Highlights, key plays and photos from Utah State’s runaway win over Idaho State

Final

Utah State 78, Idaho State 28

A record-breaking second quarter, during which the Aggies scored a program record 44 points, propelled Utah State to its first win of the season.

Utah State safety Anthony Switzer, left, and cornerback Michael Anyanwu (22) tackle Idaho State running back Keoua Kauhi (24) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Utah State offensive lineman Falepule Alo (69) celebrates as running back Robert Briggs Jr. (2) runs for a 58-yard touchdown, while Idaho State cornerback Tylor Bohannon defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Utah State running back Davon Booth (6) carries the ball for a touchdown as Idaho State linebacker Nathan Reynolds (17) and Idaho State defensive lineman Cortland Horton (29) defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Utah State cornerback Jaiden Francois (10) and cornerback Gabriel Bryan (24) celebrate as Francois returns an interception for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Idaho State on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Idaho State quarterback Jordan Cooke (1) throws a pass next to Utah State defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka (8) and defensive end Paul Fitzgerald (32) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Utah State cornerback Gabriel Bryan, left, breaks up a pass intended for Idaho State wide receiver Cyrus Wallace during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Utah State running back Davon Booth (6) carries the ball as Idaho State linebacker Nathan Reynolds, left, and safety Mason Young (22) defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Utah State running back Rahsul Faison (3) carries the ball as Idaho State safety Mason Young (22) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Idaho State running back Raiden Hunter (5) leaps over Utah State cornerback Gabriel Bryan as safety Anthony Switzer helps defend during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Utah State linebacker Bronson Olevao Jr. (14) and defensive end Paul Fitzgerald celebrate after Idaho State fumbled the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Utah State cornerback Avante Dickerson (17) breaks up a pass intended for Idaho State wide receiver Cyrus Wallace during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Utah State safety Ike Larsen (6) returns an interception 46 yards for a touchdown against Idaho State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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Utah State head coach Blake Anderson watches a field goal attempt during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Idaho Sate on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Logan, Utah.

Eli Lucero/The Herald Journal via AP

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4th Quarter

Utah State 78, Idaho State 28

0:54 — USU cornerback Jaiden Francois with Utah State’s second pick six of the game, this one starting deep in Aggie territory and going 75 yards for the score.

4:25 – Cooper Jones scores his first career touchdown on a 1-yard rush to push the Aggies over 70 points in the game.

9:15 — The Bengals score again, on a one-yard run by Raiden Hunter. The Bengals’ first rushing score of the game capped off a 13-play, 77 yard drive.

3rd Quarter

Utah State 65, Idaho State 21

0:00 — Idaho State scores for a third time with an incredible 12-yard reception in the back of the end zone by Michael Shulikov, the first touchdown of his career.

3:58 — Wide receiver Micah Davis scored his first touchdown as an Aggie, a 47-yard touchdown deftly delivered by quarterback Levi Williams from his back foot.

8:58 — The Aggies strike first in the second half, with a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Levi Williams — in for Cooper Legas — to Terrell Vaughn. That is Vaughn’s second touchdown reception of the game.

2nd Quarter

Utah State 51, Idaho State 14

Utah State erupted in the second quarter, scoring 44 points in the period. Through one half, USU has nearly 400 yards of total offense (399), largely on the ground (274).

Three Aggie running backs — Robert Briggs, Davon Booth and Rahsul Faison — have each rushed for at least a touchdown (Booth has two).

USU quarterback Cooper Legas has completed 14 of 16 passes for 125 yards and two scores.

The 51 points scored in a second are the second-most in school history, behind only 52 scored in 2018 against New Mexico.

0:01 — USU kicker Elliot Nimrod adds three more points for the Aggies with a 37-yard field goal.

0:16 — Idaho State ends a 41-0 run by USU with a 15-yard touchdown reception by Fredrickson, his second of the game.

4:08 — Third string running back Rahsul Faison, formerly of Snow College, adds to the USU lead with a 60-yard scoring rumble. The Aggies have now rushed for 274 yards, with Briggs, Booth and Faison each rushing for at least 76 yards.

5:24 — USU wide receiver Jalen Royals records his first career touchdown pass, on a 20-yard pass from Cooper Legas. The score caps off a run of 20 points in a 71 second span by the Aggies.

5:31 — On Idaho State’s first play after the latest Aggie score, USU cornerback Michael Anywanu forced a fumble, recovered by Aggie defensive end Cian Slone.

5:44 — Utah State safety Ike Larsen converts the second pick-six of his Aggie career, intercepting Jordan Cooke and returning the pass 46 yards for a score. That is the first forced turnover of the year by USU.

6:35 — USU quarterback Cooper Legas throws his first touchdown of the game, a 4-yard pass to a wide open Terrell Vaughn in the endzone. The score capped off an 11-play, 75 yards drive. Vaughn is the first Aggie with double-digits receptions in back-to-back games since Kevin Curtis in 2001.

12:09 — Booth scores again for the Aggies, with elusiveness leading to a 40-yard rushing touchdown. A JUCO All-American last season, Booth had rushed for 80 yards on five carries, with two touchdowns.

14:51 — USU running back Davon Booth puts the Aggies back on top with an 8-yard touchdown run. Booth capped off and 8-play, 80 yard drive by Utah State.

1st Quarter

Utah State 7, Idaho State 7

After the first quarter, the Aggies and Bengals are neck-and-neck and not just on the scoreboard.

USU finished with 169 total yards while ISU had 121. The Aggies had the majority of their success on the ground, while the Bengals were more effective through the air. Both sides were effective on third down, converting ²⁄₃ of their third down tries.

10:59 — Idaho State wasted little time getting even, with a 9-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Christian Fredrickson, from quarterback Jordan Cooke. The Bengals drove 75 yards in seven plays, proving effective through the air and on the ground.

14:33 — On the second play from scrimmage, Utah State running back Robert Briggs ran 58 yards for the first score of the game. It was longest rush on Briggs’ career and his second touchdown as an Aggie.

Pregame prep

Here are a few stories to get ready for Utah State’s game against Idaho State: