Logan, Utah – USU QB Logan Bonner racked up 361 passing yards and four TDs Saturday to race past Hawaii and fend off comebacks to win their sixth game of the season, 51-31. Bonner connected with four different receivers for scores. Deven Thompkins snagged seven catches for 176 yards, and Elelyon Noa carried 23 times for 111 yards and at TD. Aggie WR Brandon Bowling scored the last two TDs for State – one on a pass reception and one on an unusual kickoff return. Defensively, Utah State held the Rainbow Warriors to 12 yards rushing and recorded five sacks. An early Warrior drive was halted by an interception in the end zone.
Utah State QB Logan Bonner added twenty-five yards rushing in addition to his 361 passing yards.
Aggies race past Hawaii!
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium surrounded by scenic mountains in front of an enthusiastic, USU, Halloween-clad, student body, the Aggies got off to a fast start. They scored on their first three possessions. Noa closed out their first drive with a one-yard TD run. A pick by Cash Gilliam in the end zone led to USU’s next series. Bonner connected with Justin McGriff for a 45-yard TD.
USU DB Cash Gilliam (4) gets under tipped pass to intercept to halt an early Hawaii scoring threat.
Aggie PK Connor Coles added a 41-yard FG to put the Aggies up 17-0 early in the second period. Then, Hawaii started to challenge. Matt Shipley’s 49-yard FG finally put the Warriors on the scoreboard. The Hawaiian defense halted the next Aggie drive to take possession back on downs. From his 31, U of H QB Chevan Cordeiro (23 for 39, 296 yards, three TDS, one INT) tossed a pass to Dedrick Parson for a 29-yard score to whittle the Aggie lead down, 17-10. With Bonner removed temporarily from play with an injury, back-up QB Andrew Peasley connected with Thompkins for a 45-yard completion down to the three. With seven seconds left, Coles finished the first-half scoring with a 22-yard FG. He enhanced the Aggie lead before halftime festivities in front of 19,219 fans, 20-10.
The exuberant Aggie student body cheered their team on throughout the contest against the Rainbow Warriors.
Blow-out? No so fast, my friends.
Bonner came out firing right out of intermission. The first drive resulted in a 46-yard TD pass to Derek Wright. Some might have called it a back-shoulder throw. Others may call it an underthrown pass which the receiver came back to catch in the end zone. Most of the second half plays came with penalty flags (Hawaii 10 for 89 yards, USU seven for 80) or reviews for various reasons. However, Utah State’s momentum did not slow down. The next drive of 80 yards finished with a well-executed screen pass left to wide open Carson Terrell. He received an escort blocker into the end zone from 21 yards out. After Hawaii’s three and out, a 69-yard drive resulted in a 14-yard scoring pass to Brandon Bowling. With USU ahead, 41-10, Aggie HC Blake Anderson started to substitute now with the game seemingly well in hand.
On the opening drive of the third period, Derek Wright caught this 46-yard scoring strike in the end zone from Logan Bonner to extend the Aggie lead, 27-10.
With 4:37 left in the third, Cordeiro led his Warriors down field to score on a TD pass to Kaoli Nishigaya from 12 yards out. Peasley now substituted for Bonner with an ample lead of 41-17. He fumbled on his first drive, however, and the Bows took over at Utah State’s 45. Cordeiro took advantage and fired a scoring strike to Calvin Turner Jr. They followed up together on a two-point conversion to close the deficit, 41-25, before the end of the third. Supposedly, we suspect many attendees had Trick-or-treating plans. They headed toward the Maverik exits to take advantage of nice weather despite the sudden Warrior comeback looming. We planned to go to Provo for more college football after this, but we stayed enjoying every minute of this contest.
Warrior WR Calvin Turner, Jr. (7) hauls in a Cordeiro pass from 27 yards to close the score, 41-25.
Aggies fend off comeback
Anderson put Bonner and Noa, who was replaced during various series to give RB Pailate Makakona reps, both back in to stem the potential Warrior threat. The moves paid off with some relief as Coles put up three more with his 22-yard FG. More relief came from the defense. They held Hawaii in check to halt a fourth and one on their 28 to take back over on downs. Anderson returned to his starters to the bench again.
So close, yet so far
Peasley had the Aggies moving until he seemed to panic under pressure with a misfired backward lateral that rolled past his intended RB. Rainbow DB Eugene Ford scooped up the rolling ball and returned it 74 yards for six points. The two-point conversion failed, but with 8:20 left to play, the 44-31 Aggie lead did not seem so comfortable. The Bows felt an opportunity to challenge as well, and displayed it on the ensuing kickoff.
HC Todd Graham, who we first saw as a head college football coach at Tulsa back in 2007, called for some trickery. His kicker approached the ball from right to left, stopped, and another player approached from the left to kick it onsides to the right. WR Brandon Bowling of the Aggies raced forward to pick it up on the hop. He raced past Warrior defenders 45 yards untouched for the kickoff return. Seven seconds later, the Aggies were up by 20, 51-31.
USU’s Brandon Bowling (10) fields onsides kick before steaking past Hawaii kicking team for 45-yard touchdown return.
