SAN MARCOS, Texas – Utah State football battled to the final seconds but came up short in a 20-17 loss at Texas State on Saturday night at UFCU Stadium. 

Graduate quarterback Grady Brosterhous led the Aggies with 206 yards on 21-of-36 passing while graduate receiver Anthony Garcia posted a career-high eight receptions for 85 yards, also throwing his first pass attempt of the season for six yards and a touchdown. Graduate running back Javen Jacobs led the rushing attack with 42 yards on 14 carries and added two catches for 13 yards. 

A trio of Aggies led another standout defensive effort as senior safety Brevin Hamblin, sophomore safety David Kabongo and graduate linebacker Bronson Olevao Jr. each posted eight tackles. USU recorded a season-high four sacks as a team with Hamblin, Olevao Jr., senior defensive tackle Tyree Morris and junior linebacker Asher Cunningham each recording one. 

The Aggie offense began the game by driving into Bobcats territory on three of its first four possessions. Senior kicker Kian Afrookhteh converted all three drives into points, first connecting on a 43-yard field goal to put USU on the board after its opening possession. The Bobcats answered with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Texas State's Jaylen Jenkins. Despite the return touchdown, the Aggie defense held TSU to a total of eight yards over its next four drives, part of holding the Bobcats to 82 yards of offense in the first half, the lowest yardage allowed by the Aggies in an opening half since holding Nevada to 25 yards of offense last season.

The Aggies added a pair of field goals to regain the lead as Afrookhteh tied his career long with a 48-yarder before putting USU ahead with a 27-yard field goal. On their final drive of the half, Texas State's offense moved past midfield for the first time in the game but was turned away on a sack by Morris with the ensuing 49-yard field goal attempt missing wide left, preserving a 9-7 Aggie lead heading into the half. 

The Bobcat offense found its rhythm in the second half, taking back the lead with a 78-yard drive to begin the third quarter with quarterback Brad Jackson capping the drive with a three-yard TD run. After the Aggie defense stopped Texas State just outside of field goal range on its next drive, TXST's Jacob Bonilla put the home side up 17-9 with a 51-yard field goal. 

The Aggie offense rebounded from two three-and-outs to begin the second half, taking its third possession 75 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown. Graduate wide receiver Anthony Garcia took the handoff on a trick play and found freshman wide receiver Kaina Watson in the end zone for the score. Brosterhous then found graduate running back Javen Jacobs for the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 17-17.

Texas State took the ensuing possession down into Aggie territory, aided by a pass interference call on third down near midfield. The Aggie defense tightened near the top of the red zone, holding the Bobcats to a field goal attempt. TXST's Bonilla converted from 37 yards out to give the Bobcats a 20-17 lead.

With less than two minutes remaining, USU moved the ball into Bobcat territory. The Aggies converted on a fourth down attempt with Brosterhous finding Garcia for an 18-yard gain. USU was unable to drive deeper into field goal range, however, and the resulting 48-yard field goal attempt as time expired missed wide left to give Texas State the 20-17 win.

In addition to his passing yards, Brosterhous added 27 rushing yards on 13 attempts while freshman running back Nehemiah Washington had one carry for five yards. Senior wide receiver Javon Robinson added a season-high four catches for 45 yards and junior tight end Kache Kaio set a career-high with three receptions for 15 yards. Watson ended with two catches for 13 yards and a touchdown, all career-highs. Sophomore running back Noah White and graduate wide receivers Demick Starling and Eli Wood each finished with one catch for 18, 14 and seven yards, respectively. 

Defensively, Cunningham added seven tackles for the Aggies, including one TFL. USU recorded seven TFLs as a team with Kabongo leading the way with two and Hamblin, Olevao Jr., Cunningham, Morris and junior cornerback D'Angelo Mayes each recording one. Kabongo and Mayes each recorded one pass breakup. 

Utah State football (2-5, 1-2 Pac-12) hosts Colorado State at Maverik Stadium on Saturday, Oct 31, at 1:30 p.m. (MT). The game will be broadcast on USA 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 -