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Logan • During the preseason, Utah State coach Matt Wells said he wouldn't trade Devante Mays for any running back in the Mountain West Conference.

The senior showed why Thursday night.

Mays rushed for a career-high 208 yards on 18 carries and scored touchdowns on the Aggies' first three possessions, leading them to a 45-6 victory over Weber State.

In front of 23,008 fans at renovated Maverik Stadium, Utah State finished with 428 yards rushing, including an 80-yard touchdown by Justen Hervey and a 66-yarder by Mays.

"I thought the offense did really good," Mays said. "The offensive line did really good. I thought all the running backs did a good job finding creases."

Asked about Mays' performance, Wells said, "Solid. I thought he ran behind his pads really well [and] broke some big runs. It's reflection of what he did all summer and what I saw all August. Funny how that works out. He played like he practiced."

Opening the season at home for only the 14th time since 1959, Utah State improved its all-time record against Big Sky Conference opponents to 80-17-6.

"I'm really proud of our guys," Wells said. "… That's a Weber State team that I believe is going to make a run in the Big Sky. … That's a good Big Sky team."

Utah State dominated the first 16 minutes of the game, thanks to Mays.

After the defense forced a three-and-out on Weber's opening possession, Andrew Rodriguez' 22-yard punt return gave the Aggies the ball at the Wildcat 34.

On first down, quarterback Kent Myers ran 16 yards. On the next play, Mays took a direct snap, broke to the outside and scored from the 18 to give Utah State a 7-0 lead.

After Weber State punted again, the Aggies took over at their 15. Mays quickly went to work. He carried five times for 61 yards. His 18-yard touchdown run capped a 4 1/2-minute drive, making it 14-0.

In the first quarter, Utah State out-gained Weber, 119-23. Mays had 79 yards on six carries before breaking loose again.

On the first play of the second quarter, he slipped through the Wildcat defense, angled to the sideline and outran the secondary. His 66-yard touchdown gave the Aggies a 21-0 lead.

"I saw there was a safety back there," Mays said. "… I knew I had to make him miss and that was it."

Weber State stayed in the game at halftime by driving for a late score. Treshawn Garrett's one-yard touchdown run with 26 seconds left narrowed Utah State's lead to 21-6, after a missed extra point.

In the third quarter, however, Utah State again turned to Mays. He gained 32 yards during an early scoring drive, which concluded when LaJuan Hunt ran nine yards for a touchdown to give the Aggies a 28-6 lead.

Later, Utah State added Tony Lindsey Jr.'s 35-yard touchdown run and Hervey's 80-yarder while improving its all-time record against neighboring Weber State to 14-1.

"We said at halftime we were going to dominate the third quarter - don't let this game get into the fourth quarter," Wells said. "… So that's a good overall win. A good start for us."

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Storylines

R Utah State defeats Weber State, 45-6, in the season-opening game for both teams and in the first game at a renovated Maverik Stadium.

• Senior Devante Mays rushes for 208 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Aggies.

• Utah State owned a 21-6 halftime lead before dominating the third quarter.