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PROVO, Utah - Luke Staley ran for three touchdowns, Charlie Peterson threw for 324 yards in his first start and BYU played its best game of the season in a 38-14 victory over Utah State on Friday night.

Staley was a factor almost every time the Cougars (3-4) approached the end zone, scoring on runs of 3, 9 and 4 yards to help BYU build a 31-7 lead midway through the third quarter.

Each time Staley rambled for yardage, fans cheered by chanting his name: "Luke, Luke, Luke." He was a big reason the Aggies (1-4) remained winless in Provo since 1978.

Peterson, meanwhile, looked polished on most of his snaps. In just over three quarters, he was 24-of-37 for 324 yards and one touchdown. He started in place of Bret Engemann, lost for the season to a shoulder separation in last week's loss at Syracuse. Engemann had surgery earlier in the week and watched from the sidelines, his right arm in a sling.

Peterson wasn't perfect. He fumbled on a sack late in the first half, giving the Aggies the ball at BYU's 29. Four plays later, Utah State pulled within 10-7 on a 1-yard run by Emmett White with 3:13 before the break. Neither Peterson, nor the Cougars, were so generous again. On the ensuing possession, Peterson used two passes to move BYU from its own 32 to Utah State's 9, where Staley started a sweep to the left, faked linebacker Brent Passey and cut upfield to give BYU a 17-7 lead.

After the Aggies punted, Peterson struck again. He found Jonathan Pittman for a 25-yard gain, Margin Hooks for 23 and Mike Rigell for a 21-yard TD that gave BYU a 24-6 lead with 26 seconds before halftime.

It was a nice recovery by BYU, which has been pounded by Florida State, Air Force, Mississippi State and Syracuse this season. The Aggies, still seeking a steady effort in coach Mick Dennehy's first season, were a perfect remedy.

BYU coach LaVell Edwards, who will retire after this season, continued to torment his alma mater. The former Utah State lineman will end his career with victories in 21 of his last 24 meetings with the Aggies.

The game was played on Friday because of this weekend's semiannual general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns and operates BYU.

1st  2nd  3rd  4th   f
usu  0    7    7    0   14
byu  3   21    7    7   38
                     
  
1st quarter
   byu - Pochman 27-yard field goal

2nd quarter
   byu - Staley 3-yard run (Pochman kick)
   usu - White 1-yard run (Bohn kick)
   byu - Staley 12-yard run (Pochman kick)
   byu - Rigell 21-yard catch from Peterson (Pochman kick)

3rd quarter
   byu - Staley 4-yard run (Pochman kick)
   usu - Stallworth 28-yard catch from Fuentes (Bohn kick)

4th quarter
   byu - McDonald 8-yard run (Pochman kick)

                        Utah St         Byu
First downs                  16          29
Rushed-yards              25-11      38-198
Passing yards               204         335
Sacked-yards lost          1-11        3-28
Return yards                 54          67
Passes                  23-38-0     25-39-0
Punts                    7-41.7      4-42.5
Fumbles-lost                5-1         1-0
Penalties-yards            3-35        4-45
Time of possession        27:47       32:13

Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Utah St-E White 19-61, Benza 1-0, Brignac 1-minus 2,
Team 1-minus 20, Fuentes 3-minus 28. Byu-Whalen 10-91, L Staley
16-75, Mcdonald 7-27, Doman 1-7, C Peterson 4-minus 2.

PASSING: Utah St-Fuentes 22-37-0-185, Mullins 1-1-0-19. Byu-C
Peterson 24-37-0-324, Doman 1-2-0-11.

RECEIVING: Utah St-E White 6-36, Jones 5-42, Stallworth 4-49,
Fiefia 4-49, Smith 1-19, Poppinga 1-6, Oday 1-2, Suguturaga
1-1. Byu-Pittman 7-105, Hooks 5-84, Horton 4-57, Mcdonald 3-4,
Rigell 2-28, L Staley 1-26, Snowden 1-11, G Reid 1-11,
Ofahengaue 1-9.

Att: 63,318