LOGAN, Utah-Saturday, Utah State football returns to action as they host the Nevada Wolf Pack as the Aggies (4-2, 1-1 in Mountain West play) resume Mountain West Conference play at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.
The Aggies are 32-18 (.640) all-time in Mountain West Conference games as a league member and have won their last nine home games.
Utah State is tied for 46th nationally in scoring offense (32 points per game) with Texas A&M, Oregon State, North Texas and Houston.
Utah State is blessed by the talents of sophomore receiver/kick returner Savon Scarver who ranks second nationally in kickoff return average (38.8 yards) while the Aggies lead the nation in yards per kickoff return (32.8 yards).
The Aggies, as always, are led by junior signal-caller Jordan Love who has completed 62.5 percent of his passes on the season (120-192) for 1,337 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Junior tailback Jaylen Warren has 335 yards on 50 carries for the Aggies and is 15th nationally with 6.7 yards per carry.
Graduate transfer receiver Siaosi Mariner (24 rec, 350 yards, 2 TD’s) is the Aggies’ leading receiver on the season.
Utah State ranks 10th nationally in sacks allowed (5) as well, so the offensive line has been solid.
Defensively, the Aggies are 58th in scoring defense (25.6 points per game) and rank fifth nationally with two defensive touchdowns.
Utah State is also 26th in rushing yards allowed per carry (3.2) nationally. Instrumental in this is junior linebacker David Woodward who leads the nation with 43 solo tackles, including 4.5 for a loss.
Senior kicker Dominik Eberle has made 90 percent (9-10) of his field goals on the season for the Aggies and all 19 of his PAT attempts.
Woodward is also tied for the team lead in sacks (2) with graduate student defensive end Jacoby Wildman and junior defensive end Nick Heninger. Furthermore, Woodward is second nationally with four forced fumbles.
Defensively, junior safety Shaq Bond, sophomore cornerback Andre Grayson and senior cornerback Cameron Haney each have an interception on the season for the Aggies.
The Wolf Pack comes in to Saturday’s game, scoring 23.3 points for game, tying them for 100th nationally with Tulsa.
Nevada has had a carousel of signal-callers featuring redshirt freshman signal-caller Carson Strong (80-134, 3 TD’s/5 INT’s), junior quarterback Malik Henry (25-40, 380 yards, TD/2 INT’s) and senior quarterback Cristian Solano (24-36, 241 yards, 2 TD’s/2 INT’s).
The Wolf Pack running game is led by sophomore tailback Toa Taua (95 car, 429 yards, 3 TD’s). Junior receiver Elijah Cooks (29 rec, 354 yards, 4 TD’s) leads Nevada in the receiving department.
Freshman kicker Brandon Talton has been the Wolf Pack’s bright spot, making all 12 of his field goal attempts and 14 of his 15 PAT’s on the season for Nevada.
Nevada ranks 126th in scoring defense (39 points per game) nationally. Sophomore Dom Peterson (3 sacks) leads the Wolf Pack in sacks while senior defensive back Daniel Brown (3 interceptions) is Nevada’s leader in that statistic.
Peterson, senior defensive back EJ Muhammad and junior defensive tackle Tristan Nichols have a forced fumble apiece, while Nichols also has 2.5 sacks for the Wolf Pack.
The Wolf Pack leads the Aggies 18-6 all-time, including a 9-4 record all-time at Logan.
