Weber State Defense Shuts Down Aggies In Upset Win

LOGAN, UT – The Weber State Wildcats rolled into Maverik Stadium on Saturday and treated it as an extension of Ogden’s Stewart Stadium in a 35-7 win over Utah State.

Utah State faced in-state rival Weber State at Maverik Stadium in Logan, UT on Saturday, September 10.

The Aggie defense struggled to slow down WSU’s rushing attack all night. The Aggies allowed more than 200 yards rushing for the third time in three games this season as the Wildcats finished with an even 200 yards on the ground. Josh Davis’ 94 yards and a touchdown paced the Wildcats running game.

PICK SIX!

Desmond Williams picks it off and returns it 33-yards for a touchdown!

Wildcats up 28-7!#WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/lWMAXIKpzJ

— Weber State Football 🏈 (@weberstatefb) September 11, 2022

After leaving last week’s game early, quarterback Logan Bonner didn’t look comfortable in the pocket all night as he threw his first three interceptions of the season, including a back-breaking pick-six late in the third quarter. Bonner finished with 120 yards on 12-for-31 passing.

Calvin Tyler Jr. led the Aggies rushing game for the third time this season. He finished with 18 carries for 64 yards. Justin McGriff caught three passes for a team high 42 yards.

First Half

If you didn’t already know, it would have been difficult to tell which team plays in FBS, formerly Division I-A,  and which team plays in FCS, formerly Division I-AA.

Weber State out-gained the Aggies 163 yards to just 62 for Utah State in the opening quarter on their way to building a 13-7 lead.

The lone bright spot for USU in the opening half was when Terrell Vaughn returned a  kickoff 100-yards for the Aggies only touchdown of the afternoon.

END OF 1ST Q 🏈@weberstatefb 1⃣3⃣@usufootball 7⃣

Total: Utah State 62 | Weber State 163
Rushing: Utah State 44 | Weber State 77
Passing: Utah State 18 | Weber State 86#AggiesAllTheWay #WeAreWeberpic.twitter.com/iuwi8tgu4v

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 10, 2022

Aggie lineman Phillip Paea picked off a Bronson Barron pass, giving the Aggies the ball on the Wildcat half of the field. Utah State drove inside the five-yard line before a Bonner pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and picked off in the end zone, ending the Aggie threat.

Barron went 6-for-15 for 147 yards and two interceptions for Weber State. Josh Davis and Damon Bankston combined for 109 yards on 23 carries in the half. Davis added a touchdown.

Bonner is 6-for-19 for 62. Tyler Jr. added 42 yards on 12 rushing attempts. Brian Cobbs was the Aggies most productive receiver with two grabs for 17 yards.

Second Half

Weber State took the second half kickoff with a chance to increase their lead but the Aggie defense was up to the challenge.

Graduate senior Hunter Reynolds forced the fifth turnover of the game when a Barron pass sailed over the head of his intended target and into the waiting arms of Reynolds. Reynolds now has two interceptions this season after picking off one pass last year.

The Aggies again couldn’t turn the INT into points, going three and out on the ensuing drive.

On the next possession, WSU put together their best drive of the season. An 18-play, 86-yard drive that resulted in a Barron touchdown pass to Ty MacPherson. The Wildcats rushed 15 times on the drive for 55 yards, draining more than nine minutes off of the clock. Weber State took advantage of a gassed Aggie defense following the touchdown, running untouched for the two-point conversion to make it 21-7.

Weber State has fully dominated this game in every fashion.

Just an incredible performance by Jay Hill's crew.

The 18 play, 9+ minute drive in which Weber went 6-6 on 3rd down was just big boy football

— Scott Garrard (@ScottyGZone) September 11, 2022

Two plays in USU’s next drive and Wildcat safety Desmond Williams put the nail in the Aggie coffin with a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Weber State added a late touchdown when Barron connected with MacPherson for their second TD of the night.

Up Next

After games in three consecutive weeks to open the season, the Aggies enjoy a much needed bye.

Following the bye, Utah State opens their Mountain West schedule on Saturday, September 24 against the UNLV Rebels. 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.

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