LOGAN — How would Utah State bounce back?
That was the primary question heading into Saturday night’s game against Nevada.
Coming off a bye week, and prior to that a 42-6 loss at LSU, everyone wanted to know which Aggie team would run onto Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.
Would it be the Utah State team that hung tough against Wake Forest, and then defeated Stony Brook, San Diego State and Colorado State?
“I feel like the first thing you have to do after losing is get back to work. That’s the way you get over the loss.” — Utah State linebacker Kevin Meitzenheimer
Or would the combination of injuries suffered against LSU and the time off make the Aggies sluggish and vulnerable?
Utah State coach Gary Andersen had no doubt which Aggie team would show up.
“These guys will play hard,” he told reporters early in the week. “They’ll bounce back. They’re excited to get back into conference. They understand how competitive this conference is right now. This Utah State crew will be ready to play.”
Were they ever.
Utah State defeated Nevada 36-10 Saturday night, improving to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in the Mountain West Conference.
The Aggies finished with 418 yards of total offense, and held the Wolf Pack to just 326, 213 through the air and 113 on the ground.
Even more impressive, the Aggies found the end zone on offense, defense and special teams.
It was exactly the sort of bounce-back performance Utah State was hoping for.
“I feel like the first thing you have to do after losing is get back to work,” linebacker Kevin Meitzenheimer said. “That’s the way you get over the loss.”
Quarterback Jordan Love finished with 169 yards passing and a touchdown, while Jaylen Warren and Gerold Bright rushed for a combined 199 yards.
Bright finished with 126 yards on the ground himself, including two touchdowns, one a 67-yard scamper.
All-American kick returner Savon Scarver had a record-breaking 100-yard kick return for a touchdown, the fifth TD kickoff return of his Aggie career.
He broke the all-time school record with the touchdown, passing the previous record held by Kevin Robinson.
Kicker Dominik Eberle was his usual reliable self, too, with two made field goals on three attempts.
It was the Aggies’ defense, though, that truly stood out.
After Nevada marched down the field almost unopposed on the opening series of the game, a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a field goal, Utah State proceeded to completely lock down the Wolf Pack.
In the first half, the Aggies forced nine three-and-outs, while also recording an interception and a safety.
That dominance largely continued into the second half, as Utah State nearly shut out the Nevada offense.
Per usual, linebacker David Woodward led the way, with 11 tackles, but he was just one of many Aggies who had productive outings.
Safety Shaq Bond recorded his second interception of the season, the third of his career, while Meitzenheimer had a pick himself, the second of his career.
Nickel back Andre Grayson had a breakout outing, with nine tackles, a sack, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
Defensive end Justus Te’i was responsible for the Aggies’ recorded safety, the team’s first since 2015.
Defensive linemen Tipa Galeai and Devon Anderson added sacks, and the Aggies finished with three sacks and six tackles for loss.
It was just the kind of a night Utah State expected.
“You have to enjoy it,” Andersen said. “Battle like crazy to get those victories.”
The Aggies did Saturday night in Logan.