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AGGIES BEGIN DEFENSE OF MOUNTAIN WEST TITLE AGAINST UNLV
Game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network at 5 p.m. 
 
UNLV (2-1, 0-0 MW) vs. UTAH STATE (1-2, 0-0 MW)
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 • 5 p.m. (MT) • Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)
 
GAME 4 INFORMATION
TV: CBS Sports Network 
• Play-by-Play: Chris Lewis
• Analyst: Robert Turbin
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 269/753HD
• DISH: Ch. 158
• DirecTV: Ch. 221
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard 
• Analyst: Kevin White
• National: Sirius XM 383 / SXM App 974
• Online: kslsports.com/kslsportszone
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com
 
AGGIE RADIO NETWORK
• Every Utah State football game can be heard live on the Aggie Radio Network. Scott Garrard serves as the play-by-play announcer, while former USU quarterback Kevin White (1988-89) will provide color analysis. Games can also be heard on the Internet (www.UtahStateAggies.com) by clicking on the 'Listen Live' link, as well as on the TuneIn App.
• Salt Lake City: KSL (1280 AM/97.5 FM)
• Logan: KBLU-LP (92.3 FM)
• Green River: KRPX (102.7 FM)
• Moab: KRPX (100.3 FM)
• Montpelier, Idaho: KVSI (1450 AM/104.5 FM)
• Orangeville: KRPX (95.9 FM)
• Price: KRPX (95.3 FM)
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (1-2, 0-0 MW) hosts UNLV (2-1, 0-0 MW) in both teams' Mountain West opener on Saturday, Sept. 24, at 5 p.m., on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221) with Chris Lewis (play-by-play) and USU Hall of Fame running back Robert Turbin (analyst) on the call. USU is the defending MW 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.
 
• Utah State will host its first Mental Health Awareness game this weekend, in an effort to promote positive mental health. The Aggies, who are partnering with author and founder of 'I'm Changing the Narrative', Rachel Baribeau, will wear a green ribbon on their helmets, as green is the color of mental health awareness. 
 
• Utah State has won eight of its last 10 league openers and is 7-2 all-time in Mountain West openers, which includes a 3-1 home record. This will be USU's fifth league opener at home in its 10 years in the MW, but first since 2018. Overall, USU is 35-27-3 (.562) all-time in conference openers and has a 20-13-0 (.606) record in league openers at home.
 
• Utah State is 43-27 (.614) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 23-13 (.639) home record, and has won 54 of its last 81 (.667) league games dating back to 2011. All-time, USU is 156-114 (.578) inside Maverik Stadium, including a 43-18 (.705) record in its last 61 home games.  
 
• Utah State (44-28) has the third-best record against Mountain West opponents (including championship games) since USU joined the league in 2013. Boise State (59-15) has the best record in the league during that time, while San Diego State (53-20) has the second-best record. UNLV has the 11th-best record (21-49).
 
• Utah State is 22-7 (.759) against teams from the West Division of the Mountain West, which is the best record by any school in the league. Overall, USU has won 13 of its last 16 games against MW West Division opponents. Conversely, UNLV is 5-20 (.200) against teams from the Mountain Division of the MW.
 
• Utah State is 12-4 (.750) in its last 16 September games and has won 16 of its last 20 (.800) games at home during the month dating back to 2011. USU is also 5-8 (.385) all-time in known games played on Sept. 24.
 
HEAD COACH BLAKE ANDERSON
• Blake Anderson (hired on Dec. 12, 2020) concluded his first year as Utah State's head coach in 2021 and is the 29th head coach in program history. He has a 63-42 overall record, including a 44-20 conference mark. He has posted a 12-5 record at USU, including a 6-2 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 UNLV 
• UNLV is 2-1 on the season following its 58-27 non-conference home win against North Texas last weekend. The Rebels are led by sophomore QB Doug Brumfield, who is 60-of-85 (.706) passing for 773 yards (257.7 ypg) with seven touchdowns and one interception. Junior RB Aidan Robbins leads the team in rushing with 346 yards on 53 carries (6.5 ypc/115.3 ypg) with six touchdowns. And, sophomore WR Ricky White has caught 19 passes for 317 yards (16.7 ypr/105.7 ypg) with three touchdowns. Defensively, senior LB Austin Ajiake has a team-best 24 tackles, which includes 1.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss, while senior LB Fred Thompkins has 16 tackles. As a team, UNLV is averaging 41.3 points and 479.7 yards of total offense per game (205.7 rushing, 274.0 passing) and allowing 22.7 points and 361.7 yards of total offense (103.7 rushing, 258.0 passing). UNLV returns 12 starters (O-6, D-6) and 40 lettermen (O-14, D-21, S-4) from last year's team that went 2-10 overall and finished sixth in the West Division with a 2-6 record. Marcus Arroyo is 4-17 in his third season as a collegiate head coach at UNLV. 
 
AGGIES AND REBELS SERIES HISTORY 
• Utah State and UNLV will be meeting for the 26th time in series history this weekend, with USU owning an 18-7 advantage, which includes a 9-3 home record. Overall, USU has won 15 of the last 18 games played in the series, including six straight. The first game played in the series was on Sept. 25, 1971, in Logan, with USU winning 27-7. USU won the last meeting between the two teams, 28-24, on Oct. 16, 2021, in Las Vegas. USU also won the last meeting between the two teams in Logan, 59-28, on Oct. 13, 2018. The last time UNLV won a game in the series was on Aug. 30, 2008, in Las Vegas, by a final score of 27-17, while its last win in Logan was on Aug. 30, 2007, by a final score of 23-16. 
 
AGGIES AND REBELS SERIES 14TH-MOST PLAYED IN SCHOOL HISTORY 
• Utah State and UNLV will be meeting for the 26th time in series history this weekend, which is tied for the 14th-most played series in USU history. 
 
UTAH STATE AND UNLV AS CONFERENCE FOES 
• Utah State and UNLV have spent 23 years as league foes as both schools were members of the Big West Conference from 1983-1995 and have been members of the Mountain West since 2013. As Big West members, USU went 8-5 against the Rebels with a 4-2 home record and a 4-3 road mark. In the MW, USU is 5-0 against UNLV with a 2-0 home record and a 3-0 road record. 
 
COACHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND UNLV 
• UNLV offensive line coach TJ Woods spent six years at Utah State (2009-12, 2019-20) as the tight ends and special teams coach (2009-10), and offensive line coach (2011-12, 2019-20). UNLV defensive line coach Bojay Filimoeatu spent two years at Utah State (2019-20) as the Aggies' outside linebackers coach and was a two-year starter (2011-12) helping USU to the 2012 WAC Championship and back-to-back Famous Idaho Potato Bowl appearances, which included a 41-15 win against Toledo in 2012. 
 
MORE COACHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND UNLV 
• Former Utah State head football coach Tony Knap (1963-66) spent six years as UNLV's head coach from 1976-81. In fact, Knap is the longest-tenured UNLV head coach in school history (along with John Robinson) and has the most wins (47) and best winning percentage (.696) all-time at UNLV. During his time at USU, Knap recorded a 25-14-1 record (.638) and ranks second all-time in school history in winning percentage behind John Ralston (.733), and eighth all-time in wins (25). 
 
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND UNLV PLAYERS 
• There are 21 connections between Utah State and UNLV players. USU senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka and UNLV sophomore DB Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen both attended Punahou HS in Honolulu, Hawaii. USU senior DT Aurion Peoples and UNLV senior DL Noah McGregor both attended College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, California. USU senior CB Xavion Steele and UNLV senior TE Kue Olotoa both attended Orange Luthern HS in Orange, California. USU junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen and junior OLB Kaleo Neves both attended Timpview HS in Provo, Utah, as did UNLV sophomore DL Waisale Muavesi. USU graduate junior TE Ron Tiavaasue and UNLV senior LB Isaiah Sayles both transferred to their current schools from Missouri State. USU junior OLB Omari Okeke, and UNLV junior LB Keith Conley Jr., junior DB BJ Harris and sophomore OL Levi Currier all attended Cerritos (CA) College. USU junior WR Terrell Vaughn, and UNLV senior OL Will Bonkavich, senior DB Donyai Dixon and junior OL Brandon Logan all attended Ventura (CA) College. USU junior RB Jordan Wilmore and UNLV senior DL Naki Fahina both attended Lawndale (CA) HS. USU sophomore WR Kyrese Rowan and UNLV junior DB LaCarea Pleasant-Johnson both transferred to their current schools from Utah. USU freshman S Saco Alofipo, and UNLV senior LB Kyle Beaudry, junior LB Austin Fiaseu, freshman LB La'akea Louis and freshman QB Jayden Maiava all attended Liberty HS in Las Vegas, Nevada. USU redshirt freshman DT Bo Maile and freshman OL Weylin Lapuaho attended Bingham HS in South Jordan, Utah, as did UNLV junior RB Andrew Wimmer. And, USU freshman ILB Bronson Olevao and UNLV senior LB Elijah Shelton both attended Highland HS in Salt Lake City, Utah. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• When Utah State played at UNLV in 2021, it had lost back-to-back games and was coming off a bye week. USU defeated UNLV and went on to win eight of its final nine games. 
• Utah State has 34 players in its program from Utah, while UNLV has 10 players on its roster from Nevada. 
• Utah State has three players on its roster from the state of Nevada in senior RB Cooper Jones (Elko/Elko HS), freshman S Saco Alofipo (Henderson/Liberty HS) and freshman S Jett Solomon (Las Vegas/Desert Pines HS). 
• UNLV senior LB Elijah Shelton spent three seasons (2018- 20) at Utah State, playing in 15 games with four starts. 
• Utah State has three players on its current roster that have played in multiple games against UNLV in graduate senior OL Chandler Dolphin, graduate senior CB Andre Grayson and graduate senior OL Wade Meacham. 
• Utah State is 25-26 (.490) all-time against teams from the state of Nevada with an 18-7 record against UNLV and a 7-19 record against Nevada. 
• Blake Anderson is 3-0 against UNLV as a head coach with a 1-0 record at Utah State and a 2-0 record at Arkansas State as the Red Wolves posted a 27-20 home win in 2018 and a 43-17 road win in 2019. 
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND UNLV
The following are series notables between Utah State and UNLV. 
• Utah State has won six straight games played in the series, outscoring UNLV 236-137 (39.3-22.8). 
• Utah State has averaged 512.5 yards of offense (331.3 passing, 181.2 rushing) during its six-game winning streak against UNLV.
• The team that has had more yards of total offense has won the last eight meetings in the series. • The team with fewer turnovers has won seven of the last 10 meetings in the series.
• The winning team has scored first in five of the past 10 meetings, as Utah State is 3-0 in those games and UNLV is 2-5.
• The team that has led at the half has won four of the last six games played in the series.
• The losing team has scored 20 or fewer points in four of the last nine games, while the team with more penalties has won six of the past nine games in the series.
• There has only been one shut out in series history, a 42-0 Utah State road win in 1995. 
• Twelve of the 25 games played in the series have been decided by one score.
• Utah State has had a 100-yard receiver in five of the last six meetings, and had two 100-yard receivers in back-to-back games in 2012 and 2013. Overall, USU has had eight 100-yard receivers in the last 10 meetings, as compared to three for UNLV.
• Utah State has had two 100-yard rushers and three 300-yard passers in the last 10 meetings, as compared to five 100-yard rushers and one 100-yard receiver for UNLV.
• In Utah State's 35-13 home win in 2012, it had a 400-yard passer, two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard rusher.
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State individual and team statistical performances against UNLV over the years. 
• Gym Kimball was 34-of-57 passing against UNLV in 1984. Those completions are a school record, while the attempts are tied for the most in school history. 
• Abu Wilson rushed for 251 yards against UNLV in 1995, the sixth-most in school history. 
• Matt Wells, who was a sophomore QB at Utah State at the time, connected on an 85-yard pass to Kevin Alexander against UNLV in 1994, which is tied for the 10th-longest pass play in school history. 
• Chuckie Keeton passed for 404 yards against UNLV in 2012, the 13th-most in school history. 
• Linebacker Robert Watts had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against UNLV in 2004, which ranks as the second-longest interception return in school history. 
• Mickey Doyle had a 72-yard punt against UNLV in 1971, the 10th-longest in school history. 
• Sean Jones had a 52-yard field goal against UNLV in 1992, tied for the 10th-longest in school history. 
• Tony Pennyman had a 92-yard kickoff return against UNLV in 2005, tied for the 18th-longest in school history. 
• Kendall Smith had a 77-yard punt return against UNLV in 1987, the 13th-longest in school history. 
• Profail Grier rushed for 209 yards against UNLV in 1993, the 18th-most in school history. 
• Jordan Love hit Jalen Greene on an 80-yard pass against UNLV in 2018, tied for the 18th-longest pass play in school history. 
• Utah State's 36 completions and 59 pass attempts against UNLV in 1994 are both school records. 
• Utah State held UNLV to 83 yards of total offense in 1990, the fourth-fewest in school history. 
• Utah State's 426 passing yards against UNLV in 2012 are the 11th-most in school history. 
• Utah State's 598 yards of total offense against UNLV in 2018 are the 19th-most in school history, while its 
588 yards of offense against UNLV in 2017 are the 24th-most in school history. 
• Utah State has had seven 100-yard rushers, five 300-yard passers, and 12 100-yard receivers all-time against UNLV. 
• In 24 games in series history, Utah State has scored 219 more points than UNLV, 682-463.
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST 
• Utah State is 171-189-8 (.476) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 40-27-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 36-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, an 18-7 record vs. UNLV, a 19-20-1 record vs. San José State, a 15-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 13-18-1 record vs. Fresno State, an 11-6 record vs. Hawai`i, a 7-19 record vs. Nevada, a 5-21 record vs. Boise State, a 4-6 record vs. Air Force, and a 3-13 record vs. San Diego State.
 
