Cooper Legas Has Career Day, Utah State Survives Against Hawai’i
Nov 12, 2022, 9:12 PM | Updated: Nov 13, 2022, 12:35 am
PROVO, UT- SEPTEMBER 29: Cooper Legas #5 of the Utah State Aggies throws a pass under pressure from Lorenzo Fauatea #55 and Tyler Batty #92 of the Brigham Young Cougars during the first half of their game September 29, 2022 at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.
LOGAN, Utah –ย Utah State is looking to maintain the momentum gained after a wind & rain marred 27-10 home win against New Mexico last weekend.
For their next test, USU made the long flight across the Pacific Ocean to Honolulu, Hawai’i to face the struggling Rainbow Warriors.
#AggiesAfterDark in Hawaiiโผ๏ธ
๐ at Hawaii
โ๏ธ 9:00 PM
๐บ Spectrum Sports
๐ https://t.co/e1bOA1jQnl
๐ https://t.co/vioCVQqUKY#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/ftrNs5YCDZ— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 12, 2022
With a win, an Aggie team that has battled injury all season long would move within a single victory of their second-straight bowl birth.
Utah State Aggiesย (4-5, 3-2) vs. Hawaiโi Rainbow Warriors (2-8, 1-4)
Where: Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex in Honolulu, Hawaii
When: Saturday, November 12 at 9 p.m. (MDT)
TV/Stream:ย Spectrum Sports
Radio:ย KSL Sports Zone (1280 AM)
๐ฑโก๏ธ How To Watch
Fans outside of Hawaii can watch the game on their mobile devices by downloading the ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ app.
1. Open the app.
2. Select channels in the bottom menu.
3. Scroll then select Hawaii Football.๐ฒโก๏ธ https://t.co/AZrOhXcwaH pic.twitter.com/4OktQXSFtn
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 12, 2022
First Quarter
Utah State won the coin toss and elected to defer with Elliot Nimrod kicking off to Hawai’i to begin the game.
Jacob South will not be available along the offensive line tonight for @USUFootball.
Look for Cole Motes to fill the RT spot.#AggiesAllTheWay #USU #USUAggies #AggieFootball #AtThePEAK #MWFB @kslsports
— Brian Preece (@bpreece24) November 13, 2022
Hawai’i picks up a pair of early first downs, including a long 31-yard pass across the middle from Braayden Shager to Zion Bowers.
Two plays later, USU benefited from an offensive pass-interference call that nullified a Hawai’i toouchdown. The Rainbow Warriors went on to punt three plays later.
Cooper Legas and the Utah State Aggies wasted no time getting on the scoreboard when the junior QB hit Josh Sterzer for a 68-yard touchdown.
๐ถ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐พ๐๐ ๐ถ@cooperlegas โ๏ธ @LittleSterz34 #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/QslW9LI3QJ
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
The Aggie defense forced Hawai’i into their second punt of the quarter, forcing the first three-and-out of the game.
Utah State had a 15-yard pitch and catch from Legas to Terrell Vaughn get called back due to pass interference on Justin McGriff. But on the next play, Legas hit Calvin Tyler Jr. across the middle to pick up the first down.
.@USUFootball breaking off some chunk plays early tonight.
That 68-yard TD to Sterzer was the longest play of the season for the Aggie offense.#AggiesAllTheWay #USU #USUAggies #AggieFootball #USUfootball #BRADDAHHOOD #AtThePEAK #MWFB
— Brian Preece (@bpreece24) November 13, 2022
Later in the drive, USU benefitted from a pass interference call when Hugh Nelson prevented Brian Cobbs from making a play on a pass from Legas.
Penalties continued to be the theme of the drive when freshman offensive lienman Weylin Lapuaho nullified a four-yard gain with a personal foul.
Penalties have played a huge role early in this game for both @USUFootball and @HawaiiFootball
4โฃtotal penalties on that last drive, 5โฃ in the period#AggiesAllTheWay #USU #USUAggies #AggieFootball #USUfootball #BRADDAHHOOD #AtThePEAK #MWFB
— Brian Preece (@bpreece24) November 13, 2022
The Aggies would go on to punt after a delay of game penalty.
Dedrick Parson couldn’t handle Stephen Kotsanlee’s 36-yard punt, muffing it with Jamie Nance pouncing on the ball for the Aggies and the first turnover of the game.
Jamie Nance recovers a muffed punt and Daniel Grzesiak carried him over his shoulder in celebration all the way to the sideline.
Special teams are delivering for the Aggies today, in the most unconventional of ways.
— Jacob Nielson (@Jacobnielson12) November 5, 2022
Three plays later, Connor Coles gave Utah State a 10-0 advantage when he split the uprights from 21-yards out.
.@ColesKicking knocks it through from 21-yards out!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/ictSiP22m5
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
The Rainbow Warriors avoided their second turnover of the quarter when Shager alertly picked up an errant snap that hit him in the knee.
