Logan, UT (Best E Casino) - Matt Asiata scored three touchdowns and Brian Johnson threw for two more as the No. 22 Utah Utes dominated in-state rival Utah State 58-10 at Romney Stadium.
Asiata rushed for 56 yards on 11 carries, and Johnson threw for 204 yards on 22-of-31 passing with an interception for Utah (3-0), which followed up impressive wins in Michigan and at home against UNLV. Bradon Godfrey led all Utes receivers with six catches for 57 yards.
Aggies starting quarterback Sean Setzer threw a touchdown in just a quarter of play, while Diondre Borel connected on just 5-of-14 passes for 62 yards and an interception. Curtis Marsh had three catches for 51 yards for Utah State (0-3), which gained a paltry 116 yards of total offense.
The first break of the game actually went the Aggies' way, as they recovered a muffed punt in Utah territory after their opening drive. Setzer found Otis Nelson in the end zone on 3rd-and-goal at the 12:09 mark of the first for USU's only lead.
Utah then drove the ball down inside the Aggies' five-yard line, and Asiata pounded in a four-yard score on 4th-and-1 to tie the game.
Louie Sakoda showed off his highly touted leg later in the first, easily kicking a 48-yarder through the uprights for a 10-7 Utes lead.
The Aggies fumbled the ensuing kickoff, allowing Elijah Wesson to scoop it up and run in for a 20-yard touchdown.
Utah State couldn't get much going on offense, and Utah held the ball for just over seven minutes on its next possession, settling for a 35-yard boot from Sakoda, and another 24-yarder two minutes later following a fumble by Borel.
A 12-play, 74-yard drive ended with Johnson hitting Freddie Brown in the end zone on a 10-yard strike with just 23 seconds to go in the half, as Utah led, 30-7.
Johnson was picked off on his first attempt of the second half, but USU could only muster a 20-yard field goal by Peter Caldwell.
It would be the last the home team would score, as Colt Sampson hauled in an eight-yard touchdown from Johnson at the 8:11 mark of the third quarter, and Asiata logged his second touchdown of the game -- a four-yard run -- less than four minutes later.
Yet another time-consuming seven-minute drive resulted in a three-yard score from Asiata midway through the fourth, and Ray Stowers' two-yard score with three minutes remaining capped the scoring at 58-10.
Game Notes
Next Saturday, Utah travels to take on Air Force, while the Aggies host Idaho...Utah has won four straight dating back to last year...At 108 games, this relationship is the 12th longest in the nation. The Utes, who have won 11 straight versus USU, lead the series by a count of 76-28-4 and are 25-11 in Logan over the years.
