PULLMAN, Wash. — No. 20 Washington State scored touchdowns on their first three drives and Utah State was unable to climb out of the early deficit, falling to the Cougars, 49-28, on Saturday night at Gesa Field.
The Aggies totaled 395 yards of offense, including 187 yards on the ground, but allowed 465 yards to Washington State. The Cougars held the ball for 32:45 and gained 27 first downs compared to 21 first downs for USU.
After a drive fizzled out on Utah State's opening possession, Washington State scored the first of three touchdowns on their first three possessions, as Kyle Williams hauled in a 17-yard touchdown pass from John Mateer. On USU's ensuing drive, the Aggies marched 75 yards in 11 plays, earning four first downs before graduate quarterback
Spencer Petras found junior wide receiver
Jack Hestera for a 3-yard score to tie the game at 7-7.
The Cougars pieced together another pair of methodical touchdown drives, going 85 yards in 12 plays and 75 yards in 10 plays to go up 21-7 midway through the second quarter. Utah State drove into Washington State territory late in the half before an interception thwarted the attempt to cut into the deficit before halftime.
The hosts continued to push their advantage to begin the second half as Wayshawn Parker took the first snap following halftime 75 yards for a touchdown. After another WSU drive ended in the endzone, the Aggies continued to attempt a comeback late in the third quarter as junior quarterback
Bryson Barnes finished off an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 35-14. The Aggies forced a Cougar fumble on their next drive before a penalty wiped out the turnover, leading to another Cougar touchdown.
Utah State continued to fight with a 13-play, 70-yard drive culminating in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Petras to graduate senior wide receiver
Kyrese White. The Cougars, however, iced the game away on their next drive, draining over seven minutes off the clock before Mateer threw for his fourth touchdown of the night.
Sophomore running back
Derrick Jameson scored on his lone rushing attempt of the game, which was also his first snap of the season, from 72 yards out on USU's final possession with less than a minute remaining, but Washington State recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt to end the contest.
Petras finished the game with 208 yards on 28-for-45 passing with two touchdowns and one interception. Sophomore wide receiver
Grant Page recorded a career-high seven catches for 54 yards to lead the Aggies, while White finished close behind with 50 yards on six receptions with one score. Junior wide receiver
Otto Tia added five catches for 16 yards, and freshman running back
Herschel Turner finished with a career high four catches for a career-best 26 yards. Hestera had four catches for 47 yards with one touchdown. Both of USU's tight ends in graduate senior
Josh Sterzer and sophomore
Will Monney added one catch each for 17 and eight yards, respectively.
Turner led the Aggie rushing attack with a career-high 85 yards on a career-best 16 carries, with Jameson coming in second on the team with 72 yards rushing. Petras tied his career high with 14 yards on four carries, and Barnes finished with two rushes for 10 yards with one touchdown. Hestera also added one rush for four yards, while senior running back
Rahsul Faison added two rushes for three yards.
Defensively, senior safety
Jordan Vincent led the Aggies with 11 tackles, his seventh game this season with double-digit tackles. Redshirt junior linebacker
John Miller and sophomore cornerback
JD Drew both added six tackles. Drew also forced one fumble in the contest. Sophomore linebacker
Bronson Olevao Jr. posted one sack to lead USU, while junior defensive tackle
Isaiah Bruce and senior defensive end
Cian Slone combined for a sack as well. Bruce and junior safety
Ike Larsen tied for the team lead with one pass breakup each, while Bruce added a forced fumble, as well.
Fall Schedule
Utah State returns to Maverik Stadium to host Hawai'i on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast by Spectrum Sports.
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.
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