Allen's 4 TDs lead Wyoming over Utah State 52-28
LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) β Josh Allen passed for 261 yards and a career-high four touchdowns to lead Wyoming over Utah State 52-28 on Saturday night, giving the Cowboys their longest winning streak in 18 years at five straight.
Brian Hill rushed for 142 yards, including TD runs of 56 and 15 yards, for Wyoming (7-2, 5-0 Mountain West). It was the 17th game of Hill's career over 100 yards and sixth this season. The Cowboys have not seen a victory streak this long since the 1998 squad won seven in a row.
Wyoming had lost the four previous meetings against Utah State by an average score of 44-14, but piled up 528 yards against an Aggies defense that had been giving up 366 yards per game.
Kent Myers was 17 of 29 passing for 235 yards and a TD for Utah State (3-6, 1-5) before leaving with an undisclosed injury. His replacement, Damion Hobbs, was 7 of 16 passing for 68 yards and rushed for two scores in his first extended playing time, but he couldn't sustain the Aggies' near comeback.
Wyoming built a 35-7 halftime lead before Utah State scored three straight times to close within 35-28. Hobbs' second TD run, a 10-yarder to give Utah State its final points, was set up by Daniel Gray's interception late in the third quarter. It was only the second takeaway by the Aggies in six league contests.
Allen, who completed 16 of 26 passes and rushed for 66 yards, answered with a 37-yard touchdown strike to Jacob Hollister to make it 42-28 and the Cowboys then pulled away. One play earlier, Allen rambled for 38 yards to reverse the momentum.
"I felt that really turned us around," he said. "We really needed a spark since we were a little stagnant."
Wyoming coach Craig Bohl was pleased to see his team battle through adversity.
"Not surprised that Utah State came back, with it being the same team that put up 58 points on us last season," he said. "I thought the defense responded. I thought the offensive line has done a good job, but Josh has done a good job eluding the rush, either making plays with his legs or throwing the ball."
Tanner Gentry had scoring catches of 25 and 46 yards for Wyoming while Ron'Quavion Tarver made eight receptions for 104 yards for Utah State.
"That was a bad second quarter and we dug ourselves a big hole," Utah State coach Matt Wells said. "We fought pretty valiantly in the third quarter, but it was not enough."
Hobbs had no answer for his team's sluggish start.
"We just didn't go out there and play our brand of Aggie football," he said. "We fixed that in the third quarter. We've just got to do a better job of starting the next game."
Rico Gafford had eight tackles, broke up two passes and forced a fumble to lead the Cowboys defense. Anthony Williams made 13 stops and Gaje Ferguson 10 for the Aggies.
HILL CLIMB
Wyoming's Brian Hill, who entered the contest ranked third nationally with 144.5 rushing yards per game, added to his school-leading career total. He now has 3,725 yards in two-plus seasons. His two touchdown runs gave him 26 for his career and moved him into a tie with Kevin Lowe and Walt Goffigan for fourth place on the Wyoming career rushing TD list.
THE TAKEAWAY
Utah State: The Aggies' hopes for a sixth straight bowl appearance took another hit. Utah State needs to win its final three games to become bowl eligible and avoid its first losing campaign since 2010.
Wyoming: The Cowboys could have been expected to suffer a letdown after the previous week's 30-28 upset of then-No. 13 Boise State, but bolted to a 21-0 lead and held the Aggies to minus-8 yards in the first quarter. However, Utah State averted an early rout by scoring three straight touchdowns in the third quarter before Wyoming regained control in the fourth.
UP NEXT
Utah State: The Aggies host New Mexico on Saturday in hopes of avenging a 14-13 loss in Albuquerque last year. The Lobos defeated Nevada 35-26 on Saturday.
Wyoming: The Cowboys visit UNLV on Saturday, a team Wyoming has beaten in eight of the last 10 meetings, including the last three. The Rebels had a bye Saturday.