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.
 
Next Up:
McNeese begins Southland Conference play next Saturday night when it visits Stephen F. Austin. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
Notebook:
• The Aggies rolled up 229 offensive yards while holding McNeese to 15.
• USU threatened to score on its opening drive but a fumble by RB Javen Jacobs in the endzone was recovered by McNeese's Shoes Brinkley for the touchback. Javon Davis forced the fumble.
• Johnquai Lewis intercepted his first pass of the season, third of his career, in the second quarter in his first game to play on the season.
• The Cowboys have forced multiple turnovers in back-to-back games.
• Tre'Vonte Citizen's 51-yard run in the 2^nd quarter was the longest allowed by Utah State this season.
• That 51-yard run was the sixth of 50 yards or more either passing or rushing for the Cowboys this season (3 rushing, 3 passing).
• Jonathan Harris' 20-yard touchdown reception in the 2^nd quarter was his fourth TD catch on the year. He's caught at least one TD pass in three of four games on the season.
• Emauri Sibley recorded a career-high 10 tackles.
• Landon Barrett finished the game with a career-high 10 tackles.
 
How it Happened:
1^st 05:46 USU Kahanu Davis 45 yd reception thrown by Bryson Barnes (PAT Pass Failed), USU 6-0. Scoring drive 6 plays, 61 yards, 2:03.
1^st 03:54 USU Brady Boyd 53 yd reception thrown by Barnes (Rinker kick good), USU 13-0. Scoring drive: 2 plays, 58 yards, 0:37.
2^nd 07:55 USU Miles Davis 30 yd rush (Rinker kick good), USU 20-0. Scoring drive: 4 plays, 46 yards, 1:02.
2^nd 05:59 McN Jonathan Harris 20 yd reception thrown by Jake Strong (Pinton kick good), USU 20-7. Scoring drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:56.
2^nd 1:33 USU Barnes 3 yd rush (Rinker kick good), USU 27-7. Scoring drive 10 plays, 75, yards, 4:26.
2^nd 00:22 USU Javen Jacobs 1 yd rush (Rinker kick good), USU 34-7. Scoring drive 5 plays, 52 yards, 0:43.
3^rd 09:37 USU Barnes 21 yd rush (Rinker kick good), USU 41-7. Scoring drive 8 plays, 69 yards, 4:03.
3^rd 03:34 USU Boyd 9 yd reception thrown by Barnes (Rinker kick good), USU 48-7. Scoring drive 4 plays, 89 yards, 1:50.