Utah State football: Interceptions power Aggies to win over Vandals

Logan • Bojay Filimoeatu stretched out to put a hand on the pass, and it ended up falling into his arms.

That's really all the senior linebacker remembers about his 48-yard interception return. Surrounded by blockers as he rumbled down the field, everything after the pick is almost blank, except that he wasn't far out from the end zone.

"Well, if I didn't eat that last plate at Thanksgiving, I would've scored a touchdown," Filimoeatu said. "I kind of blacked out. It felt like I was playing Madden again."

In Utah State's 45-9 win over Idaho on Saturday, there were no video game numbers for the Vandals' offense. Instead, Filimoeatu's interception marked the start of a brutal outing for Idaho quarterback Taylor Davis, who ended up coughing up four turnovers against a fired-up Aggies defense.

Three of those were interceptions, including Filimoeatu's long gain and a pick off a screen by defensive lineman B.J. Larsen. Both celebrated their first career interceptions by getting good reads.

But the crowning play belonged to senior corner Will Davis, who got his fifth pick in as many games. And it was an appropriately impressive catch for Senior Day, as he nearly stumbled before sprinting 59 yards for the Aggies' first interception return for a touchdown since 2007.

On his wrist, Davis and other team members had written the word "Never" as an inspiration to set new firsts for Utah State's football program.

It was a simple but effective refrain for the Aggies' defense, which set the tone and drew short fields as the offense went through some early struggles. Every first-half score came after a drive started by a turnover, and the defense held Idaho's passing game to only 52 yards. The Vandals managed only 68 yards on offense after halftime.

Davis took some time to marvel at what he had never done before: picked off a pass for a touchdown for the Aggies.

"When I got it, I started stumbling a little bit and that scared me," Davis said. "But once I got it, I just was looking forward trying to get to the end zone. … Just to have in my career, to get a pick-six, it crazy." —

Picking them off

• Utah State gets three interceptions, all in the first half.

• Will Davis returns a pick for a touchdown, the first Aggie to do so since 2007.

• Bojay Filimoeatu and B.J. Larsen each record their first career interceptions.