• Utah State is in its ninth year as a member of the Mountain West in 2020 and has been a Division I-A/Bowl Championship Series football playing school in each of its 123 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.
 
ON THIS DATE IN AGGIE FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Sophomore WR Kevin Robinson scored the game's final two touchdowns to lead Utah State to a come-from-behind 31-24 home win against UNLV on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005.The Aggies trailed the visiting Rebels 24-16 with 4:13 remaining in the third quarter before Robinson scored on a 19-yard reverse with 52 seconds left in the quarter. Sophomore QB Leon Jackson III then rushed into the end zone with the two-point conversion to tie the game. A nine-play, 63-yard drive was capped with a 15-yard pass from Jackson to Robinson to give the Aggies a 31-24 lead with 9:31 left. After that, USU held off two UNLV rallies as the Rebels drove down to the Aggies' 24-yard line before two incompletions stopped a drive with 2:12 remaining. The Rebels then had one last chance after holding USU and taking over at the Aggie 48-yard line with 30 seconds left in the game. Two plays into the drive UNLV had the ball at Utah State's 29-yard line, but three straight incompletions ended the game. Jackson led the USU offense by completing 19-of-25 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Junior WR Tony Pennyman caught 10 passes for 97 yards and a score. He also ignited the game by returning a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown on USU's first possession. Utah State controlled the clock in the game, holding possession of the football for 32:36. However USU gained just 283 yards, while the Rebels accumulated 387 yards, including 265 passing.
 
LAST MEETING vs. UNLV
LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Utah State sophomore RB Elelyon Noa scored on an 11-yard run with 35 second remaining to help the Aggies (4-2, 2-1 Mountain West) overcame a double-digit deficit for the fourth time this season in its 28-24 win against UNLV (0-6, 0-2 MW) at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. 
 
With the win, Utah State improved to 3-0 on the road this season, marking the first time since 1978 that a USU team has won its first three road games of the season. It is also the third time in as many road games this year that USU has come-from-behind in the fourth quarter to notch the win. In fact, USU has trailed by double-digits in all four of its wins this season. 
 
Utah State senior WR Savon Scarver, a Las Vegas native, returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown the very first time the Aggies had the ball to tie the NCAA and Mountain West record with seven career kickoff returns for touchdown. Scarver finished the game with three kickoff returns for 156 yards. 
 
Fellow senior WR Deven Thompkins led Utah State with 223 all-purpose yards, as he caught a career-high 12 passes for 180 yards, including a career-high two touchdowns, while adding 14 yards rushing and 29 kickoff return yards. Thompkins first score was on a 37-yard reception in the second quarter to cut UNLV's lead to 17-14, while his second touchdown was on a 6-yard catch to start the third quarter to give USU a 21-17 lead. 
 
Utah State senior QB Logan Bonner was 21-of-32 passing for 298 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, and was 4-of-5 for 39 yards on the Aggies' final drive of the game. Senior WR Derek Wright added a career-best 83 receiving yards as he tied his career-high with five receptions. 
 
Overall, Utah State finished the game with 440 yards of total offense (142 rushing, 298 passing) and 26 first downs, while UNLV had 330 yards of offense (219 rushing, 111 passing) and just 12 first downs. 
 
Utah State graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. had 17 carries for 60 yards for the visitors, while Noa finished the game with seven carries for 37 yards, including his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter to win the game for the Aggies. 
 
UNLV was led by senior RB Charles Williams, who racked up a career-high 221 yards rushing and all three of the Rebels' touchdowns, including giving the hosts a 24-21 lead on a 5-yard run with 8:18 to go in the third quarter. 
 
After allowing 17 first quarter points, Utah State's defense surrendered just one touchdown the remainder of the game and sealed the contest when graduate senior S Shaq Bond intercepted his second pass of the night on a fourth-down play with just 10 seconds left. Bond, whose first interception was in early in the fourth quarter, led the Aggies with nine tackles, which included 0.5 tackles for loss, to go along with a forced fumble. 
 
UNLV scored first on a 26-yard field goal on its opening drive of the game. Following Scarver's kickoff return for touchdown to make it 7-3 for the Aggies, Williams scored on UNLV's first play of the next drive on a 75-yard run to give the Rebels a 10-7 lead. Williams scored again, this time on a 1-yard run, on UNLV's next possession to give the home team a 17-7 lead late in the first quarter. 
 
LAST HOME MEETING vs. UNLV
LOGAN, Utah - Sophomore QB Jordan Love tied a school record by tossing a career-high five touchdown passes to lead Utah State to a 59-28 Homecoming rout of UNLV on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. 
 
With the win, the Aggies improved to 5-1 overall (2-0 Mountain West), matching their best start since the 1978 campaign, when that team also opened the season at 5-1. 
 
