LOGAN – On the final play of the second quarter of Utah State’s season opener against Robert Morris, USU quarterback Bryson Barnes, filling in for an injured Spencer Petras, threw a long pass intended for Colby Bowman. The Aggies were hoping to get a quick score before halftime (the snap to Barnes came with less than 30 seconds before the break). Instead, Robert Morris cornerback Rob Carter Jr. leapt into the air and reeled in a catch-of-the-year-candidate-interception.
The Colonials drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in the ensuing, and rather justified, celebration of the insane catch. And the lost yardage only moved the spot from which RMU quarterback would take a knee from so the Colonials could take their 14-10 lead into the locker room.
Not the greatest start in the world for a USU team favored to win by 30-plus points in its home/season opener for 2024. Although the Aggies would eventually find a way to pull away and win 36-14 despite two major injuries and the overall slow start.
“That game, in a way, summed up our last 60 days,” USU interim head coach Nate Dreiling said. “We took some blows, adversity hit, and it finished with a group rolling their sleeves up being tough players that finished with love, integrity and toughness. And that’s what we want this program to be about.”
Dreiling said a lot of the slow start was due to “self-inflicting wounds” and he addressed that with the team at halftime.
“We had penalties that killed our drives,” Dreiling said. “Not necessarily what Robert Morris was doing, but we’d get a big play and we’d have a holding or a personal file. So all stuff, which is easy to fix. It’s just being a smart football team and controlling your emotions”
Utah State was called for 10 penalties for 105 yards lost. Another self-inflicted issue was turnovers. Petras had led the Aggie offense to a workable start, gaining 235 yards in a quarter-and-a-half. Petras accounted for 145 of those through the air. The main downside to all that was two interceptions, the first largely not Petras’ fault as wide Jalen Royals slipped on a quick slant route. On the other pick, also on a slant route, Otto Tia was beat to Petras’ pass for another pick.
Petras wouldn’t be given much time to redeem himself, however, as mid-way through the second quarter, he injured his ankle on a five-yard scramble. He left the game and didn’t re-appear in the stadium until the second half at which point he was in street clothes and had a walking boot on his left foot.
According to Dreiling, the injury wasn’t too serious. He called it “a little ankle sprain,” though qualifying that statement by saying they “don’t know anything yet.” But Dreiling also said Petras could have gone back in, but they “had enough faith in Bryson” to do what was necessary. When asked later about Petras’ potential availability down the line, Dreiling said he couldn’t comment on it.
With the decision made to keep Petras out, that meant Barnes had to step in and lead the offense. Stepping in for injured quarterbacks is nothing new to Barnes, in fact it seems to be his way of making an impact. In 2021, 2022 and 2023 he started games for the University of Utah, filling in for either Cam Rising or Nate Johnson. Those experiences, plus good practice were what Barnes said helped him in this game.
“You know, you’re one hit away (from being the starter)” Barnes said. “You don’t know when that one hit’s going to be. It could be the first play of the game. It could be in practice leading up to the game. It could be week eight. You never know when that opportunity is going to be, so you’ve got to be ready for it. That’s the preparation process. You’ve got to prepare us if you’re the starter when you’re the backup.”
Barnes’ first few drives were far from perfect though. After stepping in for Petras, the offense went three more plays before a punt and Barnes’ second drive was a three-and-out. His stat line amounted to completing 2 of 7 passes for 22 yards, one interception and an 11-yard run.
In the second half, Utah State overcame its own struggles (most self-inflicted) and took control of the game on both sides of the ball.
The Aggie defense stepped up its game on the first possession of the second half, forcing a three-and-out and Utah State took over on its own 15-yard line. Undeterred by the below-average field position, USU drove all 85 yards, most of that coming on a 53-yard touchdown catch by Kyrese White who made his first start in an Aggie uniform on Saturday.
That touchdown from White wasn’t the first TD of the game for him, nor was it his first 50-plus yard touchdown. The Aggies’ lone touchdown of the first half came by way of a catch-and-run on an over the middle pass off the hand of Petras. White took that ball and ran it 57 yards for what was the first score of the game and USU’s season. White would end the game with three receptions for a team-leading 131 receiving yards plus the two scores (120 of his yards came after the initial catch).
“Isn’t he awesome?” Dreiling said of White. “I new he was going to have a breakout year. We had a receiver transfer out the day before fall camp and nothing missed a beat on offense. Kyrese had an unbelievable fall camp. He has incredible hands and he can roll and that’s what you guys saw today.”
That touchdown put the Utah State offense in a rhythm that led to 26 second-half points, including three touchdowns. Barnes had a hand in all three of them. He threw the one touchdown to White and another TD toss (of 21 yards) to Royals. Easily Barnes’ biggest play individually, though, was a 63-yard tuck-and-run that put the Aggies up 26-14 early in the fourth quarter.
Barnes would end the game with a much better-looking stat line than his first few passes. He completed 11 of 21 passes for 198 yards, two touchdowns and had a career-best 88 rushing yards with the additional touchdown.
While this offensive rebound was occurring, though, the unit suffered the loss of another starter, running back Robert Briggs. He broke a 55-yard run but after being pushed out of bounds, he took a hard fall and suffered what Dreiling said is likely a broken leg. Although not confirmed by the team, it’s probably the end of Briggs’ season.
“I feel awful for that kid, so I’d like for everyone to keep him in their prayers at home,” Dreiling said. “No one deserves more success than that guy and everything he’s been through, so we’ll be thinking about him tonight.”
Utah State outscored Robert Morris 26-0 in the second half, and whatever praise the offense should get for their turnaround, the defense deserves just as much for the second-half shutout. Robert Morris gained 247 yards in the first half (6.9 yards per play) but had only 115 in the second half (3.0 per play). That turnaround had as much of an impact on the Aggies regaining control after a poor start as anything.
According to linebacker Jon Ross Maye, who ended the night tied for the team lead in tackles with 10, the team mainly just needed to settle in, himself included as one of many Aggie newcomers.
I think it was just settling into the game,” Maye said. “I think it definitely was a little eye-opening. That’s a great crowd out there. It’s three times, four times, whatever I’ve ever scene. So I think settling into the game and just realizing who we want to be and who we’re going to be, I think that’s what it was.”
The win sends the Aggies to a 1-0 record, a much-needed win to begin a season that will quickly get significantly more difficult with upcoming games against two currently ranked opponents, No. 23 USC and No. 12 Utah. The Aggies will travel to Los Angeles next week to take on the Trojans. That game will kick off at 9 p.m. Mountain Time.
