Utah State routs Brigham Young, 31-16

Diondre Borel threw for one touchdown and ran for another as Utah State defeated visiting Brigham Young, 31-16, on Friday night.

Derrvin Speight rushed for 91 yards, scoring on two one-yard runs, as the Aggies (2-3) ended a losing streak against the Cougars at 10 games.

It was the fourth consecutive lopsided defeat for BYU (1-4), which had not lost four in a row in 17 years.

Coincidentally, Utah State’s last victory over the Cougars was a 58-56 win in October 1993 that sent BYU to its fourth straight defeat.

Borel finished 10 for 13 for 192 yards and rushed for 69 yards for Utah State, which bolted to a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back.

Borel connected with Xavier Martin on a 79-yard pass to open the scoring with 6:57 left in the first quarter.

Two key defensive plays helped the Aggies pull away. An interception led to Braeden Loveless’ 34-yard field goal in the final minute of the first quarter.

Then, after Utah State stopped BYU on fourth and one at the Aggies’ 37-yard line, Borel guided a 12-play, 63-yard drive that he capped with a one-yard run for a 17-0 lead en route to a 24-3 edge at halftime.

NCAA denies UNC players’ appeals

The NCAA on Friday denied the appeals of the suspensions given to North Carolina cornerback Kendric Burney and safety Deunta Williams.

Burney is serving a six-game suspension. Williams, who is serving a four-game suspension, could have played Saturday against East Carolina, if the school had won its appeal. He can return next week, while Burney must sit out for three more games.

The NCAA ruled that each player received improper benefits.

“I am disappointed for Deunta and Kendric, but I respect the NCAA’s decision,” Athletic Director Dick Baddour said in a statement. “I appreciate the committee allowing us the opportunity to present their case.”

Etc.

Florida kicker Caleb Sturgis will not play Saturday against top-ranked Alabama and could be sidelined for up to six to eight weeks, the Gainesville Sun reported. Sturgis, who suffered a stress fracture and herniated disk last month while lifting weights, reinjured his back during practice this week. … Syracuse running back Delone Carter pleaded guilty to a harassment charge in connection with an incident in which he punched another student during an on-campus altercation Feb. 27. Carter originally faced a charge of misdemeanor assault. … Virginia Tech starting running back Ryan Williams has been ruled out for the second consecutive week because of a hamstring injury. … Oregon State senior receiver James Rodgers, who suffered a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet hit last week at Boise State, did not practice all week. He was questionable, at best, to play Saturday against visiting Arizona State. … Southern Methodist sophomore linebacker Brandon Henderson was arrested Thursday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child. The university declined to comment on the arrest, citing student privacy laws, according to the Dallas Morning News. … Oklahoma State starting free safety Victor Johnson is out indefinitely after suffering a left knee injury in the first quarter of Thursday night’s victory over Texas A&M. Johnson was injured when he was tackled on a kick return. … Arkansas junior running back Dennis Johnson, who had surgery for a bowel injury suffered against Louisiana Monroe on Sept. 11, probably is done for the season, Coach Bobby Petrino said. … South Carolina junior linebacker Shaq Wilson, who made his season debut last week after sitting out the first three games because a hamstring injury, might end up taking a redshirt. The hamstring did not respond well this week, but Wilson and the coaching staff have some time to make a decision because the team is off Saturday. … Michigan running back Mike Shaw has been ruled out of the team’s Big Ten Conference opener at Indiana on Saturday because of a sprained knee.