The Aggies have now scored 40-plus points in each of their last five games and 30-plus points in their first six games this season, both of which are school records. Prior to this current run, USU had never scored 40-plus points in more than three straight games. 
 
Playing into the third quarter, Love completed 17-of-23 passes for 322 yards. He teamed up with four different receivers for the five scores: sophomore Jordan Nathan, senior Jalen Greene, sophomore Savon Scarver and senior Ron'quavion Tarver, who hauled in two touchdown passes on the day. 
 
Sophomore LB David Woodward led Utah State's defensive effort with a game-best 12 tackles, including 3.0 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss – both career highs. Six different Aggies recorded six stops apiece, while sophomore CB Ja'Marcus Ingram and senior CB Deante Fortenberry each had two pass breakups. 
 
The Aggies, who finished with 598 yards of total offense, blew the game open by scoring 35 unanswered points in span of eight minutes and five seconds between the first and second quarters. The Rebels (2-4, 0-2 MW) opened the game's scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by Lexington Thomas with 5:38 left in the first quarter. 
 
It was all Utah State after that, beginning with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Love to Nathan that tied it at 7-all with 3:17 remaining in the first. On the Aggies' very next series, Love found a wide open Greene down the west sideline for an 80-yard score that put Utah State in front to stay at 14-7. 
 
USU continued to pour it on in the second quarter as Scarver caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Love to make it 21-7. The score came after senior S Jontrell Rocquemore intercepted a pass thrown by UNLV quarterback Max Gilliam. 
 
The Aggies increased their lead to 28-7 with 11:35 remaining in the second quarter when freshman WR Deven Thompkins blocked a UNLV punt, which was scooped up by sophomore S Baron Gajkowski and returned 16 yards for a touchdown. It was the sixth non-offensive touchdown scored by Utah State this season. 
 
Junior RB Darwin Thompson, who rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries, scored on a 7-yard touchdown run to make it 35-7 for the hosts. With just 18 seconds remaining in the half, Tarver hauled in the first of his two touchdown receptions, a 7-yarder from Love. 
 
That duo hooked up again in the third quarter, this time from 29 yards out, to make it 49-14. Tarver finished with four catches for 52 yards, while Greene had a career-high-tying five receptions for a career-best 132 yards. 
 
Redshirt freshman QB Henry Colombi replaced Love late in the third quarter and led the Aggies to a pair of scoring drives in the fourth. Junior PK Dominik Eberle kicked a 24-yard field goal with 3:15 left in the game and Colombi put the exclamation point on the win with a 37-yard touchdown run less than two minutes later. Colombi was 5-of-8 passing for 55 yards, to go along with 41 yards rushing on just two carries. Junior RB Gerold Bright led Utah State's ground game with 72 yards on 11 carries. The Aggies rushed for 221 yards on the afternoon. 
 
GAME 3 RECAP vs. WEBER STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Weber State QB Bronson Barron passed for 202 yards and two touchdowns to help the Wildcats beat Utah State 35-7 in the Aggies' final non-conference home game on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. Ranked No. 17 at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, the Wildcats (2-0) snapped an eight-game losing streak to Utah State (1-2). 
 
Junior WR Terrell Vaughn provided the only points for the Aggies when he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, giving the hosts a brief 7-3 lead with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter. That kickoff return is tied for the third-longest in school history and is one of eight for at least 100 yards. 
 
Vaughn finished with 176 all-purpose yards on the night as he also hauled in a team- and career-high four catches for career-best 36 yards. 
 
Senior WR Justin McGriff added three receptions for 42 yards, while junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen tied his career-high with three receptions for 33 yards. 
 
Weber State regained the lead for good less than a minute later when Josh Davis scored on a 17-yard touchdown run to make it 10-7. The Wildcats never looked back from there, but the Aggies had their chances. 
 
Down 13-7 late in the first half, Utah State drove to the WSU 3-yard line, where it faced third-and-goal. The drive ended unsuccessfully when graduate senior QB Logan Bonner was intercepted in the end zone by the Wildcats' Maxwell Anderson. 
 
Bonner finished the game just 12-of-31 passing for 120 yards and three interceptions, while junior QB Cooper Legas was 4-of-9 passing for 37 yards and one pick. 
 
Utah State finished with 283 yards of total offense (157 passing, 126 rushing), while Weber State produced 401 yards (202 passing, 199 rushing). The Wildcats also possessed the ball for 35:54 and limited the Aggies to just 2-of-15 on third downs. 
 
Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh led Utah State's defensive effort as he had a season-high 11 tackles for his first double-digit tackle outing of the season and the second of his career. He also forced a fumble and had 1.0 tackles for loss. 
 
Graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds had a season-high 10 tackles for the Aggies, which is the fourth double-digit tackle outing of his career. He also intercepted his second pass of the season and the third of his career, to go along with one pass breakup. 
 
Junior ILB MJ Tafisi also had double-digit tackles for the Aggies as he tied his career-high with 10 stops, to go along with a career-high-tying 2.0 tackles for loss, and a career-high-tying one pass breakup. 
 
Senior CB Michael Anyanwu and graduate senior DT Phillip Paea each had an interception for Utah State, which was the first of their careers. Anyanwu also had a career-high nine tackles in the game, including 0.5 tackles for loss, while redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki added a career-best eight stops, which included 0.5 tackles for loss. 
 
Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee had another career day for the Aggies as he had three punts of at least 50 yards (51, 51, 58) and a career-high-tying five punts downed inside the 20-yard line as he punted seven times for an average of 45.7 yards. 
 
UTAH STATE LOSES AT HOME TO WEBER STATE
• Utah State had its eight-game winning streak against Weber State snapped two weekends ago as it lost at home to the Wildcats, 35-7. For USU, it was its first loss against a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team since losing at home to Idaho State, 27-24, in 2000.
 
• With the loss, Utah State has now lost back-to-back games for just the second time under head coach Blake Anderson and USU is now 2-2 under Anderson following a loss. 
 
UTAH STATE HAS GONE EIGHT QUARTERS WITHOUT AN OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWN
• Utah State has not scored an offensive touchdown in its last eight quarters as it was shutout at No. 1 Alabama 55-0 and lost at home to Weber State, 35-7, scoring its lone touchdown on a 100-yard kickoff return. The last time USU went at least eight quarters without an offensive touchdown was during the 2006 campaign. 
 
