SAN JOSE, Calif. – For the fifth time this season on the road, Utah State found itself trailing by double digits.
And, for the fifth time this season on the road, the Aggies overcame that deficit and cruised to their season-high fifth-consecutive win.
Grad junior quarterback Logan Bonner passed for 263 yards and a career-high-tying five touchdowns, senior wide receiver Deven Thompkins caught five passes for a game-high 127 yards as Utah State rolled to a 48-17 win over San Jose State late Saturday night at CEFCU Stadium.
For Thompkins, it was his sixth-straight 100-yard receiving game, tying Kevin Curtis the longest streak in school history.
After the Aggies spotted the defending Mountain West champion Spartans a 14-0 lead, Utah State (8-2, 5-1 MW) outscored the hosts 48-3 the rest of the way. The comeback victory was the sixth of the season for USU.
Utah State continued its dominance of San Jose State over the last 13 seasons, winning their ninth in a row in the series dating back to 2009.
The Aggies held the Spartans (5-6, 3-4) to just 150 yards of total offense, including 12 on the ground, which tied a season low for the D. It is also the fewest yards allowed by USU since Weber State’s 138 in 2013.
Ajani Carter highlighted Utah State’s efforts on defense as he recorded four tackles, including a strip sack that he recovered to set up a touchdown. The junior outside linebacker also intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards, and he had one pass breakup.
Grad senior inside linebacker led the Aggies with eight tackles.
Bonner was 20-of-33 passing on the night. He completed at least one pass to eight different receivers as USU finished with 450 yards of total offense.
Senior wide receiver Derek Wright had three receptions for 50 yards and two touchdowns, while grad senior wide receiver Brandon Bowling also had three catches for 25 yards and a TD. Grad junior running back Calvin Tyler Jr. led all rushers in the game with 61 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, and sophomore running back Elelyon Noa added 41 yards and another score on the ground.
The Spartans took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when Kenyon Reed intercepted a pass by Bonner and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown. It marked the first time since 2019 that an opponent has had a pick-six against the Aggies.
On the very next series, Bonner fumbled after being sacked and the Spartans recovered the ball on Utah State’s 38-yard line. Three plays later, SJSU doubled its lead when Tyler Nevens scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, making it 14-0 early in the second quarter.
That’s when Utah State took over.
The aggies answered San Jose State’s touchdown with their first score the next time they touched the ball. Bonner threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Savon Scarver to pare the deficit to 14-7 with 12:40 remaining in the half. Thompkins set up the TD with an acrobatic 43-yard reception – his lone catch in the first half.
Utah State’s defense set up the Aggies’ next touchdown when Carter sacked SJSU quarterback Nick Nash. Carter also knocked the ball loose and recovered it at the Spartans’ 4-yard line.
Two plays later, Bonner hooked up with Wright from four yards out and the game was knotted at 14-apiece with 9:50 showing on the clock.
The Aggies kept the pedal to the metal as Noa scored on a 3-yard touchdown run, while grad senior placekicker Connor Coles kicked a 32-yard field goal to send Utah State into the locker room with a 24-14 lead. Coles tacked on a 40-yarder with 6:28 to go in the game.
UP NEXT
Utah State is back at home on Saturday, Nov. 20, when the Aggies host Wyoming (5-5, 1-5) on Senior Night. The game, which will be televised on CBS Sports Network, is slated to kick off at 6 p.m.
