Utah
Utah State falls to UNLV, drops to 1-3 on season
The Utah Aggies storm the sector earlier than taking part in the UConn Huskies on the Maverik Stadium in Logan on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. (Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information)
Estimated learn time: 4-5 minutes
LOGAN — Not this yr, Aggies.
On the heels of an 11-3, convention championship season, Utah State’s 2022 season appears to be crumbling earlier than a lot of the leaves within the surrounding mountain ranges have even turned colours.
The newest growth was Saturday when any hope for an early season turnaround following a 1-2 begin was squashed by UNLV, who defeated the Aggies 34-24 within the convention opener for each side at Maverik Stadium.
Utah State tried to make it attention-grabbing late, slicing a 17-point deficit to 10 and driving into the Rebels territory, however a Logan Bonner fumble with 3:33 remaining sealed the deal for the Aggies.
It was simply one in all many instances the Aggies, who performed the Rebels evenly in some features, even outgaining them 421-320, managed to doom themselves.
Bonner had 5 interceptions (two have been inconsequential) and a fumble, the Aggies had three turnovers on downs and had 11 penalties for 98 yards.
“We have simply obtained to get higher,” senior defensive finish Hale Motuapuaka stated. “You recognize, there’s a variety of good issues that we did that I am very happy with, the fervour that we performed with and the way laborious we performed. However there have been additionally a variety of errors.”
All through the evening, any inkling of momentum was squished away faster than swaths of the 17,454 followers in attendance left Maverik Stadium previous to the sport ending.
Within the second quarter, redshirt freshman security Ike Larson blocked a punt that went out of the tip zone for a security to chop a deficit to 21-9; Bonner threw an interception the subsequent drive.
Following a late second quarter landing to make it a 24-16 recreation, back-to-back unsportsmanlike penalties, adopted by an offsides penalty on the kickoff, gave UNLV possession on the USU 48-yard line and helped them attain area aim vary previous to halftime.
On UNLV’s first drive of the second half, an offsides penalty on fourth-and-1 prolonged the Rebels’ drive, leading to a landing and a 34-16 lead.
“The fervour and power of tonight — it was a chippy recreation, moving into from the very first snap,” coach Blake Anderson stated concerning the penalties. “We had some guys that did not reply effectively, we additionally had some employees members that did not both. And that is one thing that I’ve to get management from the pinnacle coach. It is irritating to look at. It would not assist our trigger, it places us behind the chains, and it places us in dangerous conditions.”
Past the penalties, two performs particularly set the Aggies again early, when UNLV was granted two quick fields. . The primary of which got here after Stephen Kotstanlee’s knee hit the bottom previous to punting the ball away, granting the Rebels the ball contained in the 5-yard line, the place Doug Brumfield rushed it in to provide UNLV a 21-7 lead; on the subsequent possession, Bonner’s second interception was practically returned for a landing, however the Aggies protection held the Rebels to a area aim.
When Utah State was not tripping over itself, Brumfield discovered success within the passing recreation, going 21-of-31 passing for 217 yards and a passing landing and two dashing touchdowns. Aidan Robbins added 81 dashing yards and a landing on the bottom.
However the primary problem on the evening was, as soon as once more, the Aggies offense, which for probably the most half continued its ineffective play.
Whereas Bonner had a good pocket to throw out of and threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns, vast receivers for probably the most half struggled to create separation towards UNLV’s man protection, and Bonner threw a number of balls into double protection. The Aggies additionally struggled to get push in brief yardage conditions and transformed simply 4-of-12 on third downs and 2-of-5 on fourth downs.
“Collectively as a bunch, offensively we have gotta execute higher,” Anderson stated. “We do not transfer the chains on third-and-1, we do not transfer the chains on fourth-and-2, for me that has nothing to do with who’s taking snaps. (Bonner’s) obtained to play higher, too.”
Utah State gave itself some life late, with a 39-yard landing move from Bonner to Vaughn and the next UNLV three and out, which gave the Aggies the ball again with 5:25 left, and trailing 34-24. Bonner’s fumble, nonetheless, doomed any hope for a comeback.
Utah State turns its consideration to BYU, which it faces on Thursday evening in Provo.
“BYU is a tremendous staff, they have been an important program for the previous few years,” Motuapuaka stated. “It is a rivalry recreation. I do not know in the event that they really feel that approach however to us we take pleasure in it, so I am actually excited to come back again right here tomorrow and put together and do our greatest to try to beat BYU and get that Wagon Wheel again.”