Rivalry games aren’t always pretty, and that was the case for BYU on Friday night against Utah State as the Cougars dealt with a handful of injuries on offense.
It ultimately didn’t matter, though, as BYU found a way to grind out a 34-20 victory over the Aggies at Maverik Stadium.
Here are three takeaways from the game for BYU, which improved to 5-0 on the season:
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Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Malik Moore (12) intercepts against Utah State Aggies wide receiver Deven Thompkins (13) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars running back Tyler Allgeier celebrates what he thought was a touchdown against the Utah State Aggies in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021. He was downed at the 1-yard line but scored later.
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Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) grabs a pass over Utah State Aggies cornerback Cam Lampkin (6) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars players pray prior to warming up in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Utah State Aggies fans cheer in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Utah State Aggies quarterback Logan Bonner (1) warms up in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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The Utah State Aggies and Brigham Young Cougars play for the wagon wheel in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars defensive lineman Earl Tuioti-Mariner (91) pressures Utah State Aggies quarterback Logan Bonner (1) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Utah State Aggies quarterback Logan Bonner (1) runs against Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Ben Bywater (33) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Utah State Aggies wide receiver Justin McGriff (10) celebrate this touchwdown with Utah State Aggies running back Elelyon Noa (34) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Utah State Aggies head coach Blake Anderson talks with Utah State Aggies quarterback Logan Bonner (1) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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The sun sets over Maverik Stadium in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Utah State Aggies linebacker AJ Vongphachanh (10) celebrates a missed Brigham Young Cougars field goal in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Utah State Aggies place kicker Connor Coles (59) kicks a field goal in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Max Tooley (31) tackles Utah State Aggies running back John Gentry (2) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Jaques Wilson (16) breaks up the pass intended for Utah State Aggies wide receiver Deven Thompkins (13) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars tight end Isaac Rex (83) is upended in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Neil Pau’u (2) gets a first down on a pass in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Utah State Aggies place kicker Connor Coles (59) kicks a field goal in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars running back Tyler Allgeier runs in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Utah State Aggies fans cheer in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Utah State Aggies wide receiver Justin McGriff (10) can’t come up with the pass with defense from Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Kaleb Hayes (18) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Utah State Aggies quarterback Logan Bonner (1) throws in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars running back Tyler Allgeier scores on Utah State Aggies in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake talks with Aggie fans in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Baylor Romney (16) is hurried by Utah State Aggies defensive end Nick Heninger (42) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars tight end Isaac Rex (83) celebrates his touchdown with Brigham Young Cougars offensive lineman Connor Pay (70) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Max Tooley (31) tackles Utah State Aggies wide receiver Deven Thompkins (13) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Jacob Conover (17) looks to pass in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Jacob Conover (17) hands off to Brigham Young Cougars running back Tyler Allgeier in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Morgan Pyper (10) tries to tackle Utah State Aggies quarterback Logan Bonner (1) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Gunner Romney (18) is upended by Utah State Aggies safety Ajani Carter (12) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Ben Bywater (33) tackles Utah State Aggies running back Calvin Tyler Jr. (4) in Logan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
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Tyler Allgeier carries the Cougars
Utah State was allowing opponents to run for 200 yards per game this season going into Friday night, so it was expected BYU’s Tyler Allgeier could have a big night.
Allgeier more than delivered, as the Cougars’ star running back had a career-high 218 rushing yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns, including a 1-yard score in the fourth quarter that gave BYU a 14-point lead.
Allgeier came up time and again for the BYU offense, which was missing two starting linemen, its starting quarterback and starting fullback, and eventually its backup quarterback. He scored the game’s first touchdown on a 22-yard run less than four minutes into the night, then added a 59-yard scoring run in the second quarter to push BYU ahead 24-10.
With the Cougars trying to hold on in the fourth quarter, he delivered again. After Utah State cut the Cougars’ lead to 27-20, Allgeier broke off a 67-yard run — it was originally ruled a touchdown before a review showed he was down at the 1-yard line — and scored two plays later.
When USU was forced to punt, Allgeier then helped drain down the clock with several grinding runs.
Injuries lead to QB shuffle for Cougars
Jaren Hall missed his second straight game because of injury, giving Baylor Romney the chance to start again for the Cougars.
Romney played well, completing 15 of 19 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Problem was, Romney didn’t play in the second half after hitting his head on the turf late in the first half.
Stop us if you heard enough about BYU-Utah State games and quarterback injuries.
That meant BYU handed the offense over to freshman Jacob Conover, who made his collegiate debut, for the second half. Conover struggled mightily at first, as BYU punted on his first three possessions and netted just 6 yards on 10 plays.
Conover finished 5 of 9 passing for 45 yards, but he had a couple of nice throws on a field-goal scoring drive that put BYU ahead 27-13. He didn’t flash much, but he didn’t have to, and more importantly, Conover didn’t make any big mistakes that cost the Cougars, who didn’t have a turnover in the game.
BYU’s defense comes up strong
One week after South Florida used time-consuming drives to wear down the BYU defense in the second half, the Cougars found ways to keep Utah State’s offense out of rhythm much of the night.
Sure, the Aggies ran 17 more offensive plays than the Cougars and were 11 of 21 on third downs. Still, BYU made Utah State work for its yards and points.
The Aggies have benefited from big plays on offense this season, and BYU kept them from any quick scores. Utah State’s two touchdown drives took 18 and 14 plays, respectively.
The Cougars also came up with a huge fourth-down stop in the third quarter, as Chaz Ah You dropped John Gentry for no gain on a fourth-and-1 at the BYU 33 during a time when it looked like the Aggies could seize momentum.
BYU also had two critical interceptions — Malik Moore picked off Logan Bonner on the game’s opening drive, leading to the Cougars’ first touchdown, and Jakob Robinson intercepted Andrew Peasley on the Aggies’ final drive.
That was more than enough as the Cougars finished with 466 yards of total offense to 336 for Utah State.
