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LOGAN — It was like deja vu for Bryson Barnes.
The former Utah Utes backup quarterback had to fill in for Cam Rising due to injury on multiple occasions. Now as a member of Utah State, Barnes had to do it again — this time in the team's season-opening 36-14 win over Robert Morris.
And Barnes delivered yet again.
Despite early struggles by Barnes, and throwing an interception in his first few plays, he finished 11-of-21 for 198 yards and two touchdown passes. He also rushed for a career-high 88 yards and one touchdown.
"I've been through it," Barnes said. "That's what I had to do at Utah for the last three years. Definitely prepared me for this moment."
Utah State starting quarterback Spencer Petras played less than one half Saturday night after he left the field due to a leg injury. Interim coach Nate Dreiling said after the game that Petras suffered "a little ankle sprain."
"Probably could've went back in, but they had enough faith in Bryson," Dreiling said.
One of the biggest plays Barnes executed was a 63-yard rushing touchdown that gave the Aggies a 26-14 lead.
"The one thing with Bryson is he's got more confidence than anybody in the world," Dreiling said. "So if he started 0-of-7 or 0-of-40, it wouldn't matter; he's gonna rip the next one. That's why everyone loves him. That's what you need at quarterback."
Petras, who transferred in from Iowa and previously dealt with a serious shoulder injury, scrambled on a play and rushed forward early in the game. He was tackled by a swarm of Robert Morris defenders and emerged from the pile limping. He went to the ground and was attended to briefly before exiting the game.
The graduate quarterback reappeared on the sideline in the third quarter in street clothes and a boot on his left leg. He appeared to be limping heavily as he supported his team.
Dreiling, however, did not give a status for Petras for next week's road game against USC.
"I don't know. I can't comment on that yet," Dreiling said. "Hopefully. He'll be, obviously, in the training room living in there for the next week. But if not, Bryson will be ready."
Petras threw 10-of-15 for 145 yards and one touchdown before leaving the game. He also threw two interceptions, both of which came in the first quarter.
The Aggies trailed Robert Morris 14-10 at halftime. But linebacker Jon Ross Maye, who finished with 10 tackles, said Barnes talked to the team at the break, which proved instrumental in the comeback.
"He really riled us up," Maye said.
The Aggies led 10-7 when Petras left the game. From there, they allowed only one more touchdown to Robert Morris. Maye said it took the defense a while to get going, but after halftime, that side of the ball settled into the game.
"We just kind of played it back, if you will — just kind of playing it safe, almost," Maye said. "That wasn't the right way to go about it. That's not who we are and that's not who we're going to be."
Utah State's offense also suffered an injury to running back Robert Briggs Jr. during the game. After a 55-yard run, he was tackled and immediately appeared to be seriously injured, and was carted off the field a few minutes later.
Dreiling said Briggs "is going to have a broken or a fractured leg, probably."
