Struggle games aren’t always like, and that was the case for BYU on Friday night against Utah State as the Cat-a-mountains dealt with a couple of injuries on offense. It sometimes didn’t matter, nonetheless, as BYU constitute a way to grind out a 34-20 palm over the Aggies at Maverik Stadium. Presently are three takeaways from the game for BYU, which amended to 5-0 on the season Utah State was allowing opponents to run for 200 yards per game this season going into Friday night, so it was anticipated BYU ’s Tyler Allgeier could have a big night. Allgeier additional than delivered, as the Cat-a-mountains ’ 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 ultimately its backup quarterback. He scored the game’s first touchdown on a 22-yard run minor than four nanoseconds into the night, either added a 59-yard scoring run in the new quarter to push BYU ahead 24-10. With the Catamounts trying to hold on in the fourth quarter, he delivered again. After Utah State cut the Catamounts ’ 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 thereafter.
When USU was forced to punt, Allgeier either helped drain down the timepiece with several grinding runs. Jaren Hall missed his new straight game because of injury, giving Baylor Romney the chance to start again for the Catamounts. 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 alternative 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 newbie Jacob Conover, who made his collegiate debut, for the alternative half. Conover limped mightily at first, as BYU pulled on his first three movables and netted just 6 yards on 10 plays. Conover finished 5 of 9 passing for 45 yards, but he’d a couple of nice throws on a field-purpose scoring drive that put BYU ahead 27-13. He didn’t flash much, but he did n’t have to, and more importantly, Conover didn’t make any big slipups that go the Panthers, who didn’t have around in the game. One week after South Florida used time-consuming drives to wear down the BYU defense in the identical half, the Panthers plant ways to keep Utah State’s offense out of meter much of the night.
Sure, the Aggies ran 17 other reprehensible plays than the Panthers and were 11 of 21 on the third lea. Still, BYU made Utah State work for its yards and points. The Aggies have helped 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, separately. The Catamounts 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 invitation. BYU also had two critical interceptions — Malik Moore picked off Logan Bonner on the game’s opening drive, leading to the Catamounts ’ first touchdown, and Jakob Robinson interdicted Andrew Peasley on the Aggies ’ final drive.
