Utah State quarterback Kent Myers (2) dives into the end zone for a touchdown as Idaho State defensive back Nikko Hayes (22) watches during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, in Logan, Utah. (Eli Lucero/Herald Journal via AP)
Logan • Quarterback Kent Myers almost had a career game in one half and Utah State, buoyed by his play as well as the defense of senior cornerback Jalen Davis, walloped Idaho State 51-13 on Thursday night in the home opener for the Aggies.
Less than a week after a 59-10 loss at Wisconsin, Myers was sharp from the outset against the Bengals. When he left the game after the first series of the third quarter, he had completed a 24-for-26 passing night for 323 yards.
“We just wanted to show people that we will bounce back,” Myers said. “I felt really sharp. I came in with a chip on my shoulder. The Wisconsin game didn’t go the way we wanted to, so I was going to have to grind 10 times harder this game.”
“A good step in the right direction, I thought, for Kent,” Utah State coach Matt Wells said. “He’s got to continue to build off of it.”
Myers threw a first-half TD to Ron’quavion Tarver, a second-half score to Jordan Nathan and also ran for two touchdowns.
The touchdown runs for Myers 23 yards and 36 yards, both in the second quarter.
“[David Yost, offensive coordinator] gave me a hard time because I didn’t juke this one linebacker from Wisconsin,” said Myers of the longer touchdown run, where he did give the slip to a couple of Idaho State defenders.
Defensively, Davis had two interceptions after getting ejected in the Wisconsin game. Davis was called for targeting in the first half against the Badgers, which meant he could start on Thursday, which turned out to be beneficial for Utah State (1-1).
Davis’ first interception came on a long pass from quarterback Tanner Gueller in the first quarter. The second INT was in the second quarter for a 25-yard return for a touchdown.
“I just wanted to be out there with my brothers last week,” Davis said. “It kind of broke my heart that they kicked me out of the game.I just knew I had to come back and get my team up, so we could go ahead and get a win.”
That score gave the Aggies a 31-6 lead with 8:12 remaining before half, making the second half more about statistics than competitiveness.
Wells, although not entirely pleased with how his second team did as the game wore on, was happy about the way the starters began the third quarter.
“These kids look at the scoreboard and they know exactly what the score is, but it’s about our culture and establishing the way we want to play,” Wells said. “I like what the offense did right when they got the ball and the defense too, so that was good.”
The game also saw the emergence of several players.
Reserve running back Eltoro Allen scored the first touchdown of the game and finished with 110 yards on the ground. Nathan, a redshirt freshman, caught 6 passes for 63 yards as he started the game at wide receiver. Dax Raymond, who redshirted last year, got his first start at tight end and caught 3 passes for 56 yards in the first half.
“He’s a good player. I’ve said several times that I think he’s one of the better tight ends, if not the best, in the Mountain West,” Wells said of Raymond. “He’s a big target, he’s got big hands, he can run after the catch. You know, Aggie fans don’t really know Dax yet. He’s just been hurt, so hopefully we can keep him healthy.”