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Logan • Most college football teams like to have four quarterbacks on their roster. The Utah State Aggies? They need about 14.
The Aggies (5-3, 2-1) beat UNLV 34-20 Saturday at Romney Stadium, but in doing so lost their third quarterback of the season.
Senior Craig Harrison, a former walk-on from Snow College who was starting for just the second time in his career with Chuckie Keeton and Darell Garretson sidelined by injuries, left the game in the third quarter when a defender rolled onto his left leg.
Kent Myers, a freshman from Rowlett, Texas, finished the game at quarterback for the Aggies, throwing for 45 yards on 3-of-5 passing and rushing three times for 28 yards.
From the sounds of it, he will be the Aggies' quarterback going forward as Utah State coach Matt Wells said Harrison will have an MRI but is expected to be out "for a while."
That was the same terminology he used on Keeton, then Garretson.
"I've never seen anything like it and I never hope to see it again," he said of all the quarterback injuries. "This team has faced adversity at its finest."
Linebacker Nick Vigil, who led the rushing attack with 11 carries for 51 yards, also left the game early with a left hamstring injury. Wells said he will be re-evaluated Sunday.
"Injuries are part of the game," Wells said. "But there isn't any self pity with this team. I continue to be amazed at them. We preach it and they live it."
Harrison was 13-of-23 for 221 yards passing with three touchdowns before he was hurt on the Aggies' final drive of the third quarter. The biggest mistake he made was fumbling on the play in which he was hurt.
The Rebels (2-6, 1-3) recovered on Utah State's 21-yard line, but couldn't turn the opportunity into points as Utah State's Michael Okonkwo blocked a 43-yard field goal attempt.
His effort was one of the many big plays the Aggies made to overcome their injuries and get the Mountain West win.
Vigil set the tone early with several big runs up the middle, JoJo Natson turned a short pass into a 71-yard touchdown play and finished the day with 124 yards and Joe Hill scored with a 69-yard touchdown catch and a 7-yard run.
Defensively the Aggies were solid, save for the end of the first half when the Rebels scored with a 7-play, 69-yard drive that cut the Aggies' lead to 17-13.
However, USU quickly responded in the third quarter when Harrison connected with Hill for a 69-yard touchdown play.
From there, the only real drama was seeing if the Aggies could survive the game without another quarterback injury.
Myers played a series in the first half, something that was planned earlier in the week.
"It wasn't a reflection of anything Craig was doing or wasn't doing," Wells said. "He deserved it."
Perhaps too, Wells had a hunch of what kind of fate might be awaiting his quarterback. At this point, injuries are almost expected for the Aggies, acknowledged Natson.
"When Craig went down and we had another QB, honestly it's like there is a curse on this team," Natson said. "I don't know what to say, but it's time for Kent to step up."
Twitter: @lyawodraska In short: The Aggies got the MWC win despite finishing the game with their fourth string quarterback after senior Craig Harrison left the game with a knee injury.
Key stat: UNLV was held to just 15 rushing yards on 27 carries, a season low for the Rebels, who were averaging 137.4 a game.
Key moment: Craig Harrison connected with Joe Hill on a 69-yard touchdown play with 10:25 remaining in the third quarter to put the Aggies up 24-13.