LOGAN, Utah – Another Utah State football game, another stellar showing from the Aggie defense.

USU held Fresno State to only a field goal until the final minutes while junior quarterback McCae Hillstead again led a mistake-free outing from the Aggie offense as Utah State won its third game in four attempts with a 17-10 win over Fresno State on Saturday night at Maverik Stadium.

The Aggies recorded 10 tackles-for-loss, the most by the team since posting 13 TFLs against San Diego State in 2024. Senior defensive tackle Ronnie Mageo led the way with a career-high 3.5 TFLs, tied for the most by an Aggie since Nick Heninger posted 5.0 in a game in 2021. Junior linebacker Asher Cunningham added 2.0 TFLs while both senior safety Brevin Hamblin and graduate linebacker Bronson Olevao Jr. finished with 1.5 TFLs. 

USU held the Bulldogs to only 16 rushing yards, the fewest allowed by the Aggies since holding San Jose State to 12 rushing yards in 2021. Utah State has held each of its last three opponents to under 100 rushing yards, the longest such streak since also doing so in three-straight games in 2021.

The game began as a defensive battle with neither team scoring in the opening quarter. The Aggies prevented Fresno State from crossing midfield throughout the opening quarter, allowing the offense to settle into the contest before breaking through late. Hillstead found graduate wide receiver Anthony Garcia on a 37-yard pass play before adding a 12-yard run on the next play to close out the quarter at Fresno's 16-yard line. USU then opened the scoring early in the second quarter as junior running back Sesi Vailahi scored his first touchdown as an Aggie with a two-yard plunge. 

After the defense force a three-and-out on Fresno State's ensuing possession, the offense maintained its rhythm, driving into the redzone before Hillstead capped off the drive with a three-yard scramble for a touchdown to put USU up 14-0. The Bulldogs crossed midfield for the first time in the game on the next drive but a third-down stop from Cunningham and junior linebacker Mataira Brown kept FS out of field goal range to help preserve a 14-0 Aggie advantage heading into halftime.

Fresno State began the third quarter with a drive into the redzone before TFLs from Cunningham and Hamblin forced the Bulldogs to settle for a field goal. While the Aggie offense was unable to add to the lead, the defense continued to play lights out, forcing a punt on the Bulldogs' next possession and following it up with a fourth-down stop courtesy of Cunningham and graduate linebacker BJ Diakite.

Deep into the fourth quarter, the offense pieced together a 10-play, 57-yard drive highlighted by a 22-yard pass from Hillstead to sophomore running back Noah White, setting up senior kicker Kian Afrookhteh for a 43-yard field goal which made it 17-3 for USU. In the final minutes, Fresno State's hurry-up offense finally broke into the end zone with a 12-yard pass from Jayden Mandal to Ezekiel Avis, but freshman wide receiver Kaina Watson grabbed the ensuing onside kick attempt to seal the 17-10 Aggie victory.

Hillstead finished with 117 yards on 9-of-14 passing while adding a team-high 56 rushing yards on 12 attempts with a touchdown. Vailahi set a career-high with 39 rushing yards on 10 attempts with the TD. Graduate running back Javen Jacobs added eight carries for 36 yards and freshman running back Nehemiah Washington had five carries for 20 yards. White added two carries for five yards.

Garcia led the team with 39 receiving yards on two catches while Jacobs posted a team-high three catches for 13 yards. Watson and White ended with two catches apiece for 36 and 28 yards.

Hamblin led the defense with nine total tackles while Cunningham added eight tackles. Mageo and graduate cornerback Bobby Arnold III both added six tackles while Mageo posted a team-high 1.5 sacks. Sophomore defensive tackle Carson Tujague recorded a team-high two pass breakups.

Utah State football (4-5, 3-2 Pac-12) heads to the road to take on San Diego State (4-5, 3-2 Pac-12) on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. (MT). The game will be broadcast on USA Network.

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