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Logan • Utah State senior quarterback Chuckie Keeton set a school record for touchdown passes in Saturday's rivalry game against BYU at Maverik Stadium.

With three minutes left in the first half, Keeton threw to Hunter Sharp in the end zone. At the time, the touchdown gave the Aggies a 21-10 lead.

It was the 61st touchdown pass of Keeton's career, moving him one ahead of Jose Fuentes (2000-02). Keeton broke the record despite being limited to 37 games by injuries.

Said Utah State coach Matt Wells: "I don't know what else I can say about that young man — what he's meant to me, what he's meant to this program, what kind of teammate he is and what kind of person he is. He will go a long way in life and be very successful in whatever field he chooses."

Mathews' fast start

BYU's leading receiver, senior Mitch Mathews, had a huge first half against Utah State.

He caught four passes from quarterback Tanner Mangum for 120 yards, including a 72-yarded for a touchdown one play after Keeton's record-setting pass.

Mathews' score gave BYU a huge lift, just when Utah State's defense began to dominate the rivalry game.

"Coach [Bronco] Mendenhall said that he wants this team to be nameless and faceless," Mathews said early this week. "That means we don't care who we are playing, we just need to play football. But, at the same time, you can tell by how our coaches are carrying themselves and how intense they are at practice that it is a big-time in-state game."

Salute to seniors

Before kickoff, Utah State honored 21 seniors who played their final home game.

"They have meant a lot," Wells said. "It's a unique class because you've got a mix of talented junior college kids …. and some really veteran guys that are fifth-year guys who have been through a lot."

For Utah State's fifth-year seniors, their first season ended with a 24-23 loss to Ohio in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The Bobcats secured their first bowl win in school history by scoring the winning touchdown with 13 seconds remaining.

"That was my first year here as an assistant," Wells said, "so I'm very proud of where they have come from and where they are leaving this program."

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