After USU called a timeout with Hawai’i facing 4th-and-1, the Rainbow Warriors took advantage. Nasjzae Bryant-Lelei broke off a 43-yard rush on the final play of the quarter.
END 1๏ธโฃ | Aggies lead 10-0 after the 1st quarter!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/TmUEiMwqWF
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
Second Quarter
A roughing the passer penalty on Byron Vaughns gave Hawai’i a first and goal. On the next play, Hawai’i gave the Aggies back five yards on a false start.
The penalty did’t hurt though as Shager hit Jonah Panoke for an 11-yard score on the next play.
Hawai'i is on the board as penalties continue to haunt @USUFootball. Aggies lead 10-7#AggiesAllTheWay #USU #USUAggies #AggieFootball #AtThePEAK #MWFB @kslsports #BRADDAHHOOD pic.twitter.com/bOXmxTy5gz
— Brian Preece (@bpreece24) November 13, 2022
The Aggies dinked and dunked, gaining seven, four, two and three yards on consecutive plays before Hawai’i called their first timeout.
Out of the timeout, USU Legas hit Justin McGriff for six yards and a first down that moved the Aggies into Hawai’i territory.
Two plays later, Legas helped extend the Utah State first half lead when he lofted beautiful 16-yard pass that found a diving Broc Lane for the touchdown.
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐!@cooperlegas โ๏ธ @BrocLane #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/g6fH8b3jju
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
The catch was Laneโs longest of the season and first touchdown. He came in with just three catches for 14 yards.
Hawai’i next drive stalled at the Aggie 32-yard line. Matthew Shipley salvaged the drive with a 49-yard field goal to cut the USU lead to 17-10
49-yard field goal? No worries for @matthewshipley, as he ties his career-high! pic.twitter.com/BPscImf8Lv
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) November 13, 2022
USU began their next when Legas was sacked for a loss of five yards. The Aggies would end up going three-and-out on the drive.
With the Rainbow Warrior offense on the verge of gaining momentum, redshirt-freshman Aggie safety Ike Larsen picked up Shager.
2/3 of the earth is covered by water, the rest is covered by @IkeLarsen19!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/dKQ798U0Lw
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
After a penalty, the interception gave Utah State great field position as they began the drive at the Hawai’i 27.
The Aggies ended the drive in disappointing fashion when Coles’ 39-yard field goal attempt was blocked by John Tuitupou.
BLOCK!!!!! John Tuitupou!!!!! ๐ช๐ค pic.twitter.com/GrBNnIUui8
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) November 13, 2022
After forcing Hawaii’s fourth punt of the half, Legas continued his torrid start to the game.
Tyler Jr. began the drive by putting the defense on their heels when he picked up 26 yards on two quick carries.
Two plays later on fourth-and-2, Legas took the shotgun snap and found an uncovered Tyler Jr. down the right sideline for USU’s third touchdown through the air.
sing it AGAIN! … ๐ถ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐พ๐๐ ๐ถ@cooperlegas โ๏ธ @BlessedAthleteC #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/zrBpjqiz5W
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
The 35-yard touchdown gave the Aggies a 24-10 lead.
HALFTIME ๐@HawaiiFootball 1โฃ0โฃ@usufootball 2โฃ4โฃ
Total: Utah State 300 | Hawaii 208
Rushing: Utah State 88 | Hawaii 85
Passing: Utah State 212 | Hawaii 123 #AggiesAllTheWay #USU #USUAggies #AggieFootball #AtThePEAK #MWFB @kslsports pic.twitter.com/W1aMAxZ7Dj— Brian Preece (@bpreece24) November 13, 2022
Cooper Legas has had a terrific first half!
12-for-18, 211 yards, 3โฃ TD
68% completion rate is eight percent better than his season average.@USUFootball QB's have complete passes at a 55.8% rate this season#AggiesAllTheWay #USU #USUAggies #AggieFootball #USUfootball
— Brian Preece (@bpreece24) November 13, 2022
Third Quarter
After deferring to open the game, Utah State began the second half with the ball. Legas and company would go three-and-out, resulting in the punt of the day.
Hawai’i built possibly their most impressive drive of the game, 61 yards in just over four minutes before Bryant-Lelei scored his second touchdown from four yards out. The drive was aided by a Poukesi Vakauta face mask penalty that gave the Rainbow Warriors a first down.
Penalties biting @USUFootball when it matters most.
Poukesi Vakauta whistled for a face mask, giving Hawai'i 1st-&-Goal.
Rainbow Warriors score on next play.
That's Six flags for 55-yards with plenty of time to go for one of the most penalized teams in college football.
— Brian Preece (@bpreece24) November 13, 2022
HE. WON'T. GO. DOWN!!!! ๐คซ๐คซ pic.twitter.com/OFpEprp98R
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) November 13, 2022
Utah State led 24-17 after the touchdown.