AGGIES INTERCEPT THREE PASSES AGAINST WEBER STATE
• Utah State's defense forced three turnovers with its three interceptions against Weber State and it is the second time in three games this year that USU has had three takeaways. The last time USU had three interceptions in a game was against New Mexico State in 2018. 
 
• Despite having three takeaways against Weber State, Utah State committed four turnovers of its own with four interceptions. The last time USU threw four interceptions in a game was against North Texas in 2004. 
 
UTAH STATE RALLIES FROM DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFICITS AGAIN
• For the seventh time under head coach Blake Anderson, Utah State rallied from a double-digit deficit to win as it trailed UConn 14-0 after the first quarter, but out-scored the Huskies 31-6 from that point on, including a 24-0 spurt in the second quarter as the Aggies scored 17 points in the final 3:42 of the period. Those 24 second-quarter points by USU were its most since scoring 24 second-quarter points at San José State last season, after trailing 14-0 early on in that game.
 
• UConn had 180 yards and eight first downs in the first quarter on its way to 14 points, but amassed just 184 yards, 13 first downs and six points on a pair of field goals over the final three quarters.
 
UTAH STATE PRODUCES 542 YARDS OF TOTAL OFFENSE
• Utah State produced 542 yards in its season-opening win against UConn, as it had 261 yards rushing on 54 attempts and 281 yards passing. It was the fourth time under head coach Blake Anderson that USU has gained 500-plus yards in a game.
 
• Utah State has now won 45 of its last 51 games when rushing at least 40 times and 63 of its last 68 games when scoring at least 30 points. USU also improved to 39-9 over its last 48 games when it has a player rush for at least 100 yards as graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. had a career-high 161 yards on a career-best 33 attempts.
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE HAS 11 TACKLES FOR LOSS IN SEASON OPENER 
• Utah State's defense began the 2022 campaign with 11.0 tackles for loss against UConn, and then had 5.0 tackles for loss at No. 1 Alabama and 7.0 tackles for loss against Weber State. 
 
• 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.
 
EIGHT AGGIES HAVE MADE THEIR FIRST-CAREER START THIS SEASON
• Utah State has had eight players make their first-career start this year. In its season opener against UConn, USU had seven players make their first-career start in graduate senior OL Wade Meacham (79), graduate senior DT Phillip Paea (90), senior CB Ajani Carter (12), graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak (9), junior ILB MJ Tafisi (2), junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen (9) and freshman OL Weylin Lapuaho (61). And, junior DT Poukesi Vakauta (96) made his first-career start against Weber State. 
 
• Lapuaho is the first true freshman to start for Utah State since CB Jalen Davis in 2014, and the first true freshman to start on the offensive line since Derek Hoke in 2005. 
 
TWENTY-SEVEN PLAYERS HAVE MADE THEIR AGGIE DEBUT THIS SEASON
• Utah State has had 27 players make their Aggie debut this year. In its season opener against UConn, USU had 21 players make their Aggie debut in graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs (8), graduate senior S Gurvan Hall Jr. (6), graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak (9), graduate junior TE Ron Tiavaasue (11), graduate junior WR Xavier Williams (3), junior OLB Omari Okeke (5), junior ILB MJ Tafisi (2), junior WR Terrell Vaughn (0), junior RB Jordan Wilmore (23), sophomore DT Tavian Coleman (94), sophomore WR Jalen Royals (17), sophomore DE John Ward (42), sophomore QB Levi Williams (16), redshirt freshman WR NyNy Davis (6), redshirt freshman ILB Cole Joyce (20), redshirt freshman OL Elia Migao (73), redshirt freshman DE Enoka Migao (45), redshirt freshman ILB Sione Moa (40), freshman ILB Max Alford (33), freshman RB Robert Briggs (22) and freshman OL Weylin Lapuaho (61). USU had five more players make their Aggie debut at No. 1 Alabama in senior DT Aurion Peoples (99), redshirt freshman DT Bo Maile (44), freshman CB JD Drew (18), freshman DE Paul Fitzgerald (32) and freshman ILB Josh Williams (30). And, sophomore WR Kyrese Rowan (26) made his Aggie debut against Weber State.
 
BRIGGS NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
• Utah State RB Robert Briggs was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week after setting the school record for rushing yards by a true freshman in their first-ever game, as he gained 85 yards on 10 carries, including a 23-yard touchdown, against UConn. The previous record was set by QB Kent Myers, who rushed for 28 yards on three carries against UNLV in 2014, in his USU debut as a true freshman.
 
TYLER JR. SURPASSES 1,000 YARDS RUSHING IN AGGIE CAREER
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. has rushed for 1,122 yards on 259 attempts (4.3 ypc) and seven touchdowns in his Utah State career, which ranks 28th all-time in school history. Overall, Tyler is one of 33 Aggies to rush for 1,000 yards in a career.
 
• During his collegiate career, which includes four years at Oregon State, Tyler has now rushed for 1,246 yards on 289 carries (4.3 ypc) and nine touchdowns.
 
TYLER JR. HAS CAREER DAY AGAINST UCONN
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. had a career day against UConn as he rushed for a career-high 161 yards on a career-best 33 attempts for his fifth-career 100-yard rushing game. Overall, it was the most rushing yards and attempts by an Aggie since Gerold Bright rushed for 179 yards on 36 attempts against Colorado State in 2019. It was also the most rushing yards by an Aggie in a season-opener since Devante Mays gained 208 yards on 18 carries against Weber State in 2016.
 
BONNER THROWS THREE TOUCHDOWNS AGAINST UCONN
• Graduate senior QB Logan Bonner was 20-of-29 passing for 281 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions against UConn. It was the seventh time in his USU career and the 12th time in his collegiate career, that he has thrown at least three touchdown passes in a game.
 
• With his three touchdown passes against UConn, Bonner has now thrown 39 touchdowns in his Utah State career and 69 in his collegiate career, which included five seasons at Arkansas State. Those 39 touchdown passes at USU are tied with Kent Myers (2014-17) and Brent Snyder (1987-88) for the fifth-most in school history. 
 
