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Logan • The good news for Utah State?
The Aggies are finished playing Boise State and Air Force, which have lived up to preseason expectations and emerged as the two best teams in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference.
The bad news?
The Aggies are done playing Boise State and Air Force, meaning they will need help — a lot of help — to become relevant again in the division race.
Utah State slipped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Mountain West after Saturday night's 21-10 loss at Boise State. Eight days earlier, Air Force defeated the Aggies, 27-20.
Utah State is now the longest of long shots to win the Mountain Division title and secure a berth in the league's championship game. At this point, a more reachable goal is becoming bowl eligible for the sixth straight year — a task that starts Saturday night at Colorado State.
Against Boise State, the Aggie defense played well enough to win.
The high-powered Broncos finished with 384 yards, only 26 more than Utah State. Star running back Jeremy McNichols gained 130 yards, but he needed a back-breaking 30 carries to get them.
"There has been a couple of games now where our defense has fought for us and kept us in the game," said freshman receiver Rayshad Lewis. "As an offense, we just have to play better. Our defense can only fight for so long."
Boise took a 7-3 halftime lead, partly because Utah State fizzled in the red zone.
On two possessions in the second quarter, the Aggies had first down at the Broncos' 13- and 14-yard lines. Six plays in those situations gained exactly one yard. Brock Warren capped one scoring opportunity with a 28-yard field goal, but he also missed a 32-yarder on the final play of the first half.
Utah State's offense also committed six false starts during the game. It went 1-for-16 on third down before a meaningless drive in the final two minutes.
"It was a little uncharacteristic us — the mistakes we made pre-snap," coach Matt Wells said. "That's not like us and that's the frustrating part. … We just made too many mistakes."
Wells commended his players' effort.
"The thing that was there was … the want-to, the passion and the hurt in the locker room," he said. "We just have to find ways against good teams like [Boise] to capitalize."
Utah State played without ace running back Devante Mays, who was sidelined because of a knee injury suffered against Air Force.
It showed. The Aggies ran for only 71 yards. Quarterback Kent Myers completed 29 of 50 passes — both career highs.
Lewis had seven receptions for 82 yards and Andrew Rodriguez had six for 89. Tight end Wyatt Houston caught three passes, extending his streak of at least one reception to 11 straight games.
"We're not necessarily a throwing team but, when our number is called, we have to make plays," Lewis said. "… We have to come together and make more plays.'
Twitter: @sluhm —
Storylines
• Utah State's offense managed only 112 yards and three points in the first half of Saturday night's 21-10 loss at Boise State.
• The Aggies dropped to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Mountain West Conference with their second consecutive defeat.
• Utah State visits Colorado State on Saturday night. The Rams are coming off a 38-17 loss to rival Wyoming.