Hawaii Overpowers Utah State in 44-26 Saturday Night Showdown
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Utah State football suffered a setback on saturday, falling to Hawaii 44-26 at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu. Despite a strong individual performance from senior running back Miles Davis, the Aggies were unable to contain a decisive run by the Rainbow Warriors in the second half.
Aggies Battle, But hawaii’s Offense proves To Strong
The game began with a back-and-forth exchange. Tanner Rinker, connected from 20 yards to tie the score early. However, Hawaii quickly responded with a touchdown pass from Micah Alejado to Pofele Ashlock. The Aggies answered with a one-yard touchdown run by davis,capping off a 47-yard drive. A pivotal moment came when Utah State stopped a fake punt attempt by Hawaii, setting up a stunning 30-yard touchdown catch by Public Jacobs from a pass by sophomore quarterback Anthony Garcia on a trick play, giving USU a brief lead. Alejado then regained the lead for Hawaii with touchdown passes of seven and 31 yards to Ashlock, surrounding a 40-yard field goal from Rinker, sending the Aggies into halftime trailing 24-20.
Second-Half Surge Seals Utah State’s Fate
A failed onside kick attempt by Hawaii provided Utah State with excellent field position to start the third quarter. Capitalizing on the prospect, graduate quarterback Bryson Barnes connected with graduate tight end Broc Lane for a 32-yard touchdown, briefly regaining the lead for the Aggies. However,a blocked PAT proved to be a turning point,shifting the momentum in favor of Hawaii. The Rainbow Warriors responded with 20 unanswered points, fueled by a pair of rushing touchdowns and field goals, ultimately proving too much for Utah state to overcome. Despite twice driving into hawaii territory in the fourth quarter, the Aggies were unable to convert those opportunities into points.
Offensive Standouts Shine in Defeat
Despite the loss, several Aggies delivered strong individual performances. Miles Davis lead the rushing attack with 102 yards on 15 carries, marking his second 100-yard rushing game of the season, and added a touchdown. He also contributed 12 yards on three receptions. Senior wide receiver Brady Boyd was the leading receiver with five catches for 68 yards, while junior wide receiver Braden Pegan posted a team-high 84 yards on just three catches.
Quarterback play was split between Barnes, who finished with 175 passing yards on 14-of-26 attempts with one touchdown and one interception, adding 64 rushing yards, and graduate quarterback Jacob Conover, who added 64 yards on 4-of-10 passing.
Aggie Defense Records Season-High Sacks, But Struggles to contain Hawaii’s Attack
The Utah State defense recorded a season-high 5.0 sacks, led by freshman linebacker Chris Joe with a pair. Junior defensive tackle Tyree Morris also added a sack, while senior linebacker John Miller, senior defensive tackle Gabriel Iniguez Jr., redshirt freshman defensive tackle Caron, and sophomore linebacker Matira Brown each contributed half a sack. Sophomore cornerback D’Angelo Mayes recorded his second interception of the season, providing the Aggies’ lone takeaway. Junior safety Brevin Hamblin led the team with eight total tackles, while senior safety Ike larsen made his season debut, finishing with seven tackles.
Looking Ahead
Utah State (3-3,1-1 MW) will return to maverik Stadium to host San Jose State (2-4,1-1 MW) on Friday,Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. (MT). The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports network. Season tickets and mini plans for the 2025 season are currently on sale, and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the ticket office at 435-797-0305. Fans can also support the Aggies by donating to the Big Blue Club, which provides resources for championship-caliber programs, and can find more information here. Stay connected with the Aggie football programme on X, Instagram, and Facebook, and visit www.utahstateaggies.com for the latest updates.
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