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Logan • Utah State desperately needed a win.
Quarterback Kent Myers made sure the Aggies got it.
Myers threw three touchdown passes Saturday night at Maverik Stadium and Utah State snapped a three-game losing streak — its longest in six seasons — with a 38-20 victory over Fresno State.
The Aggies improved to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Mountain West Conference while keeping its hopes alive for a sixth straight bowl bid.
Fresno State slipped to 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the conference, further clouding the future of coach Tim DeRuyter.
The game started splendidly for Utah State, which had lost six of its previous seven against the Bulldogs.
After a three-and-out by their defense, the Aggies needed only seven plays to drive 60 and take a 7-0 lead. On a third-and-11 from the Fresno 21, Myers passed to Braelon Roberts for a touchdown.
Midway through the first quarter, the Bulldogs tied the score. Dontel James capped a 15-play, 86-yard drive when he ran in from the three.
In the second quarter, the Aggies used the biggest play of the season by their special teams to regain a 14-7 lead.
Fresno State faced a third-and-12 from its own 26-yard line when senior defensive back Jentz Painter sacked quarterback Chason Virgil. On fourth down, Painter blocked the Bulldogs' punt. Teammate Austin Cheney recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown.
The Aggies made it 17-7 with 3:45 left in the half on Brock Warren's career-long 43-yard field goal, but the Bulldogs countered with another long scoring drive.
Moving from their own 23 to the Utah State one while converting three times on third down, Virgil passed to Jared Rice with only 24 seconds left, cutting the Aggies' lead to seven points at halftime.
On its opening possession of the third quarter, Utah State stretched the lead to 24-14 when Myers threw a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Wyatt Houston.
After Fresno State got a 27-yard field goal from Kody Kroening, the Aggies countered with a 78-yard drive for score. It came on a 25-yard pass from Myers to Ron'Quavion Tarver, bumping their lead to 31-17 with 14:25 remaining.
Utah State sealed the victory when back-up quarterback Damion Hobbs scored on a four-yard touchdown run to make it 38-20 with 7:14 left.
Twitter: @sluhm —
• Kent Myers throws for three touchdowns, leading Utah State to a 38-20 victory over Fresno State.
• The Aggies snap a three-game losing streak — their longest since the 2010 season.
• Utah State improves to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Mountain West Conference. Fresno is 1-6 and 0-4.