McGriff Snags Touchdown Grab To Give Aggies First Quarter Lead
Sep 24, 2022, 5:34 PM | Updated: Oct 11, 2022, 10:32 am
Aggie wideout Justin McGriff makes a touchdown catch against UConn at Maverik Stadium on Saturday, August 27, 2022.
LOGAN, Utah – The Aggies were able to capitalize on a UNLV penalty that extended the drive when Logan Bonner found Justin McGriff to give USU a 7-0 lead.
The Aggies (1-2) are hosting the much improved UNLV Rebels (2-1) at Maverik Stadium on Saturday, September 24.
After a running into the kicker penalty on UNLV extended the Aggie drive, Bonner dropped back on 1st-and-10, looked to his left and found McGriff in the end zone.
1️⃣0️⃣ & 1️⃣ in the air for a TOUCHDOWN✈️🙌
📺 @CBSSportsNet #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/fGJmibHkM8
— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 24, 2022
It is McGriff’s second touchdown of the season and Bonner’s third touchdown of the year.
Bonner is 2-for-5 for 31 yards with the score. Calvin Tyler Jr. has 26 yards rushing.
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At A Glance
Last season, USU converted on 100-of-223 third down chances. Meaning the Aggies moved the chains nearly 45% of the time on third down. In 2022, that rate has fallen to a 23.4% (127th in the nation) success rate on third down.
In the red zone, the Aggies have just three touchdowns in seven opportunities and have not converted a field goal from inside the 20. Last season they found the end zone on 28 of 54 chances, adding a field goal another 14 times.
Utah State is 130th out of 131 FBS teams in terms of red zone offense this season.
A high powered offense, UNLV enters this matchup averaging 41.4 points per game. They are the 15th highest scoring team this season.
The Rebels average more than 200 yards per game on the ground as a team, tied for the 36th best rushing attack in the nation. Utah State has allowed 240 rushing yards per game this season (128th out of 131 FBS teams).
𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝟒 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 🏈
▫️Brian Cobbs
▫️Joshua Sterzer
▫️Stephen Kotsanlee
▫️Hale Motu’apuaka
▫️Hunter Reynolds #BeatUNLV | #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/hHsPdLgzA3— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 24, 2022
Utah State has named five captains for this game. Graduate senior wide receiver Brian Cobbs; junior tight end Joshua Sterzer; junior punter Stephen Kotsanlee; senior defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka; and graduate senior safety Hunter Reynolds.
How To Watch
Riding a two game losing streak, the Aggies (1-2) welcome in the UNLV Rebels (2-1) to Maverik Stadium in the Mountain West Conference opener for each team on Saturday, September 24. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. (MST).
Every Utah State football game can be heard on the KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard and former Aggie quarterback Kevin White on the call. This game will be televised on CBS Sports Network with Chris Lewis and former Utah State great, running back Robert Turbin on the mic.
