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LOGAN -- The Utah State defense couldn't stop the powerful running attack of Nevada's Vai Taua and Luke Lippincott who both ran for more than 100 yards as USU lost a 14-point lead in the 35-32 home loss to the Nevada Wolf Pack.
With the loss, the Aggies sunk to 0-2 in the Western Athletic Conference and 1-5 overall.
After struggling early in the passing game, Utah State's Diondre Borel gained confidence as the game progressed, completing 25 of 42 attempts for a career-high 353 yards and zero interceptions.
Utah State got on the board first. On its third possession of the first quarter, the Aggies went 91 yards in six plays capped by a one-yard Robert Turbin run, but highlighted by a 77-yard pass from Borel to wide receiver Nnamdi Gwacham; a career long for Borel.
The touchdown was Turbin's fourth rushing touchdown, sixth touchdown of the season.
The Aggies carried the momentum into the second quarter when, on the first play to start the second quarter, Aggies' cornerback James Brindley intercepted Colin Kaepernick's pass at Nevada's 47-yard line.
Brindley's third pick of the season set up the Aggies' second score of the game. Borel capped off a nine-play drive with a pass to Eric Moats for an eight-yard touchdown.
However, Nevada came right back, going 80 yards in just 91 seconds to get within seven points. Two plays after a 67-yard run by Taua, Kaepernick hit Lippincott for an 11-yard score.
The Aggies and Wolf Pack would trade scored before the half. Turbin scored his second touchdown of the day on a 32-yard screen pass to put the Aggies up 21-7.
Nevada came right back with another 80-yard drive, this time taking 4:42 to get into the endzone. Kaepernick threw his second score of the game- this one a 44-yard pass to Virgil Green.
USU went into halftime up by a touchdown 21-14, having out-passed Nevada 208 yards to 107, but been out-rushed 117 to 46.
In fact, Turbin, the WAC's all-purpose yards leader, would end the game with just 36 yards on seven carries, a season low.
The Aggies' defense came out strong to set the tone in the second half forcing Nevada to punt on a three-and-out.
Utah State's first possession of the second half ended in a punt, but Nevada's Jonathan Amaya fumbled at his own 13-yard line. USU's Stanley Morrison recovered the ball, but the Aggies failed to punch it into the end zone.
Instead, Utah State went backwards on a 15-yard pass interference and a three-yard sack and had to settle for a 48-yard Chris Ulinksi field goal and just a 10-point lead.
The Aggies' inability to turn the turnover into a touchdown would cost them in the end.
After another Nevada punt, the Aggies had a chance to put the game out of reach, but Borel fumbled at his own 40-yard line giving the Wolf Pack hope and the momentum.
Nevada drove down to the Aggie five-yard line before Taua ran in for the score, shrinking the Aggies' lead to just three points.
The Wolf Pack would carry that momentum into the fourth quarter sandwiching Kaepernick's third touchdown pass, a 40-yard score to Brandon Wimberly, in between two Utah State punts to take the lead for good 28-24.
Nevada went up 35-24 with just over four minutes left on a 69-yard scamper by Lippincott through the beleaguered Aggies defense.
The Aggies took just 86 seconds to get within three points on a Borel to Gwacham 14-yard score and Borel to Turbin two-point conversion, but Utah State couldn't recover an onside kick or keep Nevada from getting a first down and Nevada ran out the clock.
"We can say 'what if' and 'we could of done this' but at the end of the day that mistake is on me," Borel said referring to his fumble, which eventually led to Nevada's go-ahead touchdown.
Nevada finished with 313 rushing yards, 147 yards in the fourth quarter alone. Taua finished with 147 yards on 21 carries. Lippincott rushed for 104 yards on just eight carries,
While Borel threw for 353 yards, he ran for just 48 yards on 21 carries. The Aggies as a team finished with just 74 yards rushing on 34 carries.
"It was another tough loss for us, for Logan, for Utah State, for the football team and for everybody that was involved," Head Coach Gary Anderson said. "We will regroup and come back."
The Aggies host Louisiana Tech (3-3, 2-1 WAC) Saturday, Oct. 24. Kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.
