Jalen Royals Takes Screen Pass 71-Yards For Utah State Touchdown

Sep 30, 2023, 12:29 PM | Updated: 12:30 pm

Back endzone pylon at Maverik Stadium, home of the Utah State Aggies.

Digital Producer

LOGAN, Utah – Jalen Royals took a screen pass and ran 71 yards untouched to give Utah State its first lead of the day against UConn.

USU wraps up its non-conference schedule in Storrs, Connecticut facing the 0-4 Connecticut Huskies.

Catch ball ➡️ RUN FAST!@cooperlegas ✈️ @RoyalsJalen for 7️⃣1️⃣ yards!

📺 @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/wrRiwqH6PN

— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 30, 2023

Royals has five catches for 124 yards and two scores. It is the first two-touchdown day of Royals’ career. Cooper Legas has completed 7-of-8 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns in injury relief of McCae Hillstead.

Utah State leads 24-17 with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Utah State Versus UConn All-Time Series

This will mark the second consecutive season these two programs have faced each other but only the third time all-time.

In last season’s opener for both teams, USU used three turnovers to fight back from 14 down before prevailing 31-20. Logan Bonner threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Brian Cobbs eight times for 108 yards and a score. Calvin Tyler Jr. carried 33 times for 161 rushing yards, a 4.9 yards per carry average.

The first meeting between these two programs saw the Aggies hold off a UConn rally to win 38-31 in November 2001. Jose Fuentes led Utah State with 234 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Senior RB Emmett White ran for 117 yards, finding the end zone twice in the win.

Utah State Aggies Week Five Captains

The Aggies named five captains ahead of their week five matchup with UConn.

𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 🫡#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/7nw3AcuyMY

— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 29, 2023

Senior defensive back Michael Anyanwu; senior defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka; senior wide receiver Terrell Vaughn; junior running back Davon Booth; and junior kicker Elliot Nimrod.