Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
BOISE, Idaho — Utah State scored at least 30 points for the first time since Aug. 31, but the Aggies were again unable to match their defense with their offense in Saturday night's loss to Boise State.
The Aggies (1-4) dropped its fourth consecutive game in a 62-30 loss to the No. 21 Broncos (4-1) in their first Mountain West Conference contest of the season. Utah State gave up 49 points in the first half alone.
"We've played some good offenses, but we are not performing like we need to," Aggies interim coach Nate Dreiling said. "We have to execute better. It's a pretty embarrassing performance … especially coming after a bye week."
When asked why the defense could still be this far behind after five games, safety Ike Larsen seemed confused that Dreiling used those words.
"That's what coach Dreiling said?" Larsen asked. When the question was repeated, he said: "I'm not going to answer that question, sorry."
Aggies quarterback Spencer Petras threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns on 27-of-40 passes. Wide receiver Jalen Royals tallied 211 receiving yards and two touchdowns, and running back Rahsul Faison had one touchdown and 112 yards.
Boise State running back and Heisman hopeful Ashton Jeanty only played the first half, but destroyed the Aggies in that time. He rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries, including rushing touchdowns of 75 and 63 yards, the latter of which came on the first Broncos play of the game.
"I don't have a vote, because I did not win the Heisman," Dreiling said. "If I did win the Heisman, I would be voting for him."
Royals accounted for the biggest plays of the game for the Aggies when he caught a 59-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and later caught a 75-yard scoring pass.
But even though Utah State scored better than its previous weeks, there were signs the offense may have taken a step back. The offense turned the ball over on downs twice just outside the red zone.
Petras said football is never a 50-50 split when it comes to offensive and defensive production; but as the defensive side improves, he said it's up to the offense to pick up some slack.
"We need to give our all and pick the defense up, especially when we're playing the best running back in the country and one of the best offenses in the country," Petras said. "We need to execute every single play that is makable."
The Aggies gave up only one touchdown and two field goals in the second half to the Broncos, but by then, the game was out of reach. Larsen, however, was adamant the defense played much better than it appeared.
"I feel like we played good once we settled down," Larsen said. "I'm not too sad. I'm not too down on nobody, because once we settle down, it's a different game."
Larsen also stressed that a Mountain West title is still well within reach for Utah State because the loss to Boise State marks just one conference loss.
"All of our goals are still ahead of us," Larsen said.
Utah State hosts UNLV on Friday for its homecoming game.
