Utah State Defeats Bengals 38-17

Sept. 11, 2010

Final Stats

Media Book: Utah State 38 - Idaho State 17

LOGAN, Utah -- Quarterback Diondre Borel keyed a balanced attack as Utah State defeated Idaho State 38-17 in Logan. But Bengal quarterback Russel Hill saw his first action of the season and led ISU to two late touchdowns.

Borel completed 21 of 26 passes for 25 yards and one touchdown, and rushed for 28 yards and one touchdown as the Aggies unveiled a no-huddle offense that tired out an ISU defense that was unable to substitute.

But the game's most important factor from ISU's standpoint was the return of Hill, who sat out the season opener and first half of this contest with a knee injury. He entered the game with 3:23 left in the third quarter and sparked an ISU team that trailed 31-3 at the time by directing two fourth-quarter touchdown drives.

Hill completed 13 of 22 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown. After safety Chis Holmesly intercepted a pass, Hill threw a five-yard scoring toss to receiver Isaiah Burel with 2:57 left in the game.

And after linebacker Phillip Arias recovered an Aggie fumble on the 33, Hill hit Burel with a 32-yarder to set up runningback Corey White's one-yard TD burst with 1:30 left.

Utah State outgained ISU 542 yards to 285, rushing for 275 yards and passing for 267.

Linebacker A.J. Storms led ISU's valiant defensive effort with 20 tackles. Holmesly had 12 stops plus the interception.

ISU, starting fast, opened the scoring on Brendon Garcia's 36-yard field goal. Tavoy Moore's 43-yard kickoff return, a 12-yard pass to Moore from quarterback Kyle Morris and a personal foul penalty put Garcia in position.

A stout effort by ISU's defensive front controlled the Aggies' running game early, so USU head coach Gary Andersen, a former ISU assistant in the mid-'90s, opted to go with a Wildcat attack. Runningback Kerwynn Williams took a direct snap and got the Aggies on the scoreboard with a 27-yard run with 0:36 left in the first quarter.

Borel's three-yard run stretched Utah State's lead to 14-3 with 8:29 left in the half. The Aggies got the ball when ISU receiver Isaiah Burel bobbled a Morris pass and USU's Rajric Coleman stole the ball on the 50 in a play ruled an interception.

A 23-yard Pete Caldwell field goal with 0:05 left in the half made it 17-3 Aggies at the intermission.