Utah State’s Alford, Coles honored by Mountain West

Connor Coles prepares to kick a field goal for Utah State football in their game against UNLV on Sept. 24, 2022. Photo by Clint Allen

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State inside linebacker Max Alford and placekicker Connor Coles have both been honored by the Mountain West following their respective performances against New Mexico last Saturday.

Alford was named the MW Freshman of the Week, while Coles was named the league’s Special Teams Player of the Week. This is the first weekly honor from the MW for Alford and the third for Coles.

In the Aggies’ 27-10 come-from-behind win over the Lobos on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium, Coles scored the go-ahead touchdown on a fake field goal.

New Mexico (2-7, 0-5 Mountain West) was leading Utah State (4-5, 3-2 MW) 10-7 with 10:51 remaining in the third quarter when Coles lined up for a 23-yard field goal attempt. Once junior punter/holder Stephen Kotsanlee fielded the ball from sophomore long snapper Jacob Garcia, he wasted little time flipping the ball to Coles, who ran untouched into the end zone from six yards out, putting the Aggies on top 14-10.

Not only did the native of Bozeman, Montana, score his first-career touchdown on the cold and rainy day, but he also booted a pair of field goals from 49 and 27 yards out, respectively, and made good on all three of his extra points. Coles tied his career high with those 15 points.

Alford tallied a career-high eight tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, in the win over the Lobos. The native of Park City, Utah, helped Utah State limit New Mexico to 258 yards of total offense, including just 42 through the air, both of which are season lows for an Aggie opponent.

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