Carson, Calif. • A team that has defied expectations all year, Utah State’s turnaround season continued in its biggest game of the year with a 46-13 win over No. 19 San Diego State in the Mountain West Championship Game on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The win clinches the Aggies’ first Mountain West title in program history, a feat that — coming off a 1-5 season — seemed far-fetched just three months ago.
Utah State (10-3, 7-2) will now likely play in the inaugural Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium on Dec. 18, while San Diego State (11-2, 7-2) awaits a bowl placement but has likely been eliminated from contention for a New Year’s Six Bowl. The Aggies also remain unbeaten on the road (7-0) this season, extending a program record.
Utah State quarterback Logan Bonner threw for 318 yards, a Mountain West championship record four touchdowns and completed a season-high 29 passes. Wide receiver Brandon Bowling had eight receptions for career-high 154 yards and two touchdowns, including a 58-yard score that opened up a 21-3 lead for the Aggies on the first drive of the second half.
The 46 points were the most allowed by San Diego State this season, while the 13 points were the lowest the Aztecs have put up. Even their sure-footed punter and placekicker Matt Araiza was shaky with two punts blocked, one leading to a safety in the third quarter after he kicked it off the back of a teammate and into his own end zone.
San Diego State entered the game tied for a school record with 11 wins this season, earning a spot in the College Football Playoff Rankings every week. But the Aztecs could not find much rhythm offensively and were gashed defensively in the air. Jordan Brookshire, the backup quarterback starting in place of the injured Lucas Johnson, was 11-for-23 for 117 yards.
Utah State led 14-3 at halftime on a pair of second-quarter touchdowns, striking first on a five-yard touchdown pass in the right corner of the end zone by Bonner to wide receiver Derek Wright, who just kept both feet inbounds.
The Aggies then took advantage of good field position off a missed 54-yard field goal attempt by Araiza. Running back Calvin Tyler Jr. highlighted the drive with a physical 17-yard run in the red zone, spinning off would-be tacklers to the goal line before punching in the touchdown with a 1-yard rush on the ensuing play.
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/3ry0D8s
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