Utah State will once again be without season-opening starter Spencer Petras for their Saturday afternoon showdown with Utah. What happened to Petras, and who will line up under center for the Aggies in Week 3?
Who Will Start for Utah State With Spencer Petras Out?
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Petras is out with an ankle injury, and Utah transfer Bryson Barnes is expected to step into his role as the QB1. Barnes is now set to start against his former team in their Week 3 rivalry game against Utah.
Petras suffered an ankle sprain in the second quarter of the Aggies’ Week 1 matchup with Robert Morris and was spotted in a boot during the second half. He was considered day-to-day during the week but will not be able to play at LA Memorial Stadium.
Barnes filled in for Petras against the Colonials with the team down 14-10. The Aggies went on a 26-0 run to close out the game and bring home the victory.
While his passing numbers weren’t the most impressive (11 of 21 for 198 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception), Barnes added another 88 yards and a score on the ground.
“Hats off to Bryson,” interim head coach Nate Dreiling said following the win. “This player comes in and prepares every day like he is the starter and then comes into the game and doesn’t miss a beat. He is so confident and mobile with his legs. It is going to be tough for teams to prepare for, I think.”
Despite this comeback, Barnes and the Aggies struggled in Week 2 with him at the helm. But looking back to his insertion into the lineup in Week 1, not only did Barnes engineer the comeback, but Utah State finished with 646 yards of total offense on the day, which was tied for the ninth-most in school history.
“They should be able to score any time they touch the ball,” Dreiling said. “With all the weapons they have and how much speed, they can break any play, but we have to be on point.”
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Wide receiver Kyrese White was a standout in the Aggies’ win, hauling in three passes for 131 yards and two scores, and his chemistry with Barnes played a crucial role in his success.
“Me and Bryson played at Utah together, had lockers right next to each other, and have an undying chemistry,” White said this week, “so there was no adjustment as far as catching the ball from Bryson and being out on the field with Bryson.”
With Petras sidelined and Barnes in the lineup, it was a disappointing 41-0 loss in Week 2. The Battle of the Beehive Boot will now be another chance for Barnes to show his worth, against his former school, nonetheless.
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