Calvin Tyler Jr. answered the Rainbow Warriors touchdown with his second score of the night, a four-yard power rush that gave USU a 31-17 lead.
Tyler Jr. capped the Aggies most-sustained drive of the night, a 13-play march that the graduate-senior running backed punctuated with a touchdown. He has 19 rushing attempts for 103-yards. He has also added three catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Started and ended with ๐๐๐โผ๏ธ@BlessedAthleteC pounds it in for 6๏ธโฃ, and is now over ๐ฏ yards rushing tonight!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/BJzDGQpQ0B
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
Cooper Legas has added 27 yards on the ground to go along with his career-high 238 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
The Aggie rushing attack accounted for 50 of the 75 yards on the drive.
Hunter Reynolds gave the Aggies their third turnover when he picked off a pass, giving USU the ball at the Hawai’i 40-yard line.
"GIVE ME THAT BALL!" –@hunt_xxvii
We heard it for sure. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/PEXpSU9EW4
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
Coles added his second field goal, this time from 42 yards away.
.@ColesKicking GOOD from 42!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/uO1LPKFSFB
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
END OF 3ND Q ๐@HawaiiFootball 1โฃ7โฃ@usufootball 3โฃ4โฃ
Total: Utah State 378 | Hawaii 266
Rushing: Utah State 140 | Hawaii 133
Passing: Utah State 238 | Hawaii 133 #AggiesAllTheWay #USU #USUAggies #AggieFootball #AtThePEAK #MWFB @kslsports #BRADDAHHOOD— Brian Preece (@bpreece24) November 13, 2022
END 3๏ธโฃ | 15 minutes to go! Aggies lead 34-17 heading into the 4th quarter. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/NE30RHMcbp
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
Fourth Quarter
Hawai’i wouldn’t go away despite the big deficit.
Once again, an Aggie penalty gave away free yards and an important first down. On second-&-eight, Hale Motu’apuaka was flagged for a rough the passer penalty, nullifying an incomplete pass.
Eight plays later the Rainbow Warriors found the end zone when Shager hit Caleb Phillips for a 31-yard touchdown.
Put that on the highlight reel! ๐คฏ pic.twitter.com/p9KDoWOK28
— Hawaii Football (@HawaiiFootball) November 13, 2022
Legas was sacked on third down, the third time he has been sacked today, ending the Aggies next drive.
The Rainbow Warriors were done in by penalties of their own on the next drive. A false start and a holding penalty that eliminated a huge 24-yard pitch and catch forced Hawai’i into a fourth-and-18 play.
Aggie defensive back Andre Grayson came up big on the play, forcing the incompletion and giving USU possession back.
Oh, hello…
Welcome to โฌ๏ธโฌ๏ธโฌ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/awZwW4dwjA
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
A Utah State three-and-out kept Hawai’i within striking distance. Kotsanlee’s punt gave them the ball back with 5:28 on the clock.
Ike Larsen then sealed the Aggie win when he picked off his second pass of the night, returning it 36-yards for a touchdown.
IKE FREAKING LARSEN!!!!@IkeLarsen19 pick 6๏ธโฃโผ๏ธ#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/ANGrbFLeTv
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
Hawai’i added a controversial touchdown, cutting Utah State’s lead to 41-31. Tylan Hines seemingly rushed for a 69-yard score but appeared to drop the football before crossing the goal-line. Officials reviewed the play but kept the original call on the field, giving Hawai’i one last chance.
That was quick
Career-long 69-yard TD run by Tylan Hines
Scoring Drive:
3 plays, 6 yard, 0:54
Utah State 4๏ธโฃ1๏ธโฃ, Hawai'i 3๏ธโฃ1๏ธโฃ. 3:33, 4th quarter.#HawaiiFB ๐ pic.twitter.com/9gFKbUEPyE— Spectrum Sports HI (@specsportshi) November 13, 2022
Utah State recovered the ensuing onside kick, but went three-and-out on offense for the third straight drive.
Trailing by 10 with 3:05 left, Hawai’i took over.
On first down, Laarsen streaked into the backfield, sacking Schager for an 11-yard loss. On third-and-21, Schager somehow found Jalen Walthall for a 20 yard gain. Hawai’i would pick up a first down with a five yard rush on fourth down.
Three first downs later and the Rainbow Warriors would kick a 19-yard field goal with 18 seconds remaining. The field goal made it a one score game with USU clinging to a 41-34 lead.
Utah State was able to recover the onside kick, sealing the win.
โฌ ๏ธ WINNING. TEAM!
Light That A ๐ต๐ต๐ต#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/jTgZnxmgjv
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022
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Up Next
Utah State (5-5, 4-2) return home where they will host the San Jose State Spartans (6-3, 4-2) at Maverik Stadium. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. (MDT).
Every Utah State football game can be heard on theย KSL Sports Zoneย with Scott Garrard and former Aggie quarterback Kevin White on the call.
Coverage of Utah State University Athletics from KSL Sports can be found here.ย
