SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ Darnell Arceneaux threw two touchdown passes to Matt Nickel and Jay Hill had two interceptions, one of which he returned 22 yards for a TD, as Utah beat Utah State 38-18 on Saturday night.

Leading 21-18, the Utes (2-0) extended the advantage on Nickel's second touchdown, a 4-yard pass that put Utah in control with 1:48 remaining in the third quarter.

Hill sealed the victory on Utah State's ensuing possession when he intercepted a pass by quarterback Doug Crosbie that went off the hands of Adrion Pierson. Hill played the tip and ran untouched into the end zone.

Utah State (1-2) penetrated the Utah 20 three times in the third quarter but scored once. The Aggies might have tied it at 21 if not for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against coach Dave Arslanian.

Midway through the third, Crosbie fooled everyone on a 60-yard bootleg left. He eluded diving defenders at the 25 and the 3 and ran into the end zone for what seemed a 24-21 Utah State lead.

However, officials ruled Crosbie had stepped out at the 25. Three plays later, on third-and-5 from the Utah 20, Crosbie's pass to Bucky Orton fell incomplete as Orton collided with two defenders.

Arslanian came onto the field to protest and was arguing as Brad Bohn lined up a 37-yard field goal attempt. Before the snap, officials penalized Arslanian and the ball was moved back 15 yards.

Bohn's kick from 52 yards had the distance but missed barely to the right. Instead of tying the game at 21, the Aggies were suddenly on their heels and Utah took advantage.

The Utes marched 65 yards in seven plays. On third-and-1 from the 4, Nickel slipped wide open into the left side of the end zone and Arceneaux threw him an easy pass to make it 28-18.

Utah stretched its advantage in the series to 67-28-4. But the Aggies didn't seem intimated after building a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Emmitt White returned a punt 27 yards to the Utah 33 to start Utah State's first possession. Four plays later from the 10, Demario Brown went up the middle, dodged a defender and drove into the end zone.

Utah punted again and this time White returned it 40 yards to the Utes' 12, setting up Bohn's 24-yard field goal.

After throwing incomplete on his first five attempts, Arceneaux started finding his receivers on the next drive. He capped an 80-yard, 10-play march with a 7-yard TD pass to Nickel.

Hill got his first interception in the end zone, foiling a Utah State scoring threat in the second quarter.

The loss spoiled a great effort by Aggies running back Demario Brown, who scored two touchdowns and gained 128 yards.