Barnes sets school record as the Aggies pick up their third straight win

Utah State football finished their home season with an impressive 41-20 win over San Diego State on senior day. The Aggies have now won three of their last four games and have a change to end the season on a three-game winning streak and with a winning record in conference play next week against Colorado State. 

The game started slow for USU, but they were able to find their footing late in the second half fueled by a standout performance from backup quarterback Bryson Barnes. 

San Diego State received the opening kickoff and put together an impressive ten play, 74-yard drive getting all the way down to the one-yard line. Utah State’s defense was able to hold the Aztecs scoreless, forcing a turnover on downs and setting the tone for the rest of the game.

The two teams traded punts before San Diego State connected on a 35-yard field goal to take the lead late in the first quarter. The Aggies struggled to move the ball early in the first half and punted on each of their first three possessions. 

After their three straight punts, the Aggies had the ball with ten minutes remaining in the half and putting together their best drive of the game. On a second and ten at about midfield, Utah State QB Spencer Petras was sacked, sending the ball up into the air where it was intercepted by an Aztec defensive lineman. Petras came off the field gingerly holding his right arm and did not re-enter the game for the Aggies. 

Armed with momentum and great field position, San Diego State wasted no time in capitalizing on the turnover and found the endzone six plays later to extend their lead. 

On the ensuing possession, Utah State sputtered again on offense, turning the ball over on downs on their own 33-yard line. The Aggie defense again held strong, only allowing a field goal. With just over three minutes remaining in the half, the Aztecs led 13-0 and the outlook was bleak for Utah State. 

The Aggies were in desperate need of a spark and were able to find it in the form of Barnes. Barnes, who started several games earlier in the season for USU, entered the game and, after the initial drive, flipped the script for the Aggies. 

“One thing you know about Bryson is there’s not a tougher kid in the country and might be the best winner I’ve ever been around,” said head coach Nate Dreiling after the game. “That’s Bryson man. There’s not a tougher kid, it’s unbelievable success. And I tell you every week, no one prepares harder than Bryson.”

Knowing that they would get the ball to start the second half, Utah State was looking to put points on the board and tighten the game with a two-for-one opportunity. The Aggies got what they were looking for, scoring a touchdown in just four plays when Barnes ran in into the endzone from the 19-yard line. 

“When you prepare all week for a non-running quarterback, it just changes the dynamic, it changes the game,” said Barnes. “We were dialing different read runs up, and it’s just hard to keep track of that stuff, and you don’t have six days to prepare.”

Utah State wasn’t satisfied with just one touchdown before the half, and after their defense forced a three-and-out, they got the ball back with 1:31 left and one timeout. Barnes again led the Aggies on a quick drive with a combination of long runs and quick passes that ended in a stunning one-handed touchdown catch from receiver Grant Page. 

After struggling for much of the first half, Utah State scored 14 points in the final two minutes of the half to take a one-point edge into the locker room. The Aggies received the kickoff coming out of the break and could smell blood in the water. They marched down the field in eight plays and punched it into the endzone to make it a 21-13 game. 

The rest of the second half was a continuation of the Aggies newfound dominance. They would score three more touchdowns to make it 41 points unanswered and punt just one time to cruise to a 41-20 victory, their first home win over San Diego State in school history. 

Barnes finished the game with 193 rushing yards and one touchdown, setting a new school record for most rushing yards in a game by a quarterback. He also threw for 139 yards and three touchdowns, providing a spark for the Aggies off the bench.

“They were not prepared for a QB running game offense. We started going with more zone read option looks and things like that. And they were playing catch up,” said Dreiling. 

Utah State will finish out their season with a road matchup against Colorado State on Friday.