BONNER IN SEVENTH AND FINAL YEAR OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
• Graduate senior QB Logan Bonner is one of just 23 players at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level, and the only player from the Mountain West, that is in their seventh year of collegiate football. Bonner spent five seasons (2016-20) at Arkansas State and is in his second year at Utah State. At ASU, he redshirted in 2016 and received a medical redshirt in 2019, 
 
COBBS HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST UCONN
• Senior graduate transfer WR Brian Cobbs became just the fourth player in school history to record 100 receiving yards in his Aggie debut, as he caught a career-high eight passes for a career-best 108 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown, against UConn. In fact, it was Cobbs's first-ever 100-yard receiving game and his third-career touchdown reception. The only other Aggies to have 100 receiving yards in their first-ever USU game was Ken Thompson, who caught seven passes for 150 yards against San José State in 1979, Kevin Curtis, who caught 11 passes for 171 yards against Utah in 2001, and Siaosi Mariner, who caught eight passes for 118 yards at Wake Forest in 2019. 
 
McGRIFF AND VAN LEEUWEN BOTH CATCH TOUCHDOWNS AGAINST UCONN
• Two other Aggie wide receivers caught touchdowns against UConn, as junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen had a career-high 54 receiving yards on a career-high-tying three receptions, including an 11-yard touchdown, which was the first of his career. And, senior WR Justin McGriff caught three passes for 53 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown, which was the ninth of his career. 
 
VONGPHACHANH HAS SEASON HIGH 11 TACKLES AGAINST WEBER STATE
• Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh had a season-high 11 tackles for his first double-digit tackle outing of the season and the second of his career in his last game against Weber State. He also forced his first fumble of the season and the second of his career in the second quarter and had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 2.0 TFLs on the season and 12.5 in his career. 
 
REYNOLDS HAS DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLES AND INTERCEPTION AGAINST WEBER STATE
• Graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds had a season-high 10 tackles for his first double-digit tackle outing of the season, the third of his Utah State career and the fourth of his collegiate career, in his last game against Weber State. He also intercepted his second pass of the season and the third of his career in the third quarter, and had one pass breakup to give him two PBUs on the season and four in his career.  
 
TAFISI TIES CAREER HIGHS AGAINST WEBER STATE
• Junior ILB MJ Tafisi tied his career high with 10 tackles for his second double-digit tackle game of the season and his career, in his last outing against Weber State. He also had a career-high-tying 2.0 tackles for loss to give him 4.0 TFLs on the season and 5.5 in his career, to go along with his first pass breakup of the season and the second of his career.   
 
ANYANWU HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST WEBER STATE 
• Senior CB Michael Anyanwu had a career day against Weber State as he had a career-high nine tackles, which included 0.5 tackles for loss, to give him 1.5 TFLs on the season and 2.5 in his career. He also intercepted his first-career pass in the first quarter.
 
TUIAKI HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST WEBER STATE 
• Redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki had a career-high eight tackles against Weber State, to go along with 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 2.5 TFLs on the season and in his career. The last Aggie defensive tackle to have eight or more stops in a game was Marcus Moore, who had nine tackles against BYU in 2021. 
 
PAEA INTERCEPTS FIRST-CAREER PASS AGAINST WEBER STATE 
• Graduate senior DT Phillip Paea intercepted his first-career pass in the second quarter against Weber State. The last USU defensive tackle to record an interception was Alan Bishop at New Mexico State in 2007. 
 
OTHER DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM WEBER STATE GAME
• Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 3.0 TLFs on the season and 12.5 in his career. Junior OLB Kaleo Neves had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 2.0 TFLs on the season and in his career. Sophomore DT Tavian Coleman had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 1.5 TFLs on the season and in his career. And,  junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 1.0 TFLs on the season and 11.0 in his career.   
 
LARSEN NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
• Utah State S Ike Larsen 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 at No. 1 Alabama last weekend.
 
VAUGHN SCORES FIRST-CAREER TOUCHDOWN ON KICKOFF RETURN  
• Junior WR Terrell Vaughn returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter against Weber State, which is the first of his career, and tied for the third-longest in school history. It is also one of eight kickoff returns in school history that have gone at least 100 yards.   
 
KOTSANLEE NAMED TO RAY GUY AWARD RAY'S 8  
• Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee was named to the Ray Guy Award "Ray's 8" following his performance against Weber State, as he punted seven times for an average of 45.7 yards, including three punts of at least 50 yards (51, 51, 58). He also had a career-high-tying five punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
 
• On the season, Kotsanlee now has nine punts this year and 22 in his career of at least 50 yards, to go along with 10 punts this year and 46 in his career that have been downed inside the 20-yard line. 
 
KOTSANLEE HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST ALABAMA  
• Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee had a career game in his last outing at No. 1 Alabama as he tied his career high with 10 punts for an average of 38.3 yards. He also had a career-high four punts of at least 50 yards (51, 52, 53, 60) and had four punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
 
KOTSANLEE RANKS SEVENTH ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN PUNTING  
• Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee has punted 112 times in his career for an average of 42.0 yards per punt, which is the sixth-best punting average in school history. Last season, Kotsanlee punted 53 times for an average of 42.5 yards per punt, which is the ninth-best single-season punting average in school history.
 
• As a freshman in 2020, Kotsanlee earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors as he punted 37 times for an average of 40.7 yards per punt with 17 of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He also had four punts of at least 50 yards, including a season long of 63 yards.
 
COLES IN THE UTAH STATE RECORD BOOKS  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles made a 45 yard field goal and was 4-for-4 on extra points against UConn, and is now 7-of-12 on field goals from 40-49 yards in his career. For his career, Coles is now 24-of-33 (.727) on field goals and ranks fifth all-time in career field goal percentage. Coles, who is 10th all-time in school history in field goals made, is 67-of-70 (.957) all-time in extra points and that percentage ranks as the ninth-best all-time in school history. He also ranks 10th all-time in school history in both extra points made and attempted.
 
• During the 2021 season, Coles was 20-of-29 (.690) on field goals and 52-of-54 on extra points as he scored a team-best 112 points. He also set the school record for field goals attempted (29), was third in extra points made (52) and attempted (54), and fourth in points scored (112) and field goals made (20). 
 
• 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.
 
