McNeese falls 48-7 to Utah State

Raymond Stewart

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State rolled up a season-high 627 offensive yards and built a 34-7 halftime lead before posting a 48-7 win over McNeese here Saturday night.

The loss was the third straight suffered by McNeese, two against FBS opponents, as it dropped its record to 1-3 on the season following the final non-conference game on the slate. Utah State improved to 3-1.

USU quarterback Bryson Barnes threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another 128 and two scores to account for 421 total offensive yards. Miles Davis added 113 yards and a score on the ground as the Aggies ended with 323 rushing yards.

McNeese’s offense finished with 239 total yards, 130 passing and 109 rushing. Tre’Vonte Citizen led the rushing attack with 71 yards on 12 carries and had a long of 51 yards that helped set up a second quarter touchdown.

The Aggies scored their first two touchdowns on long balls, the first on a 45-yards reception by Kahanu Davis who was wide open along the sideline for the easy score with 5:46 to play in the first quarter.

On its next possession, Utah State’s Brady Boyd caught a short route pass and turned it into a 53-yard score after breaking a tackle to make it 13-0 with 3:54 to play in the quarter.

The lead grew to 20-0 midway through the second quarter when Miles Davis ran it in from 30 yards with 7:55 to play.

McNeese got on the board its next possession when Jake Strong connected with Jonathan Harris on a 20-yard touchdown catch and run to cut the deficit to 20-7 with 5:59 to play in the half. That play was set up by a 51-yard burst up the middle by Tre’Vonte Citizen.

Utah State added two more touchdowns in the final two minutes of the half to open a 34-7 lead then added two more TDs in the third quarter to cap the scoring.

McNeese was better defensively in the second half, holding the Aggies to 206 yards as compared to the 421 given up in the first half.