Utes Roll Past Washington State, 27-7

Saturday, September 4

Pullman, Wash.

1:00 PM PT

University of Utah

Washington St

9/4/1999 12:00 AM | Football

Sept. 4, 1999

Box Score

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
Associated Press Writer

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - Mike Anderson rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns as Utah beat Washington State 27-7 on Saturday, the ninth consecutive loss for the Cougars dating to last season.

Washington State, which led Division I with 40 turnovers last season, lost four fumbles, three of which led to Utah scores. Utah's Jay Hill caused three of the fumbles.

Quarterback Darnell Arceneaux completed 22 of 36 passes for 249 yards and one touchdown for Utah. Chris Christensen caught 10 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown.

Washington State, in danger of being shut out for the first time since 1984, finally got on the scoreboard on Deon Burnett's 2-yard touchdown run with 9:02 left in the game.

It was Washington State's first defeat in a home opener since a 34-30 loss to Fresno State in 1991.

Senior Steve Birnbaum won a training camp battle to start at quarterback for the Cougars, but was replaced by freshman Jason Gesser midway through the third quarter after failing to produce a score.

Birnbaum was 12-of-21 for 150 yards, Gesser 10-of-18 for 75.

Utah led 6-0 at halftime on field goals of 48 yards and 45 yards by Golden Whetman, both coming after fumbles by Washington State receiver Nian Taylor.

Utah scored the game's first touchdown on its first possession of the second half, on a 35-yard pass from Arceneaux to Chris Christensen.

The drive was kept alive on third-and-11 on Arceneaux's 21-yard pass to Christensen.

Washington State threatened on its next possession, as Birnbaum connected with Farwan Zubedi in Utah territory. But Hill stripped Zubedi of the ball and recovered the fumble for Utah.

Utah then drove to the Washington State 3 before Arceneaux's pass was intercepted at the goal line by Earl Riley.

Gesser replaced Birnbaum at quarterback, and on his first play handed off to Jeremy Thielbahr. Thielbahr fumbled when hit by Colby Knight and Utah took over at the Cougars 21. Anderson's 9-yard run made it 20-0 wth 2:16 left in the third.

Anderson's 40-yard run on Utah's next possession upped the margin to 27-0.