.6 pg). Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh is fourth in the MW and 45th in the nation in tackles (8.6 pg). Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is fifth in the MW and 42nd in the nation in rushing (82.2 ypg), eighth in the MW in all-purpose yards (89.9 ypg), and ninth in the MW in rushing yards per carry (4.5). Graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds is fifth in the MW and 85th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.11 pg), and eighth in the MW and 64th in the nation with two interceptions (0.22 pg).Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak is fifth in the MW and 85th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.11 pg). Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson is fifth in the MW and 85th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.11 pg). Senior WR Justin McGriff is fifth in the MW and 77th in the nation in yards per reception (15.9), and ninth in the MW in receiving touchdowns with three (0.33 pg). Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is seventh in the MW and 75th in the nation in field goal percentage (.727), and eighth in the MW and 72nd in the nation in field goals made with eight (1.0 pg). And, junior QB Cooper Legas is sixth in the MW with six 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.
• 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 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.