- Utah State defeated Air Force 49-30 in their Mountain West conference opener.
- Quarterback Bryson Barnes accounted for five touchdowns leading the Aggies' offense.
- USU's defense made crucial plays including D'Angelo Mayes' first career interception.
LOGAN — It was the kind of conference opener the Aggies were hoping for in their final season in the Mountain West.
Quarterback Bryson Barnes was a menace with his right arm and his feet, and Utah State made some big defensive plays en route to a gratifying 49-30 victory over Air Force in front of an announced crowd of 17,124 late Saturday evening at Maverik Stadium.
"Our team plays hard," USU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "We're not perfect as a staff or as a program, but they play hard and they want to win. The crowd was electric; it was a fun environment. I sense the beginning of a lot of really cool things getting ready to happen here.
"Air Force is tough and their scheme is challenging, Coach (Troy) Calhoun is sixth or seventh on the all-time wins list of active head coaches right now. That program and the kids that go there, I can't say enough about them. The demand, the rigor, the academics, the training, then playing football as well, they're remarkable. Every year when you play Air Force it's a challenge, so I'm really proud of my staff."
Barnes accounted for five touchdowns as he completed a very efficient 17 of 22 passes for a career-high 287 yards and a pair of scores — both to wide receiver Braden Pegan — plus found paydirt on runs of 7, 11 and 7 yards. The former Milford High star is only the second USU player ever to run for three and throw for two TDs in a game.
"There are a lot of things that go into touchdowns to begin with," Barnes said. "There are so many moving parts, everybody has to be executing and everyone has to be on the same page. I feel like it all came to fruition on my run plays down in the low red zone. On two of them, I was untouched, so I really feel like that's a lot of dudes working together, executing and doing their job. I'm lucky to be carrying the ball there. It just happened to be me in that moment. When 11 guys are executing at the right moment, good things happen."
The Aggies (2-1, 1-0 MW) put the Falcons (1-1, 0-1) behind the eight-ball by scoring three touchdowns in the third quarter. USU's advantage never dipped below 11 points following its first TD of the third quarter, although Air Force did an admirable job fighting to the bitter end.
Nevertheless, AFA's fighting spirit wasn't enough to unnerve a USU squad that was dialed in offensively and made more than enough big plays on defense. The Aggies racked up 208 of their 469 yards of total offense during the third quarter — a quarter in which the hosts outscored the visitors 21-6 and took a 35-16 advantage into the final 15 minutes of action.
Utah State's first foray into the end zone in the third quarter was a memorable and well-designed 17-yard run by quarterback/receiver Anthony Garcia. The Falcons went three and out on their first series of the second half and the Aggies quickly struck again — this time on a 11-yard run by Barnes, who sprinted through the middle of AFA's defense untouched. A 30-yard scamper by speedy running back Miles Davis helped set up that TD.
The Falcons converted on a pair of fourth downs on their next possession, which culminated on a 1-yard scoring plunge by Owen Allen. The visitors were unsuccessful on their two-point conversion and trailed 28-16 with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter.
That AFA momentum was short-lived, though, as Pegan hauled in a memorable 38-yard scoring strike from Barnes in the back of the end zone while being interfered with with 25 seconds remaining in the quarter. It was a free play, inasmuch as Air Force jumped offside prior to the snap.
Both teams found paydirt twice in the fourth quarter. The Aggies took advantage of their third forced turnover of the contest — the first career interception by cornerback D'Angelo Mayes — as Barnes scored from 7 yards out with his feet. USU's final TD was a nail-in-the-coffin 48-yard run up the gut by versatile tailback Javen Jacobs with 1:20 remaining in the contest.
Both of Air Force's fourth-quarter touchdowns were short runs by backup signal caller Liam Szarka, who, like Barnes, scored three times with his feet.
It was a pretty strong conclusion to a solid game for the Aggies and certainly a dream start, as well, as the Falcons fumbled on the game's fourth play from scrimmage. It was recovered by USU outside linebacker William Holmes at the AFA 27-yard line.
"We prepared so hard this week for this game — probably the most that we've prepared in the first three games," Holmes said. "It was just fun to be out there with my guys and be able to make plays out there."
The hosts took full advantage of the takeaway as they marched 27 yards in five plays, capped off by a Barnes 7-yard scoring run. Barnes made a nice cut on a AFA defender on that third-and-goal play as USU jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 10:04 remaining in the opening quarter.
"I think it's great anytime you can come out of a half or come out the first drive of the game and go put it in the end zone," Barnes said. "It's a great feeling and it's a great momentum starter. On top of that, with the defensive turnovers creating momentum, getting touchdowns on first drives and getting more momentum, that really set the tone for the game and what we were going to be about for all four quarters."
Air Force pulled to within 7-3 on a 31-yard field goal 16 seconds into the second quarter. A clutch pass breakup by Aggie safety Brevin Hamblin at the 5-yard line helped limit the Falcons to three points on that series.
The Aggies quickly regained momentum as they found paydirt with 13:02 remaining in the half. USU completed fooled AFA on a 54-yard pass from Barnes to a wide open Pegan to extend its advantage to 14-3.
