USU tops Idaho State 38-17 in home opener
Diondre Borel threw for 255 yards and a touchdown and ran for another as Utah State overpowered Idaho State 38-17 Saturday evening.
Borel was 21-of-26 for the Aggies (1-1) and ran for 28 net yards on nine carries in three quarters.
The visiting Bengals (1-1) were led by backup quarterback Russell Hill, who threw for 162 yards and led ISU to two touchdowns late in the game, after replacing Kyle Morris midway through the third quarter. Running back Corey White was the leading rusher for ISU, gaining 25 yards and scoring on a 1-yard TD with 1:30 to play in the game.
Borel’s TD pass came with 6:59 left in the third quarter when he hit Eric Moats for a 15-yard score, giving USU a 31-3 edge. Kerwynn Wiliams, Derrvin Speight and Joey DeMartino ran for touchdowns for USU, who tallied 275 yards rushing, while ISU managed only 49.
ISU scored first in the game, taking a 3-0 first-quarter lead on a 36-yard field goal by Brendon Garcia. USU then missed their own 30-yard field goal attempt early in the game, before scoring 17 consecutive first-half points.
The Aggies’ first score came on a direct snap to running back Williams, who ran in from the 27-yard line. After an interception by Rajric Coleman gave USU the ball back, Borel scored on a 2-yard run, with 8:29 to play. Caldwell added a 23-yard field goal as the half ended, giving the Aggies a 17-3 halftime lead.
USU gained 27 first downs on the day to 15 for the Bengals. Borel became the seventh USU quarterback to pass for 5,000 career yards midway through the first half. He was replaced by freshman Jeremy Higgins, who started the fourth quarter.