LOGAN, Utah – After falling behind in the first half, Utah State football rallied in all three phases of the game to complete a 13-point second-half comeback and defeat Washington State 17-16 on Friday night at Maverik Stadium. 

The 13-point comeback is USU's largest since coming back from 17 down against Colorado State in 2023 and the largest second-half comeback since overcoming a 14-point deficit against Nevada in 2015.

Junior linebacker Asher Cunningham forced two fumbles in the second half, both of which were recovered by the defense and led to Aggie touchdowns to key the comeback. Graduate quarterback Grady Brosterhous threw a 27-yard TD pass to graduate receiver Eli Wood for the first score while graduate running back Javen Jacobs scored from two yards out to put USU ahead with less than seven minutes remaining in what proved to be the winning score. 

In addition to the two fumble recoveries, the Aggie defense forced Washington State into five punts in the second half while holding the Cougars scoreless, including three-and-outs on each of WSU's final two possessions to preserve the win.

Brosterhous finished with 150 yards on 11-of-26 passing with one touchdown, also adding 34 rushing yards on 12 carries. Jacobs had 15 carries for 62 yards and one touchdown while sophomore running back Noah White chipped in with two carries for eight yards. Wood led the receiving corps with six catches for 84 yards and a score while senior wide receiver Javon Robinson added three catches for 14 yards and graduate wide receiver Demick Starling posted two catches for 52 yards plus one carry for five yards.

Cunningham's career day included a team-high 17 tackles, including two tackles-for-loss and half a sack, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. The Aggie defense set season-highs with eight TFLs and three sacks.

Senior defensive tackle Tyree Morris and sophomore safety David Kabongo each added eight tackles with Morris also adding a sack. Senior linebacker Jordan Pendleton led USU with 1.5 sacks, also tying for the team lead with 2.0 TFLs alongside both Cunningham and Kabongo. Sophomore defensive tackle Carson Tujague led the Aggies with a pair of pass breakups.

The first half came down to a field goal battle for the first 25 minutes as Washington State's Jack Stevens scored from 40, 43 and 50 yards out while Utah State senior kicker Kian Afrookhteh kicked a career-long 48-yard field goal to put the Aggies on the board. 

The Aggie defense battled to keep Washington State out of the end zone for much of the first half, but after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty turned a third-down stop into a 1st-and-10 for the Cougars, WSU's Leo Pulalasi broke out for a 54-yard touchdown run which put Washington State up 16-3, a score which held through the rest of the first half.

The teams traded three-and-outs to begin the third quarter and on Washington State's second drive, after allowing a single first down, Cunningham forced a fumble which was recovered by graduate linebacker Bronson Olevao Jr. at WSU's 39-yard line. Brosterhous paid off the turnover several plays later with the 27-yard strike to Wood who dragged one foot while falling out of bounds to complete the catch and the score.

Washington State looked to respond on the ensuing drive, making it near midfield until Cunningham and Morris combined for a sack to force a Cougar punt. After exchanging several punts, junior punter Landon Rehkow pinned WSU inside their own 15-yard line. The Aggie defense forced the Cougars into a 3rd-and-long where Cunningham then forced his second fumble, also recovering it to set Utah State up instantly in the red zone.

Brosterhous found Robinson on the first play for 17 yards down to the 2-yard line, setting up Jacobs for the TD plunge to give the Aggies a 17-16 lead. The one-point lead proved to be enough. Cunningham scored another TFL on the ensuing possession to force another Cougar punt and despite the offense punting the ball back to Washington State, a sack from Pendleton plus a holding penalty on Washington State thwarted any chances of a drive as the Cougars were forced to punt with less than two minutes remaining. Jacobs then clinched the win, gaining a first down with a 12-yard rush to allow Utah State to run out the clock.

Utah State football (2-4, 1-1 Pac-12) enters its lone bye of Pac-12 play before returning to action on the road at Texas State on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 5:30 p.m. (MT). The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased through the USU Online Ticket Office.

FOLLOW ALONG
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 -