Utah State throttles No. 19 San Diego State for first Mountain West title

CARSON — For a squad that has defied expectations each year, Utah State continued its turnaround play successful its biggest crippled of the twelvemonth with a 46-13 triumph implicit No. 19 San Diego State successful the Mountain West Championship Game connected Saturday astatine Dignity Health Sports Park.

The triumph clinches the Aggies’ archetypal Mountain West rubric successful programme history, a feat that – coming disconnected a 1-5 play – seemed far-fetched conscionable 3 months ago.

Utah State (10-3, 7-2) volition astir apt play successful the inaugural Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl astatine SoFi Stadium connected Dec. 18, portion San Diego State (11-2, 7-2) awaits a vessel placement but has apt been eliminated from contention for a New Year’s Six Bowl.

The Aggies besides stay unbeaten connected the roadworthy (7-0) this season, extending a programme record.

Utah State backmost Logan Bonner threw for 318 yards and a Mountain West title game-record 4 touchdowns and completed a season-high 29 passes. Wide receiver Brandon Bowling had 8 receptions for a career-high 154 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 58-yard people that opened up a 21-3 pb for the Aggies connected the archetypal thrust of the 2nd half.

The 46 points were the astir allowed by San Diego State this season, portion the 13 points were the lowest the Aztecs person enactment up. Even sure-footed punter and placekicker Matt Araiza was shaky with 2 punts blocked, 1 starring to a information successful the 3rd 4th aft helium kicked it disconnected the backmost of a teammate and into his ain extremity zone.

San Diego State entered the crippled tied for a schoolhouse grounds with 11 wins, earning a spot successful the College Football Playoff Rankings each week. But the Aztecs could not find overmuch bushed offensively and were gashed defensively successful the air. Jordan Brookshire, the backup backmost starting successful spot of the injured Lucas Johnson, was 11 for 23 for 117 yards.

Utah State led 14-3 astatine halftime connected a brace of second-quarter touchdowns, striking archetypal connected a five-yard touchdown walk successful the close country of the extremity portion from Bonner to wide receiver Derek Wright, who conscionable kept some feet inbounds.

The Aggies past took vantage of bully tract presumption disconnected a missed 54-yard tract extremity effort by Araiza. Running backmost Calvin Tyler Jr. highlighted the thrust with a carnal 17-yard tally successful the reddish zone, spinning disconnected would-be tacklers to the extremity enactment earlier punching successful the touchdown with a 1-yard unreserved connected the ensuing play.