Aggies Make Quarterback Change While Staring At Big First Half Deficit

LOGAN, UT – With Alabama leading 31-0 early in the second quarter, Utah State backup quarterback Cooper Legas took over for starter Logan Bonner.

Utah State (1-0) traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama where they face the preseason No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

Bonner and wide receiver Brian Cobbs combined for a 23-yard throw and catch on the first play of the game for a first down. It would be the last first down of the opening quarter for the Aggies.

Not a great night to be a #USU football fan.@AlabamaFTBL leads @USUFootball 31-0 in the secnd quarter.

Logan Bonner out of the game. Cooper Legas making his first appearance of the season.#AggiesAllTheWay

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 4, 2022

While Alabama was stacking up touchdowns, Bonner completed three passes on eight attempts, finishing with 39 yards in the opening half.

Legas went 2-for-3 on his first possession, gaining just one yard through the air and adding nine yards on the ground.

It is not known if the QB change is injury related at this time.

Alabama has controlled all aspects of play on their way to a 34-0 lead with five minutes remaining in the first half.

Previewing The Tide

Led by seven-time National Champion Nick Saban, including six championships since joining Alabama in 2007, the Tide went 13-2 last season, eventually falling 33-18 to Georgia in the 2022 National Championship Game.

The Tide return 12 starters and 51 letter-winners from 2021. Two of those returning starters are sophomore QB Bryce Young, the reigning Heisman Trophy Winner, and junior LB Will Anderson Jr., the reigning Bronko Nagurski Winner, given annually to the nation’s top defensive player.

GAMEDAY down South‼️

🆚 Alabama
⌚️ 5:30 PM
📺 @SECNetwork
🔊 https://t.co/xQDpg2k8kJ#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/pZrFahWiqQ

— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 3, 2022

Defensively, the Tide also return first-team All-American defensive back Jordan Battle and senior LB Henry To’oto’o, who was named second-team all-SEC last year.

Alabama averaged 39.9 points and 488.2 yards of total offense per game (338.2 passing, 150.0 rushing) and allowed 20.1 points and 304.1 yards of total offense (218.0 passing, 86.1 rushing).

Series History

This is the third meeting between the schools with all three coming in Tuscaloosa. The Aggies fell 48-17 in 2004. In a 2005 rematch, Utah State managed just a field goal in a 35-3 loss.

The Aggies are 0-2 all-time against top-ranked teams but this will be the first such matchup for USU since 1984 when they lost 38-13 to BYU. Utah State’s other loss dates back to 1971 when the Aggies lost to Nebraska, 42-6.

Aggie Captains

Utah State named five captains ahead of their matchup with Alabama. Graduate senior center Chandler Dolphin; sophomore long snapper Jacob Garcia; junior linebacker Kaleo Neves; graduate senior cornerback Andre Grayson; and senior wide receiver Justin McGriff.

𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝟐 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 🏈

▫️ Chandler Dolphin
▫️ Justin McGriff
▫️Jacob Garcia
▫️Andre Grayson
▫️Kaleo Neves #BeatBama | #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/wBnxkPUdII

— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 3, 2022

How To Watch

Utah State at Alabama is being televised on the SEC Network.

Every Utah State football game can be heard on the KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard and former Aggie quarterback Kevin White on the call.

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