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With QB Cam Rising sidelined, Utah freshman Isaac Wilson leads the Utes past the USU Aggies

The Utes traveled to face the Aggies in Logan for the first time since 2012, and beat the Aggies despite a slow offensive start.

  | Sep. 15, 2024, 12:08 a.m.
| Updated: 4:46 a.m.

Logan • It was a tale of two quarters for Utah.

The Utes’ offense was out of rhythm and completely out of sorts in the first quarter. Utah had 53 yards of total offense. The Aggies held a 14-3 advantage, Utah’s largest deficit of the season.

All it took was for Isaac Wilson to find his footing.

As the freshman quarterback surveyed the field with just over 10 minutes left in the second quarter, he set his feet and locked onto Money Parks before threading an 11-yard touchdown to the senior wide receiver.

That play started the surge that No. 12 Utah (3-0) needed to defeat in-state rival Utah State (1-2) 38-21 on Saturday afternoon.

“I thought he did a nice job,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said of Wilson in his walk-off interview on CBS Sports Network. “He certainly improved on his last two performances. ... For the most part he did a good job taking care off the football. And it was good to get him that experience.”

The 113th contest in the “Battle of Brothers” rivalry, which dates all the way back to 1892, featured the true freshman Wilson taking on former Ute and now USU senior Bryson Barnes.

Wilson, the former four-star recruit who made his first career start after senior Cam Rising suffered a hand injury vs. Baylor last Saturday, finished the contest 20-of-33 with 239 passing yards and three touchdowns and a pick. Barnes, facing his former team, finished with 223 passing yards, three total touchdowns and two interceptions.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah State Aggies quarterback Bryson Barnes is taken down as Utah State hosts the University of Utah during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Logan, Utah.

Wilson credited Rising with helping him prepare for Saturday’s start.

“Me and him were in the film room every night,” Wilson said in a walk-off interview. “Going over plays, going over third-down situations, defenses. He really played a big part in me coming out here and playing as well as I did.”

Utah’s defense made the first big play of the game after sophomore cornerback Smith Snowden intercepted Barnes and robbed Utah State of a touchdown with 9:15 remaining in the first quarter. Utah’s offense could not convert on the ensuing drive.

Barnes and the Aggies scored the first touchdown late in the first quarter, a 20-yard touchdown reception from tight end Broc Lane, putting them up 7-3 over Utah.

Outside of a 39-yard field goal from Cole Becker, Utah’s offense struggled in the first quarter. Wilson went 4-for-9 with 35 passing yards. Utah’s rushing offense finished the quarter with 18 rushing yards on nine rushes.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes running back Micah Bernard (2) is tackled by Utah State Aggies safety Ike Larsen (6) as Utah State hosts the University of Utah during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Logan, Utah.

Utah State continued riding the momentum for Barnes’ first touchdown in the second quarter. The USU quarterback connected with receiver Jack Hestera to take a 14-3 over the Utes with 14:15 remaining until halftime. Utah responded with a seven-play, 76-yard touchdown drive on the very next series, capping it off with an 11-yard pass by Wilson.

A few drives later, Utes freshman cornerback Cameron Calhoun intercepted Barnes with 2:57 remaining until halftime. Wilson responded by threading another 11-yard touchdown pass to redshirt senior tight end Caleb Lohner to put the Utes up 17-14 at the half.

“They were ready to play,” Whittingham said. “More ready than we were at that point. Fortunately, we got things turned around.”

Utah’s offense got off to a hot start in the second half, scoring 10 unanswered points — highlighted by a touchdown run from Micah Bernard — in the third quarter.

Utah State did not relent, however. Barnes converted a one-yard quarterback sneak late in the quarter, to bring the Aggies within a touchdown. Wilson then threw an interception — his third of the season — on the very next drive.

The Aggies could not convert on the next drive after missing a field goal, which allowed the Utes to score on the next drive and take a 35-21 lead. Utah didn’t look back from there.

Next, The Utes will hit the road again to take on No. 13 Oklahoma State (3-0) at 2 p.m. MT on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

It will be Utah’s first conference matchup since leaving the Pac-12 and joining Big 12 this summer.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah State Aggies cornerback Avante Dickerson (17) breaks up a pass intended for Utah Utes wide receiver Money Parks (10) as Utah State hosts the University of Utah during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Logan, Utah.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah State Aggies cornerback Avante Dickerson (17) breaks up a pass intended for Utah Utes wide receiver Money Parks (10) as Utah State hosts the University of Utah during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Logan, Utah.