Utah State downs Troy 21-10 for its first win of the season

After three weeks straight of losses, Utah State beat Troy at homecoming 21-10.  

The game started with USU stopping Troy on three-and-out on its first drive, followed by a 37-yard passing touchdown from quarterback Brady Brosterhaus to Javon Robinson on the Aggies’ first play from scrimmage. 

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall was grateful for the way the game started. 

“It’s been a long three weeks, just to be honest,” Mendenhall started. “To have someone just start the game like that, I think our team probably couldn’t have scripted that better.” 

Troy quickly followed with another touchdown of their own in the first quarter and a field goal in the second to bring the score to 10-7 at halftime.  

In the third quarter, USU scored twice, with a five-yard pass from Brosterhaus to Eli Wood and a six-yard rush by Javen Jacobs to put them up 21-10 at the end of the quarter.

Neither team got much going offensively in the fourth quarter, with the Aggie defense holding the Trojans scoreless in the second half. The game was brought to a close by USU with an interception in the last minute of the game by David Kabongo 

Harrison Taggart, the linebacker who was injured in the game against Utah last week, made an appearance at the game. He was pushed onto the field with the captains for the coin toss and was there at halftime to cheer on his team.  

Mendenhall was surprised and touched by Taggart’s love and support for his team, despite being injured.  

“We didn’t know he was coming, and so we came out of the tunnel, and there he is,” Mendenhall said. “To let you know the kind of leader and how confident he is, he brought his swimming goggles and snorkel with him, because after the game we spray water, and he showed up prepared. We put ‘believe’ on t-shirts and different things, but when you show up with your freaking snorkel and your mask, that’s a different level of belief.”  

Defensive back D’Angelo Mayes was also touched by Taggart’s appearance.  

“I didn’t know he was here, and I don’t think anybody really knew he was here,” Mayes commented. “We saw him at halftime, and I think that really did give us a little bit extra, a little bit of extra energy and just confidence and support. He’s been texting us all week in the hospital. This dude loves football.”  

The performance was not without its flaws, however. USU lost 105 yards from 13 penalties, continuing Utah State’s trouble with penalties this season.

Brosterhaus talked about the future of the team going into PAC-12 play and the impact of the win tonight on their confidence.  

“I think we knew we were capable of this,” Brosterhaus remarked. “I know that we’re capable of more than what we displayed today. We’re a 1-3 football team that has the capability to be really good in the PAC-12”.  

USU returns to the field and begins conference play against Boise State on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 5:30 at Boise State.