Justin McGriff Gives Utah State Lead Over UConn With Toe-Touch TD
Aug 27, 2022, 3:48 PM
Offensive lineman Alfred Edwards #72, wide receiver Justin McGriff #10 and cornerback Shawn Gates #13 of the Utah State Aggies celebrate after McGriff caught a touchdown pass against the New Mexico Lobos during the second half of their game at University Stadium on November 26, 2021 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Aggies defeated the Lobos 35-10. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
LOGAN, UTAH –Â Utah State wide receiver Justin McGriff gave the Aggies their first lead of the game with a touchdown catch in the second quarter against UConn.
The touchdown catch by Justin McGriff was a 14-yard score and he barely got one foot down in the end zone on a great ball thrown by Logan Bonner. That gave Utah State a 21-14 lead with under two minutes to play in the first half.
Through the first half, McGriff had two catches for 24 yards and one TD. Bonner completed 12 of his 15 pass attempts for 172 yards and two touchdowns.
The Aggies hosted UConn at Maverik Stadium in Logan, UT in the 2022 season opener for both teams.
You could NEVER be himđ¤đ#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/hM8CeY9VxX
— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 27, 2022
125th Season of Aggie Football
Saturdayâs game marks the first time since 2016 that the Aggies have opened the season at home and the 15th time since 1959. Utah State has won their past three home openers and are 9-5 overall in home openers. USU is riding a 12-game winning streak against non-conference opponents at Maverik Stadium.
Coming off of an 11-3 2021, Utah State picked up votes in two national preseason polls. The Aggies received 12 votes in the Coachesâ Poll, tied for 38th; and two votes is the Associated Press poll. This is the first time since 2019 that the Aggies have received preseason recognition in the polls.
Back like we never leftâĄď¸đ¤#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/lNYBS7Mhq6
— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 27, 2022
Quarterback Logan Bonner, offensive lineman Alfred Williams, linebacker AJ Vongphachanh, cornerback Jamie Nance and safety Hunter Reynolds were named captains for the game.
About UConn
Former Atlanta Falcons and UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora leads the Huskies in his first season with the program.
The Huskies return 12 starters, six on each side of the ball, and 57 letter-winners from last seasonâs 1-11 team. Last season UConn averaged 15.6 points and 265.1 yards of total offense per game (163.8 passing, 101.3 rushing) and allowed 38.5 points and 451.8 yards of total offense (258.0 passing, 193.8 rushing).
Connecticut’s roster includes four players on award watch lists this fall. Junior LB Jackson Mitchell (Butkus Award Watch List), sophomore RB Nate Carter (Doak Walker Award Watch List), graduate RB Robert Burns (The Wuerffel Trophy Watch List) and graduate LS Tommy Zozus (Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List).
This is just the second time USU & UConn have faced each other. Utah State won the first meeting, 38-31, on Nov. 10, 2001, in Storrs, Connecticut.
Week Zero
The Aggies opened their 125th season of football at home against the Connecticut Huskies.
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.
