University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Utah State
Huskies Close Homestand with Utah State
9/29/2023 6:56:00 AM | Football
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: UConn Sports Network from Learfield - ESPN 97.9  Affiliates - WAVZ 1300 AM (New Haven), WGCH 1490 AM (Greenwich), WILI 1400 AM/95.3FM, (Willimantic); WICH 1310 AM/94.5 FM (Norwich) Online: The Varsity Network App
Game Notes:  UConn Utah State
Quick Hits...
The UConn Huskies will close a three-game homestand at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field on Saturday afternoon playing host to the Utah State Aggies of the Mountain West Conference. Game time is scheduled for 12:00 noon with coverage on CBS Sports Network.
This will be the third all-time meeting between UConn and Utah State with the Aggies winning both games including a 31-20 win in the 2022 season opener on their home field. This will be UConn's only game this season against an opponent from the Mountain West Conference. The Huskies got their first win against the league when they knocked-off Fresno State at home last season, 19-14.
The Huskies are still in search of their first win of 2023 after a 41-7 loss at home last Saturday to the No. 18 nationally ranked Duke Blue Devils. The UConn defense held Duke to 322 total yard, 74 on the ground, but turned it over twice leading to a pair of Blue Devil touchdowns en route to the loss. UConn quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson, making his second-consecutive start, helped the Huskies avoid the shutout bid, capping off a 10-play drive late in the fourth quarter with a two-yard touchdown run. Senior linebacker Jackson Mitchell was ejected in the first quarter for targeting. He will not be forced to miss any of the Utah State game since the penalty occurred in the first quarter.
UConn Head Coach Mora returns for his second season leading the Huskies. Mora guided UConn to a 6-7 record in year one and brought the Huskies back to a postseason bowl game for the first time since the 2015 season. After a 1-4 start to the season, Mora led UConn to a 5-2 run through the rest of the regular season to become bowl eligible. Mora was hired as the 32nd head coach in program history in November of 2021. He returned to the sidelines for the first time since 2017 after a six-year stint as the head coach at UCLA. Mora led UCLA to a 46-30 record and four bowl appearances. His 31 years of coaching experience also included head coaching stints with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks.
Last Meeting vs. Utah State
Aug. 27, 2022 - Utah State 31 - UConn 20Â - Maverick Stadium
UConn sophomore running back Nathan Carter ran for a career-high 190 yards on 20 carries as the Huskies came up short in the 2022 season opener, 31-20 at Utah State. The Huskies jumped out to a 14-0 lead thanks to a big first quarter before the Utah State offense rang off 24-unanswered points to close the first half. The first quarter belonged to the Huskies as UConn built their two-touchdown lead while piling up 180 yards of offense, 152 coming on the ground. The UConn defense forced two punts, a turnover and a turnover on downs on Utah State's first four drives but the Aggie offense found its footing in the second quarter and ran off 24 unanswered points to close the first half. USU quarterback Logan Bonner led four scoring drives with under 11 minutes to go in the first half, with three touchdowns and a field goal with one second left on the clock capping the first half scoring. A stingy defensive effort kept the Huskies in the game into the fourth quarter where a pair of sophomore Noe Ruelas field goals pulled UConn to within 24-20 with 10:09 to go in the game. The Aggies answered as Bonner capped a 13 play, 75-yard drive with his third touchdown throw of the game, hitting Brian Cobbs in the back right corner of the endzone to push the lead to 31-20. Utah State's defense sealed the win away with their second interception of the day with 4:46 left, then using 10-plays to run out the clock for the win. Bonner led the Aggies offense to 542 total yards, throwing for 281 yards on 20-of-29. The Huskies finished with 364 total yards, 245 coming on the ground.Â
Scouting the Aggies...
The Utah State Aggies head east on the heels of a 45-38 loss at home to James Madison last Saturday. The Aggies are 1-3 on the season but have featured an explosive offense in the early going, averaging 37.8 ppg, 26th nationally, and 430.5 yards of total offense per game. Quarterback McCae Hillstead has slid into the starting role and is coming off a 25-for-47 game against JMU with 399 yards and four touchdown throws. On the season, Hillstead has thrown for 619 yards and seven scores. Terrell Vaughn leads the receiving corps having hauled in 38 catches for 347 yards and six touchdowns. Vaughn leads the nation in receiving touchdowns, ranks third in catches per game (9.5) and 28th in receiving yards. Defensively, the Aggies are allowing 34.0 points per game and 412.0 total yards per game but have gotten eight turnovers through four games, ranked 20th nationally.
UConn vs. the Mountain West...
The Huskies are 1-6 all-time against teams from the Mountain West Conference. UConn got their first win against the league last season, snapping an 0-6 run by beating Fresno State at home, 19-14. The Huskies are 0-2 all-time against Boise State, 1-1 against Fresno State, 0-1 against Wyoming and 0-2 against the Utah State. UConn has two future dates against the league with a road game at Wyoming in 2026 and a home date with the Cowboys in 2029.
