LOGAN, Utah-Saturday, Utah State football (6-4, 5-1 in Mountain West Conference play) hosts Boise State (9-1, 6-0 in Mountain West) as the Aggies try to keep their conference championship hopes alive against the vaunted Broncos.
By virtue of their 26-21 win over the Wyoming Cowboys November 16, the Aggies are bowl eligible for the eighth time in the past nine seasons.
The Aggies are 35-19 (.648) all-time in their history against the Mountain West Conference as a member school (2013-present).
Winners of eight straight Mountain West home games at Logan, the Aggies are 39-10 (.796) in their last 49 home games.
Aggies head coach Gary Andersen is 6-4 this season in his return to Logan, as he coached Utah State from 2009-2012. As the Aggies’ head coach, Andersen is 32-28 (.533) all-time at Logan.
With the Broncos ranked No. 20 overall, the Aggies are 5-58 (.079) against ranked teams all-time, but have won four out of their last 12 games against ranked squads.
Utah State scores 28 points per game, tying them for 70th nationally with Maryland and Buffalo in scoring offense.
Junior signal-caller Jordan Love has completed 61.7 percent of his passes on the season (224-363) for 2,684 yards, 13 touchdowns and 14 interceptions for the Aggies. Coming into this season, Love was lauded by NFL scouts but his disappointing performance in 2019 has quelled his fanfare somewhat.
Senior tailback Gerold Bright (132 car, 670 yards, 6 touchdowns, 5.1 yards per carry) and his junior running mate Jaylen Warren (88 car, 482 yards, 5 TD’s, 5.5 yards per carry) continue to be the Aggies’ most consistent offensive pieces.
Graduate student receiver Siaosi Mariner (49 rec, 753 yards, 7 TD’s) leads Utah State in the receiving department.
Senior kicker Domink Eberle has made 18 of his 21 field goal attempts and all 32 of his PAT’s on the season.
Junior receiver Savon Scarver has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and averages 29.8 yards per return, ranking him fifth nationally.
The Aggies are 60th nationally in scoring defense, surrendering 26.7 points per contest.
Senior defensive end Tipa Galeai leads the team in sacks (3) and quarterback hits (7).
Junior safety Shaq Bond has posted a team-best three interceptions with injured star linebacker, junior David Woodward, having posted a team-best four forced fumbles before suffering a season-ending “undisclosed injury.”
The Broncos come into Saturday’s game following a 42-9 rout of New Mexico at Boise, Idaho November 16.
Broncos head coach Bryan Harsin is in his sixth season leading the program, having posted a record of 61-16 (.792) at Boise State.
Boise State scores 36.1 points per game, tying them for 17th nationally in scoring offense with Texas.
The Broncos have had adversity with injuries at quarterback while redshirt senior signal-caller Jaylon Henderson got the nod against the Lobos.
The native of Kingwood, Texas completed 15 of 28 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and an interception against New Mexico.
By virtue of his performance against the Lobos, Henderson was named the Mountain West Conference offensive player of the week.
Should Henderson be called upon again Saturday, the Broncos have the luxury of getting production from their third-string signal-caller.
Symmetrically leading the Boise State rushing attack are freshman tailback George Holani (131 car, 692 yards, 5 TD’s, 5.3 yards per carry) and redshirt junior running mate Robert Mahone (82 car, 411 yards, 5 TD’s, 5 yards per tote).
Senior receiver John Hightower (37 rec, 754 yards, 6 TD’s, a team-best 20.3 yards per catch) and sophomore receiver Khalil Shakir (44 rec, 615 yards, 4 TD’s) have been the Broncos’ most reliable targets for Henderson, freshman quarterback Hank Bachmeier and redshirt sophomore signal-caller Chase Cord.
Redshirt senior kicker Eric Sachse has made 12 of his 14 field goals on the season and 44 of his 45 PAT’s for the Broncos.
Boise State’s defense surrenders only 21.3 points per game, ranking them 31st nationally.
Star redshirt junior STUD Curtis Weaver is third nationally with 12.5 sacks, while he also has a forced fumble on the season for the Broncos.
By virtue of Weaver’s heroics, the Broncos have posted 29 sacks on the season. This ties them for 22nd nationally with Troy, Michigan State, Oregon State and Syracuse.
Senior safety Kekoa Nawahine has 2 interceptions to lead the squad while junior nose Kekaula Kaniho and senior defensive tackle Chase Hatada have two forced fumbles apiece for the Broncos.
The Broncos lead the Aggies 18-5 all-time and are 8-3 all-time in the series at Logan.