“It’s not over until – we say it is…”
Despite the margin with 8:13 remaining, this game felt like it was “The Game That Was Never Going To End”. Collegefootballfan.com had a long drive ahead of us to get to our next game in Provo! Penalties, turnovers, and reviews continued. State looked like it had another score on a fumble recovery that was returned. However, the play was reviewed for targeting. On the replay, it looked like the tackler hit Cordeiro squarely on the shoulder, and the targeting would be reversed. But it wasn’t. Hawaii (4-5, 1-3) kept the ball with a first and ten from their 40.
Utah State took over with an INT by DB Monte McGary, and two flags were thrown. After reviews, USU did take over from their 40. They stalled and punted. Cordeiro was replaced at QB by Brayden Schager. He got sacked and fumbled. Utah State started from its 47. They punted, and U of H went four and out. USU lined up in victory formation. The game was finally over. Utah State’s record now stand at 6-2, 4-1. A post-season game or two, including a conference title game, should lie ahead for the Aggies.
Hawaii’s DL DJuan Matthews (2) stops RB Elelyon Noa for a short gain. Noa compiled 111 yards rushing for the Aggies and scored the opening TD of today’s game.
Next up!
These two teams head in different directions next week logistically and from a challenge perspective. The Aggies head to New Mexico State (1-7) who lost twice this season already to Hawaii. The Rainbow Warriors return home to take on San Diego State (7-1, 3-1) who just got knocked out of the Top 25 on Saturday with a 30-20 loss to Fresno State.
The Aggies, now alone atop college football’s Mountain Division of the MWC, do not play the SDSU Aztecs during the regular season. If they can make it to the championship game against the West Division, they could play SDSU, Fresno, or Nevada. All are currently 3-1 in MWC play. Fresno and Nevada still have to play each other. Fresno’s detriment lies in their lone MWC loss to 1-3 Hawaii.
Collegefootballfan.com left the beautiful, Logan area and traveled back out to I-15 South as daytime turned into night on our way to Provo for the highly anticipated shoot-out there between Brigham Young (6-2) and Virginia (6-2), coached by the BYU Cougars former HC, Bronco Mendenhall. Look for our Game Review shortly!
The fall foliate and the scenic mountains surrounding Logan, Utah on a sunny fall day make Maverik Stadium at Utah State a great venue to enjoy college football on a Saturday afternoon!
Extra Points:
Bought a great seat on the goal line 18 rows up, courtesy of an Aggie Fan, George, who attended with his wife. They had extra tickets last minute since his son and friends couldn’t make it. First time George had these seats. He also noted how good they are. In an oval-shaped stadium, the view line is great as from the “corner” the angle provides a view of the entire playing field as well as the scoreboard directly in front of you for stats and replays. This location has become our location of choice at many venues we attend for the first time. Basically, we choose it for these reasons and for picture-taking as well.
Speaking of picture-taking, the Utah State sideline scenery is pleasant to cheer with as well! These girls had plenty to smile about.
Let’s do this again!
The Maverik Stadium surroundings are some of the most picturesque among the 160 venues we’ve now attended on and off campuses throughout the country. Ice-capped mountains and fall foliage on a sunny, comfortable mid 50s afternoon is unforgettably enjoyable. We have to say the fans and students, who stayed throughout most of the game, seemed to enjoy themselves. They supported their team throughout with great enthusiasm.
Many celebrated Halloween within the spirit of the day costumes and all, but they showed strong support for their team on the field. They have great team spirit out there in Logan. They totally get involved celebrating and cheering their team on with their “alternate fight song”, “The Scotsman”. It sings of their pride being Aggies from Utah “where the sagebrush grows”. Click here to witness the Utah State Aggie Spirit. It was great! We hope to go back to Merlin Olsen Field to see the Aggies and their fans again in the future!
Happy Halloween!
On our way out we saw a unique Halloween costume idea by a group of Aggie coeds dressed up in caps and gowns with a sign depicting them as “Future Trophy Wives.” We enjoyed the creativity displayed out there in Aggie land. The “Fan of the Game” was introduced on the video board with a sign she made revealing her true Aggie Spirit. The PA broadcast said she arrived early at the game and showed great spirit throughout. She was shown with the sign that she made honoring the Aggie QB Logan (how appropriate for a kid from Rowlett, TX to end up in this town) Bonner. It read, “Bonner plays hard” with a heart on it. She smiled and shrugged her shoulders a little as the announcer spoke. Not sure if she was among those future trophy wives, but she could have been.
Check it out!
On a historic note, we read a college football report that noted Deven Thompkins gained over 100 yards in his sixth consecutive gamed for the Aggies. He’s one game shy of tying the record of seven consecutive games set by WR Kevin Curtis in 2002. We watched Utah State play the first time ever before that streak when they defeated UCONN quarterbacked by an up-and-coming freshman, Dan Orlovsky. In 2001, State became the 71st team added to our “goal to see’ em all!” The Aggies won a hard-fought 38-31 victory. Orlovsky and Curtis both made it to the NFL. Check out this history and more of 118 other FBS teams seen over the years in our book, “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!”
Steve Koreivo, ed. – Author of “Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all!”
Namesake of Utah State’s playing field, Merlin Olsen. USU All-American and NFL Hall of Famer with the Las Angeles Rams.
More scenes surrounding Merlin Olsen Field below.
