The Deseret News is providing live coverage from today’s game between Utah State and Boise State. Follow along for updates throughout the day.
Final
Boise State 27, Utah State 3
It was a rough day for Utah State in all aspects of the game, as the Aggies fell to Boise State on Saturday at Maverik Stadium.
The Broncos turned an Andrew Peasley fumble into a game-clinching touchdown and chewed plenty of time off the clock in the process. Peasley lost the ball on a sack with 9:32 to play, then Boise State went just 15 yards while taking 4:23 off the clock before scoring on a 3-yard pass from Hank Bachmeier to defensive tackle Scott Matlock to make it a 24-point game.
Utah State finally scored its only points of the game early in the fourth, as the Aggies capitalized on an Ajani Carter interception with an 85-yard drive that was capped by a 20-yard Connor Coles field goal in the first minute of the final period.
With the game at 17-3, though, Boise State responded with a 60-yard drive that ended with a 32-yard Jonah Dalmas field goal to again make it a three-score game.
Penalties were particularly costly for Utah State, as the Aggies finished with 13 for 85 yards.
Utah State, too, converted only 1 of 4 red-zone opportunities into a score, the Coles field goal in the fourth quarter. Boise State, meanwhile, scored off every one of its five red-zone opportunities for 27 points.
End of 3rd quarter
Boise State 17, Utah State 0
Things unraveled early in the third quarter for the Aggies on what appeared to be a fake punt. Utah State faced a fourth-and-10 from its own 26 just a few plays after stopping Boise State on the opening possession of the half, but instead of punting Stephen Kotsanlee tucked the ball and tried to run, only to lose 8 yards.
That set up Boise State with a short field, and three plays later, the Broncos scored on a 3-yard pass from Hank Bachmeier to Khalil Shakir.
Utah State looked like it was headed to a 20-point deficit before Ajani Carter intercepted a Bachmeier pass at the Utah State 12, ended a promising drive late in the quarter that still gives some hope for the Aggies.
Halftime
Boise State 10, Utah State 0
The Aggies need to clean up their game in the second half.
Utah State has zero points despite getting inside the red zone three times in the first half. The latest miscue came when Connor Coles pulled a 36-yard field goal attempt with 15 seconds until halftime, after the Aggies had driven from their own 1-yard line to the Boise State 18. That drive was kickstarted by a 44-yard reception by Derek Wright.
Logan Bonner was replaced by Andrew Peasley in the quarter after Bonner threw his second interception — a pick by Tyric LeBeauf at the Boise State 1 on an ill-advised pass on third down. After two ineffective drives from Peasley netted just three yards, Bonner came back in.
The Utah State defense also did its job keeping the game within striking distance, keeping the Broncos from scoring on three second-quarter possessions. Boise State is just 2 of 7 on third downs so far.
At the half, Utah State has 317 yards of total offense to 236 for Boise State. The Aggies, though, have also committed eight penalties for 45 yards, compared to two penalties for 15 yards for the Broncos.
End of 1st quarter
Boise State 10, Utah State 0
It’s been a first quarter of missed opportunities for Utah State. Boise State, meanwhile, is taking advantage. The Aggies have outgained the Broncos with 192 yards of total offense to 137, but Utah State hasn’t turned it into points yet.
The Aggies couldn’t capitalize on a drive that went 63 yards, as Connor Coles’ 41-yard field goal attempt was blocked. That was Utah State’s best drive so far in this game, and Boise State turned that into points on the other end.
The Broncos’ Hank Bachmeier hit Khalil Shakir for a 69-yard pass the next play after the block to get Boise State inside the USU 10, and Andrew Van Buren scored on a 2-yard run to make it 10-0 Broncos with 56 seconds left in the first quarter.
Utah State’s Logan Bonner threw an interception on a tipped pass on the opening drive, and that led to Boise State’s first score — a 28-yard Jonah Dalmas field goal.
Pregame prep
Here are a few stories to get you ready for the game: