BOISE, Idaho – Utah State football fell to No. 22 Boise State 37-18 in its first-ever Pac-12 game on Saturday night at Albertsons Stadium. 

Graduate running back Javen Jacobs led the Aggies with 10 carries for 139 yards, his first career 100-yard rushing game, while also adding three catches for four yards and a touchdown. Graduate wide receiver Eli Wood led the receiving corps with seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown, his first career 100-yard receiving game. 

Graduate quarterback Grady Brosterhous led the passing attack with 129 yards on 12-0of-18 passing with two touchdowns while junior quarterback McCae Hillstead completed 2-of-7 passes for 47 yards with one interception.

Graduate wide receiver Anthony Garcia recorded two catches for 21 yards while sophomore running back Noah White and junior tight end each added one catch for 27 and 22 yards, respectively.

Senior safety Brevin Hamblin and junior linebacker Asher Cunningham led the defense with 11 tackles each, with Cunningham also adding a forced fumble. Junior safety Chapman Lewis added nine tackles and tied for the team lead alongside junior cornerback D'Angelo Mayes with one pass breakup. Senior linebacker Jordan Pendleton recorded USU's lone sack in the contest while graduate cornerback Bobby Arnold and senior linebacker Adonis Jackson added 0.5 tackles-for-loss apiece.

The Aggies drove into Bronco territory on the first drive of the game but had the drive stall out after an injury. USU went three-and-out on its next two possessions while Boise State scored touchdowns on its first three possessions to build an early lead. Utah State battled back with a six-play, 75-yard drive highlighted by a 64-yard gain by Jacobs, who later capped the drive with a one-yard TD reception from Brosterhous to put USU on the board.

After the Aggie defense forced a Bronco stop, however, an interception returned for a touchdown by the BSU defense returned momentum to the home side. Utah State again drove into Boise territory on its next drive and managed a 28-yard field goal from senior placekicker Kian Afrookhteh as the first half expired.

Boise State extended its lead with a field goal on its first drive of the second half after running nearly seven minutes off the clock. The Aggies drove past midfield in an attempt to answer before back-to-back sacks forced a punt. The Aggie defense forced a three-and-out but USU's next possession ended on downs with the Aggies attempting a 4th-and-14 inside the red zone. 

The defense returned the ball to the offense with Cunningham forcing a fumble which was recovered by sophomore cornerback Markie Grant. The turnover paid off several plays later as Brosterhous found Wood for a 31-yard TD drive to bring USU back within two possessions. Boise State drove 63 yards in four plays on the next drive, however, scoring another touchdown to re-extend its lead. USU's next drive ended again on downs in Boise State territory before the Broncos were able to drain much of the rest of the clock.

Utah State football returns to Maverik Stadium for its first-ever Pac-12 home game against Washington State on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m. (MT). The game will be broadcast on the CW.

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