Utah Beats BYU, 19-13

Saturday, September 9

Provo, Utah

8:15 PM

University of Utah

Brigham Young

Photo by: George Frey-USA TODAY Sports

9/10/2017 12:01 AM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Photo Gallery Postgame Quotes

PROVO, Utah – The University of Utah football team won its seventh straight Deseret First Dual Rivalry Series against in-state foe BYU, defeating the Cougars 19-13. Utah improved to 2-0 on the season, heading into its final non-conference game.

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— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 10, 2017

The Utes held a 13-point lead to end the third quarter, but a late fourth quarter touchdown from BYU made it a six-point game, putting the pressure on the Ute defense. They didn't disappoint, forcing three incomplete passes to regain possession and claim the victory.

It was Tyler Huntley's show from start to finish tonight, racking up a career-high 300 passing yards (27-of-36), adding a career-high 89 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Darren Carrington II led the Utes in receiving with 129 yards on seven receptions with Siaosi Wilson chipping in a career-high 89 yards on five catches.

UTES WIN! #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/rXKjNftUbP
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 10, 2017

Senior Matt Gay went a perfect four-for-four in field goals, adding a PAT to account for 10 of Utah's 19 points. In the punting game, Mitch Wishnowsky averaged 50.8 yards per punt, putting the Cougars inside their own 20 twice with one touchback on five total punts.

On the defensive side of the ball, Utah held BYU to just 63 yards rushing and 233 total offensive yards. Chase Hansen led the team in tackles with eight, followed by Kavika Luafatasaga turning in seven.

Both teams came out of the gate struggling offensively, but it was Utah's defense that put the Utes in scoring territory after Boobie Hobbs notched an interception, returning it to the BYU nine-yard-line. The Utes had to settle on a field goal with 6:22 left in the first quarter as Gay punched in a 21-yarder to end a four-play, six-yard drive that took 1:44 off the clock.

The Utes and the Cougars were even in first downs through the first quarter, both totaling 15 a piece and only accumulating 134 yards of total offense. Despite the slow start on offense, the Utah defense continued to show its strength in its front four, holding BYU to just 23 rushing yards in the first quarter.

BYU had two chances to score early in the second quarter, but an offensive interference call took them out of the end zone and pushed them back to the Utah 18-yard-line, forcing them to settle on a field goal attempt. With 9:36 left in the second quarter, BYU placekicker Rhett Almond missed a 28-yarder to the left, giving Utah the ball back on their own 17-yard-line.

It was then Utah's turn to get called out of the end zone on the next offensive drive after a Carrington two-yard catch was brought back to the BYU 17-yard-line after another pass interference call. Huntley was able to get Utah to the BYU7, setting Gay up for a 25-yard field goal to give Utah a 6-0 lead with 6:02 left to play in the second quarter.

By the end of the second quarter, Gay was the only player on the field that had scored a point, knocking in a 31-yard field goal with one second remaining in the half to give Utah a 9-0 advantage. It ended a 14-play, 53-yard drive that burned 4:06 off the block to end the first half.

The second half got underway with another defensive stop by the Utes, this time with Lowell Lotulelei knocking down a pass into Filipo Mokofisi's hands for an interception, putting Utah on the BYU 23-yard-line. After an 18-yard reception from Carrington to get the Utes to the BYU5, Huntley found a hole for a five-yard rushing touchdown to put the Utes up 16-0 with 12:49 on the clock in the third quarter.

Despite only having 52 rushing yards heading into the sixth minute of the third quarter, the Cougars were able to score a one-yard rushing touchdown at the 9:47 mark, cutting the Utah lead to 16-6 after a failed two-point conversion. It ended a quick five-play drive for 22 yards.

Gay continued to pull in the points for the Utes, scoring his fourth field goal of the game with 2:35 left in the third quarter. The 38-yard field goal gave Utah a 19-6 lead, putting an end to a 10-play, 66-yard drive that took 3:50 off the clock.

BYU struck again late in the fourth quarter on a seven-yard pass from Tanner Mangum to Trey Dye, narrowing Utah's lead to just six points with less than three minutes to play in the game. The Utes struggled to slow the Cougars on the 11-play, 76-yard drive that took 3:13 off the clock, making it 19-13.

It was then up to the Utah defense to keep the Cougars out of the end zone for the final two minutes of the game. BYU threw three incomplete passes, heavily contested by the speed of Utah's secondary, forcing to turnover the ball on downs, allowing Utah to run out the final minute of the game.

The Utes will return to action on Saturday, Sep. 16 when they host San Jose State in Rice-Eccles Stadium for its final non-conference game of the season. The game is set for an 8 p.m. kick on ESPN2.