Utah State Aggies vs Utah Utes Match Player Stats On Sep 11, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Sep 12, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY -- Backup quarterback Kendal Thompson filled in for injured starter Travis Wilson and led No. 24 Utah on a pair of second-half scoring drives to secure a 24-14 victory over Utah State on Friday night.

Wilson threw for 76 yards on 9-of-12 passing and added 49 yards and a touchdown on five carries before leaving the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. Running back Devontae Booker added 120 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries for Utah (2-0).

Quarterback Chuckie Keeton threw for 256 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 22-of-35 passing for the Aggies (1-1). Keeton also threw a pair of interceptions -- including one late in the fourth quarter that stalled a potential comeback. Utah State fell to its in-state rival for the 14thtime in the last 15 meetings in the series.

With Wilson sidelined, Thompson helped the Utes break a 14-14 tie with a 2-yard run with 6:35 left in the third quarter.

Kicker Andy Phillips tacked on a 30-yard field goal to make it 24-14 early in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Britain Covey set up the field goal with a 30-yard punt return to the Utah State 39-yard line.

The Aggies could not answer. After driving his team down to the Utah 24, Keeton lost the ball on a sack, and linebacker Gionni Paul recovered the fumble at the Utes' 30 with 8:14 remaining. Keeton marched Utah State down to the Utah 11 on the Aggies' next drive, but threw an interception to Paul in the end zone with 2:58 left.

Utah struck first when quarterback Travis Wilson ran 12 yards for a touchdown to cap off the team's opening drive, giving the Utes a 7-0 lead.

Utah State struggled to answer out of the gate. Quarterback Chuckie Keeton ended the first Aggies drive by tossing an interception to Utah safety Marcus Williams.

The Utes could not capitalize on the turnover and Utah State made good on a second chance to even the score. Running back LaJuan Hunt hauled in an 8-yard pass from Keeton on a wheel route, and the Aggies tied it at 7-7 with 13:57 left in the second quarter.

Utah regained the lead with 6:46 remaining in the half on a 4-yard dash by running back Devontae Booker that made it 14-7.

Wilson injured his shoulder on a running play preceding the touchdown and did not return in the first half. The Utes also lost defensive end Hunter Dimick to an injury earlier in the half.

The Utes sputtered without Wilson, and it opened the door for the Aggies to rally again. Keeton connected with receiver Zach Van Leeuwen on a 15-yard scoring strike, making the score 14-14 with 24 seconds left before halftime.

NOTES: Utah State entered the game with a 4-52 all-time record against AP Top 25 teams. ... 46,011 fans were in attendance, giving Utah its 33rd consecutive sellout at Rice-Eccles Stadium going back to the 2010 season opener against Pittsburgh. ... Utah QB Chuckie Keeton threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter, giving him 60 career TD passes and tying the Utah State school record held by Jose Fuentes.