Highlights, key plays and photos from No. 19 BYU’s 38-26 win over Utah State

Editor’s note: The Deseret News is providing live coverage from Thursday’s game between BYU and Utah State. Check back for updates throughout the game.

Score: BYU 38, Utah State 26

Fourth quarter

0:00

BYU wins this one going away after a solid first half from Utah State.

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Both teams have positives to take away, with some big issues to solve as well.

1:09

Utah State adds a late score, as Cooper Legas hit Brian Cobbs for a 27-yard touchdown pass. The Aggies went for 2 and couldn’t convert. BYU 38, Utah State 26.

3:20

Jake Oldroyd missed another field goal — he’s no good from 35 yards — and the Cougars have left quite a few points on the field in this second half.

Worse yet, this kicking game is truly shaky.

4:36

After BYU failed to pick up a first down on a fourth-and-3 in USU territory, Ben Bywater put the BYU offense back on the field with an interception.

The Cougars will have one more chance to add to the lead.

8:18

BYU stayed on the ground to add to their lead, as Chris Brooks churned for an 18-yard touchdown run. BYU 38, Utah State 20.

The Cougars ran the ball on six straight plays on the 44-yard drive — that included three carries for Miles Davis (before he left the field limping and entered the medical tent) for 12 yards and three from Brooks for 32 yards.

The play before the touchdown, Brooks converted a third-and-6 with a 10-yard run.

11:22

BYU’s defense comes up with the huge play, as Tyler Batty stopped Cooper Legas for no gain on a fourth-and-1 at the USU 44.

That gives the Cougars the ball in great field position with the chance to slam the door on the Aggies.

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14:08

Jake Oldroyd misses a 33-yard field goal — after hitting one from longer distance in the first half — and BYU squanders a chance to build on its lead.

That was a 12-play, 69-yard drive that ended with no points. Can Utah State make the Cougars pay?

Third quarter

6:12

BYU’s offense is finally going, finishing off a second straight possession with a touchdown on an 8-yard Kody Epps touchdown catch. BYU 31, Utah State 20.

Gunner Romney extended the seven-play, 75-yard scoring drive by making a 17-yard catch on a third-and-10 by snagging a tipped pass intended for a teammate.

After that, Epps had catches of 27 and 26 yards before the touchdown.

10:03

An interesting decision by BYU — trying an onsides kick after its touchdown — gives Utah State a short field, and Connor Coles hits a 33-yard field goal. BYU 24, Utah State 20.

Cooper Legas hit Justin McGriff for a 28-yard gain to get the Aggies into field position on the six-play, 37-yard drive.

12:19

After a dud of a first half, BYU looks energized on the first drive of the second half and retakes the lead.

The Cougars moved it 70 yards on six plays — with a healthy mix of rushing (hello, Miles Davis) and passing — before Jaren Hall hit Ethan Erickson for a 14-yard touchdown. BYU 24, Utah State 17.

That’s Erickson’s first touchdown — and first catch — of his career.

Second quarter

0:00

The Aggies have controlled the pace is this one and are tied with the ranked Cougars at halftime.

Utah State has held BYU to minus-21 rushing yards in the first half and 107 yards overall — mind you, 65 of those came on the Cougars’ first two plays.

The Aggies, meanwhile, have 246 yards of total offense and a 21:21 to 8:39 edge in time of possession.

2:32

In what’s been largely a frustrating night for BYU so far, there’s at least a positive sign, as Jake Oldroyd hits a 45-yard field goal to snap his streak of misses. Utah State 17, BYU 17.

BYU’s offense finally showed signs of life to get into USU territory — sparked by a 40-yard Brayden Cosper catch — though the Aggies pushed the Cougars back after they reached the USU 17 to force the field goal.

5:04

Utah State is back in front, as Cooper Legas hits Brian Cobbs for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Utah State 17, BYU 14.

The Aggies marched 57 yards on six plays — they are absolutely winning the field position and time of possession battle right now — on a drive where USU chewed up 37 yards on the ground.

9:34

Utah State turns its fourth possession into points, despite going 4 yards back.

Connor Coles hit a 50-yard field goal after USU coach Blake Anderson was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and the Aggies are within four following the seven-play drive that started at BYU’s 33. BYU 14, Utah State 10.

12:26

After BYU’s quick first score, the Aggies’ defense is bottling up this Cougar offense.

That’s two straight three-and-outs for the BYU offense, and Utah State is deep in Cougar territory to start its fourth drive.

First quarter

0:00

Utah State held the ball for 13:46 in that first quarter, as BYU ran only five plays.

The Aggies may trail by a touchdown, but Cooper Legas and this Aggie running attack have them competing.

4:09

Both defenses come up with stops but in very different ways.

Utah State drove into BYU territory before having to punt, then the Cougars went three-and-out with three straight incompletions.

8:35

Make that two pick-sixes for Max Tooley this season.

Tooley snagged a ball batted by John Nelson at the line of scrimmage and scored on a 34-yard interception return. BYU 14, Utah State 7.

Just like that, the Cougars have scored two touchdowns just over a minute apart.

9:56

Talk about a quick strike — BYU responds to USU’s early touchdown with a two-play touchdown drive.

First, Jaren Hall hit Gunner Romney (yep, he’s back) on a 34-yard gain.

Then Keanu Hill took a short pass 31 yards for a touchdown. BYU 7, Utah State 7.

10:39

Utah State strikes first, as Cooper Legas takes the Aggies downfield for an impressive 75-yard game-opening touchdown drive.

Legas capped the drive with a 7-yard TD run on second-and-goal, his first career rushing touchdown. Utah State 7, BYU 0.

Pregame

Utah State will have a change at quarterback due to injury:

Here are a few stories to get you ready for the rivalry game between BYU and Utah State: