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The University of Utah Athletics
Football Victorious in Season Opener
6/21/1999 12:00 AM | Football
Sept. 5, 1998
LOGAN, Utah (AP) - Mike Anderson rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown in his first game as Utah held off Utah State 20-12 on Saturday in the season opener for both teams.
In front of the fourth-largest home crowd in Utah State history, the Utes spoiled Dave Arslanian's debut as coach with a sustained ground attack powered by Anderson, a transfer from Mount San Jacinto (Calif.) Junior College.
Utah lost to Utah State in its two previous season openers, but the Utes consistently stopped the Aggies and running back Demario Brown, holding Utah State to 10 first downs and just 195 total yards.
On the other side of the ball, Anderson was impressive in his Division I debut, while fourth-string running back Nick Morgan had 71 rushing yards. Arceneaux was 13-for-22 for 146 yards.
The Utes survived two scares after kicking two fourth-quarter field goals. With 4:30 to play, the Aggies' Tony Walker dropped a punt, picked it up and ran 44 yards to the Utah 28.
Utah State lost 12 yards on three downs, and the crowd showered the Aggies with boos as they punted on fourth down from the Utah 35. Utah State had one more chance from midfield with 1:26 to play, but Utah linebacker Phil Glover batted down Riley Jensen's pass on fourth down.
Utah led 14-5 at halftime on Anderson's 9-yard run late in the first quarter and Arceneaux's 20-yard ramble early in the second.
The Aggies drove 68 yards in just over a minute early in the third quarter. Brown capped the drive with a 4-yard run that pulled Utah State to 14-12.
The game was the 98th in the oldest rivalry in Utah college football. Prior to their two straight season-opening losses to the Aggies, the Utes had won eight straight over Utah State.
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