UTAH STATE THIRD IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN SACKS ALLOWED 
• Utah State's offense has allowed three sacks (1.00 pg) this season to rank third in the Mountain West and 25th in the nation. USU is also fourth in the MW and 106th in the nation in total offense (320.3 ypg), seventh in the MW and 81st in the nation in rushing offense (155.3 ypg), seventh in the MW and 113th in the nation in passing offense (165.0 ypg), 10th in the MW and 123rd in the nation in passing efficiency (94.1), 10th in the MW and 127th in the nation in completion percentage (.473), and 11th in the MW and 126th in the nation in scoring offense (12.7 ppg).      
 
• Utah State's offense is also third in the MW and 31st in the nation in tackles for loss allowed with 12 (4.0 pg), fifth in the MW and 53rd in the nation in fumbles lost with two (0.67 pg), fifth in the MW and 86th in the nation in passing yards per completion (11.3), and seventh in the MW and 100th in the nation in fourth down conversion percentage at 33.3 percent (3-of-9).
 
UTAH STATE FIRST IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is first in the Mountain West and 22nd in the nation in tackles for loss with 23 (7.7 pg), fourth in the MW and 51st in the nation in passing defense (200.7 ypg), fifth in the MW and 66th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (125.3), 10th in the MW and 116th in the nation in scoring defense (36.7 ppg), 11th in the MW and 116th in the nation in total defense (441.3 ypg), 11th in the MW and 127th in the nation in sacks with one (0.33 pg), and 12th in the MW and 128th in the nation in rushing defense (240.7 ypg).  
 
UTAH STATE HAS FORCED SEVEN TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has forced seven turnovers (6 interceptions, 1 fumble) in three games this year, and is second in the Mountain West and eighth in the nation with six interceptions (2.0 pg), third in the MW and 18th in the nation with seven forced turnovers, and eighth in the MW and 83rd in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.33 pg).
 
• Utah State has committed six turnovers on the season as it had two fumbles against UConn, zero turnovers against Alabama and four interceptions against Weber State, as USU is fifth in the MW and 47th in the nation in turnover margin (+0.33).  
 
UTAH STATE HAS ONE BLOCKED KICK ON THE SEASON
• Utah State blocked its first kick of the 2022 season as it blocked a punt against Alabama. Overall, USU is one of just 11 teams in the nation that has a blocked punt on the season. In all, it was USU's third blocked punt in a four-game span dating back to last year as it had a school record two blocked punts at No. 19 San Diego State in the Mountain West Championship Game.
 
• Utah State is also second in the MW and fifth in the nation in kickoff returns (35.0 ypr), third in the MW and 51st in the nation in net punting (40.8 ypp), fourth in the MW and 66th in the nation in punt return defense (5.4 ypr), seventh in the MW and 80th in the nation in kickoff return defense (20.7 ypr), and 10th in the MW and 105th in the nation in punt returns (4.3 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, and is first in the Mountain West and third in the nation in kickoff returns (35.0 ypr). Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak is third in the MW and 10th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.33 pg). Graduate senior QB Logan Bonner is third in the MW and 47th in the nation in yards per completion (12.6), sixth in the MW and 98th in the nation in yards per pass attempt (6.38), sixth in the MW in passing (146.7 ypg), sixth in the MW in total offense (147.7 ypg), ninth in the MW in passing efficiency (109.9), and 11th in the MW in completion percentage (.507). Graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds is third in the MW and fifth in the nation with two interceptions (0.7 pg). Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen is third in the MW and fifth in the nation with two interceptions (0.7 pg). Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is fifth in the MW and 50th in the nation in rushing (79.3 ypg), eighth in the MW in rushing  yards per carry (3.9), and 11th in the MW in all-purpose yards (91.0 ypg). Senior RB Cooper Jones is fifth in the MW and 51st in the nation in punt returns (4.2 ypr). Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee is seventh in the MW and 43rd in the nation in punting (42.9 ypp). Senior WR Justin McGriff is eighth in the MW in yards per reception (14.4). Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs is eighth in the MW in receiving (52.7 ypg), ninth in the MW in yards per reception (13.2), and 11th in the MW in receptions (4.0 pg). Graduate senior DT Phillip Paea is 12th in the MW and 46th in the nation in interceptions with one (0.3 pg). Senior CB Michael Anyanwu is 12th in the MW and 46th in the nation in interceptions with one (0.3 pg). And, freshman RB Robert Briggs is 12th in the MW in rushing (44.7 ypg).            
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State was one of 15 teams with multiple kickoff returns for touchdowns last year, along with South Florida (3), Alabama (2), Appalachian State (2), Arkansas State (2), Connecticut (2), Duke (2), Houston (2), Kansas State (2), Marshall (2), North Carolina State (2), Oklahoma State (2), Old Dominion (2), SMU (2) and Western Michigan (2). And, USU, Marshall and Oklahoma State were the only teams with two players that returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
 
• Through four weekends of the 2022 season, Utah State is one of just eight Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams that has returned a kickoff for a touchdown along with Coastal Carolina, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Texas, South Florida and Texas A&M. 
 
BLAKE ANDERSON ENTERS SECOND SEASON AT UTAH STATE
• Blake Anderson is entering his second season as Utah State's head coach after leading the Aggies to their best-ever season in his first year in 2021 as USU tied the school record with 11 wins (11-3, 6-2 MW), won its first-ever Mountain West Championship with a 46-13 victory at No. 19 San Diego State, posted a 24-13 win against Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl and finished the season ranked 24th in the nation in both polls.
 
• Anderson was one of 19 first-year head coaches at the FBS level in 2021 and was the only one to win nine or more games. Anderson is also the only first-year head coach in school history to win double-digit games. The previous record was nine wins set by Matt Wells in 2013.  
 
• Anderson was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 5 Coach of the Year in 2021 and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. 
 
• Anderson has won three conference championships as a head coach with two Sun Belt titles at Arkansas State (2015, 2016), along with one Mountain West title at Utah State (2021). Anderson coached in his seventh bowl game in eight seasons last year and has a 3-4 bowl record.
 
UTAH STATE RETURNS MAJORITY OF ITS COACHING STAFF  
• Utah State is returning eight of its 10 full-time assistants, as only cornerbacks coach Ray Brown (Washington State) and defensive line coach Al Lapuaho (Nevada) did not return. Those eight returning assistants are the most since the 2010 staff returned all nine of its assistant coaches from the previous season.
 
