LOGAN, Utah — Graduate QB
Spencer Petras set school and career records with 41 completions and 59 attempts, and set a new career-high with 461 passing yards, but the Rebel rushing attack was too much to overcome as Utah State lost to UNLV 50-34 on its Homecoming night at Maverik Stadium on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.
Utah State also set two school records in the game as this was the first time ever that it had two players with 10-plus catches and 150-plus receiving yards in the same game.
Petras, who finished the game with a career-high-tying three touchdowns and three interceptions, tied the FBS single game record for completions this year, while his 461 passing yards are the second-most at the FBS level this season and the fifth-most in school history.
The Aggies outgained the Rebels, 584-546, and accrued 32 first downs to UNLV's 25. However, four USU turnovers led to 20 points for the Rebels. UNLV had zero turnovers.
UNLV went 75 yards in four plays on the opening drive of the game, culminating in a five-yard rushing touchdown. After the Utah State defense forced a stop on UNLV's next possession, the Rebels turned to the air on their next chance with the ball, resulting in an 18-yard touchdown pass to go up 14-0. The Aggie offense answered with an 11-play, 79-yard drive as senior RB
Rahsul Faison capped the series with a 20-yard touchdown run.
UNLV broke the game open in the second quarter, outscoring the Aggies 27-0 as USU turned the ball over twice in the quarter and failed on a fourth-down conversion as the Rebels took advantage to build a 41-7 halftime lead.
Utah State took the opening drive of the second half 66 yards in eight plays and scored on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Petras to junior WR
Jack Hestera. UNLV responded on their next possession with a 29-yard touchdown run, which was the final time the Rebels found the end zone in the contest. Hestera finished the game with a career-high 10 receptions for a career-best 152 yards and one touchdown.
Utah State continued humming offensively on the next drive with Petras throwing a 13-yard scoring strike to senior WR
Jalen Royals. With the touchdown, Royals moved to fifth all-time in school history with 20 career touchdown receptions. He had a career-high-tying 10 receptions for 155 yards in the game.
The Aggies continued to eat into the deficit into the fourth quarter as Petras orchestrated another touchdown drive, this time going 67 yards in eight plays as he found graduate TE
Broc Lane for the six-yard touchdown to make the score 47-28. After forcing another stop, USU quickly moved deep within Rebel territory and looked to cut the lead further before a tipped pass led to an interception, which led to a 36-yard UNLV field goal.
Utah State's final touchdown of the game came on a three-yard run from freshman RB
Herschel Turner Jr. to bring the game back within two possessions at 50-34. Utah State's two-point conversion was unsuccessful, however, as was the ensuing onside kick, allowing UNLV to kneel out the final seconds.
Faison led USU with 83 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown.
Defensively, USU recorded a season-high four sacks, with senior DE
Cian Slone leading the way with a career-high 2.0 sacks. USU also tied its season-high with 8.0 tackles for loss.
Junior S
Ike Larsen tied career highs with 11 tackles and two pass breakups. Redshirt senior S
Omari Okeke had a career-high seven tackles, while junior DE
Lawrence Falatea had a career-high six stops. Slone also tied his career-high with six tackles.
Fall Schedule
Utah State remains home to host New Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on TruTV.
Ticket Information
Mini-plans and single-game tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now. Purchase your tickets today by visiting utahstateaggies.com or calling the ticket office at 435-797-0305.
Parking
All Single-Game Parking sales will be cashless, starting this year. Those can be purchased in advance for $10
online, or for $15 on game days at the F lot entrances.
Follow
Fans can follow the Aggie football program with behind the scenes content and coverage on social media through
X,
Instagram and
Facebook, along with visiting
www.utahstateaggies.com.
- USU -
