Utah State back Gerold Bright carries the football against Wake Forest in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Nell Redmond, AP
Brandon Judd
By Brandon Judd

SALT LAKE CITY — In a game that featured 1,175 yards of total offense, Utah State and its star quarterback, Jordan Love, couldn’t make the game-winning play in the final minute of a 38-35 loss to Wake Forest Friday night at BB&T Field in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Love was intercepted by Justin Strnad at the Wake Forest 20-yard line with 17 seconds to play to seal the season-opening win for the Demon Deacons over the visiting Aggies. 

In a game that featured eight lead changes, both defenses toughened in the final quarter, as each team scored just once in the fourth.

Utah State went ahead 35-31 on a 4-yard Jaylen Warren touchdown run with 13:51 to play and the USU defense forced two punts and a turnover on downs in the fourth.

It wasn’t enough, though, as Wake Forest used a six-play, 89-yard drive to take the lead with 1:08 to play on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Jamie Newman to Kendall Hinton on fourth down. 

Love moved the Aggies downfield and into field goal range, added by a targeting penalty — Wake Forest’s only penalty of the game — before Strnad’s interception.

Love completed 33 of 48 passes for 416 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions, while Snow College transfer Warren had 141 rushing yards and Utah transfer Siaosi Warner paced USU with eight receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, USU junior linebacker David Woodward had a career-high 24 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.

Newman threw for 401 yards and three touchdowns for Wake Forest.

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Utah State quarterback Jordan Love looks to throw a pass against Wake Forest during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Wake Forest won 38-35. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Utah State running back Jaylen Warren scores a touchdown against Wake Forest during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Wake Forest won 38-35. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Wake Forest wide receiver Kendall Hinton (2) holds on to the football after catching a pass for the go-ahead touchdown against Utah State late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Wake Forest wide receiver Kendall Hinton (2) catches a pass for a touchdown against Utah State late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Wake Forest won 38-35. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Wake Forest defensive back Amari Henderson, right, tries to tackle Utah State wide receiver Savon Scarver in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Utah State coach Gary Andersen gestures during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Wake Forest won 38-35. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman, right, rushes for a touchdown against Utah State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Wake Forest won 38-35. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Utah State back Gerold Bright (1) rushes for a first-half touchdown against Wake Forest in an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Wake Forest running back Christian Beal-Smith, top left, flips over Utah State cornerback DJ Williams as Utah State safety Troy Lefeged Jr. looks on in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Wake Forest running back Cade Carney, top, carries the ball for a first down against Utah State safety Troy Lefeged Jr. in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Wake Forest wide receiver Scotty Washington celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against Utah State in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson reacts on the sideline as his team plays against Utah State in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Utah State back Gerold Bright carries the football against Wake Forest in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Wake Forest defensive back Coby Davis (20) breaks up a pass intended for Utah State wide receiver Savon Scarver in the closing seconds of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Wake Forest won 38-35. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Wake Forest wide receiver Sage Surratt, right, is tackled by Utah State cornerback Cam Lampkin during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Wake Forest won 38-35. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP
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Wake Forest running back Cade Carney, right, tries to get into the end zone against Utah State during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019. Wake Forest won 38-35. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) | Nell Redmond, AP

Scoring summary: Wake Forest 38, Utah State 35

First Quarter

Wake Forest, Sage Surratt 22-yard pass from Jamie Newman (11:54), Nick Sciba kick

Utah State, Gerold Bright 7-yard run (9:23), Dominik Eberle kick

Wake Forest, Nick Sciba 21-yard field goal (0:27)

Second quarter

Utah State, Jordan Nathan 27-yard pass from Jordan Love (14:11), Dominik Eberle kick

Wake Forest, Scotty Washington 9-yard pass from Jamie Newman (6:27), Nick Sciba kick

Utah State, Siaosi Mariner 17-yard pass from Jordan Love (0:25), Dominik Eberle kick

Third quarter

Wake Forest, Jamie Newman 1-yard run (9:08), Nick Sciba kick

Utah State, Deven Thompkins 56-yard pass from Jordan Love (5:42), Dominik Eberle kick

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Wake Forest, Christian Beal-Smith 12-yard run (0:49), Nick Sciba kick

Fourth quarter

Utah State, Jaylen Warren 4-yard run (13:51), Dominik Eberle kick

Wake Forest, Kendall Hinton 2-yard pass from Jamie Newman (1:08), Nick Sciba kick

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