• Utah State is returning all three of its coordinators in Anthony Tucker (offense), Ephraim Banda (defense) and Nick Paremski (special teams) for the first time since 2013, when Kevin McGiven (offense), Todd Orlando (defense) and Dave Ungerer (special teams) were each in their second seasons, respectively.
 
• Utah State head coach Blake Anderson has four former Aggies on staff in running backs coach Chuckie Keeton (2011-15), tight ends coach DJ Tialavea (2010-13), defensive graduate assistant AJ Pataiali'i (2012-13) and director of player personnel Austin Albrecht (2014-16).
 
BANDA ONE OF TWO HISPANIC DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS IN THE NATION
• Utah State defensive coordinator and safeties coach Ephraim Banda is one of only two hispanic defensive coordinators in the nation at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level along with Penn State's Manny Diaz. Overall, Banda is one of 13 hispanic coaches at the FBS level, which includes five head coaches. 
 
• Banda was also named one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation in January of 2021, by Rivals.com.
 
CEFALO HAS COACHED THREE-STRAIGHT BILETNIKOFF SEMIFINALISTS
• Utah State passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo has coached a Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist in each of his last three seasons. In his first year at USU in 2021, Cefalo coached Deven Thompkins, who set school records with 102 receptions for 1,704 yards. At Arkansas State, Cefalo coached Jonathan Adams in 2020 and Omar Bayless in 2019, as both players were named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Players of the Year.
 
UTAH STATE HAS MOST DIVERSE COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• For the second straight year, Utah State is the only staff in the nation that has minority coaches serving in the roles of offensive coordinator (Anthony Tucker), defensive coordinator (Ephraim Banda) and head strength and conditioning coach (Paul Jackson).
 
• Of Utah State's 10 full-time assistant coaches, six are minorities, which is tied for the fifth-most minorities on a staff in the nation behind Hawai'i (8), Miami, Fla. (8), Northern Illinois (7) and Virigina (7), and tied with Arizona State, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia State, Illinois, LSU, Michigan State, Missouri, Penn State, Rice and Texas A&M.
 
UTAH STATE HAS THE THIRD-YOUNGEST COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• Of Utah State's 10 full-time assistant coaches, two are in their 20s, five are in their 30s and three are in their 40s. The average age of those 10 assistants is 35.1 years, which ranks as the third-youngest staff in the nation behind Old Dominion (33.5) and Georgia State (35.0).
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• For just the second time in program history, Utah State is returning its head coach, Blake Anderson, after finishing the previous season nationally ranked. John Ralston is the only other Aggie head coach to return as his 1961 team finished that season ranked 10th in the nation in both the AP and UPI polls with a 9-1-1 record. The three other times USU concluded a season nationally ranked, its head coach left for another head coaching position. Chuck Mills went to Wake Forest after the 1972 team went 8-3 record and was 19th in the final UPI poll. Gary Andersen went to Wisconsin after the 2012 team finished the year 16th in the AP poll and 17th in the Coaches poll as it went 11-2 and set the school record for wins. And, Matt Wells went to Texas Tech after the 2018 team finished the year 21st in the Coaches poll and 22nd in the AP poll as it went 11-2 and tied the school record for wins. 
 
UTAH STATE HAS TWO QUARTERBACKS ON ITS ROSTER WITH BOWL WINS
• Utah State is one of just two Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs in the nation to have multiple quarterbacks on its roster with bowl wins, joining South Carolina. Ironically, for USU, neither of USU's quarterbacks with a bowl win is its starter as junior Cooper Legas led the Aggies to a 24-13 win against Oregon State in the 2021 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, while sophomore transfer Levi Williams led Wyoming to a 52-38 win against Kent State in the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and to a 38-17 win against Georgia State in the 2019 Arizona Bowl. USU starter, graduate senior Logan Bonner, started the LA Bowl, but was hurt early in the game with USU trailing 7-0.
 
UTAH STATE HAS ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED O-LINES IN THE NATION
• Utah State returns four of its starters along the offensive line from last season in graduate senior Alfred Edwards (GP-43, GS-42), graduate senior Jacob South (GP-23, GS-14), graduate senior Chandler Dolphin (GP-19, GS-11) and sophomore Cole Motes (GP-9, GS-8). Combined, this group has appeared in 95 career games with 76 starts.
 
• Overall, Utah State is one of just 19 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs to return at least four starts along the offensive line from last season, while its 76 combined career starts are tied for the 13th-most in the nation and its 95 combined games played are the 19th-most.
 
AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS 
•  Utah State has 11 players on its 2022 roster who have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in senior OL Wade Meacham, junior TE Josh Sterzer, junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen, redshirt freshman CB Ty Barnett, redshirt freshman DT Johnson Hansen, redshirt freshman ILB Sione Moa, redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki, redshirt freshman WR Timm Van Leeuwen, freshman P Ryan Marks, freshman ILB Bronson Olevao and freshman OL Adam Pond.
 
AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED 
• Utah State has three players on its 2022 roster who are married in senior OL Wade Meacham, junior TE Josh Sterzer and sophomore OL Cole Motes.
 
UTAH STATE HAS ONLY RUSSIAN IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT FBS LEVEL
• Utah State has the only Russian on a roster at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level in junior OL Nikita Iuferov, who transferred to USU from San Mateo (California) Junior College.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Utah State has 14 players on its roster that have already received their bachelor's degree in senior QB Logan Bonner, senior WR Brian Cobbs, senior PK Connor Coles, senior OL Alfred Edwards, senior OL Chandler Dolphin, senior CB Andre Grayson, senior S Gurvan Hall Jr., senior OL Wade Meacham, senior DT Phillip Paea, senior S Hunter Reynolds, senior OL Jacob South, senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr., junior DE Daniel Grzesiak and junior WR Xavier Williams.
 
UTAH STATE HAS SIX BOWL TEAMS ON ITS 2022 SCHEDULE
• Utah State has six teams on its 2022 schedule that played in a bowl game last season in Alabama (CFP Cotton Bowl, CFB National Championship), BYU (Independence Bowl), Air Force (First Responder Bowl), Wyoming (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl), Hawai'i (Hawaii Bowl) and Boise State (Arizona Bowl).
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is one of 16 teams that ended the 2021 season nationally ranked in The Associated Press poll to return both its head coach and starting quarterback in 2022. The others are Arkansas, Alabama, BYU, Clemson, Georgia, Houston, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest and Utah.