Football Hosts Arizona for Ute Proud Game

Friday, October 12

Salt Lake City, UT

8:00 PM

University of Utah

Arizona

10/8/2018 1:13 PM | Football

Game Notes Press Conference Quotes

The Game
Utah (3-2, 1-2 Pac-12) hosts Arizona (3-3, 2-1 Pac-12) in the annual Ute Proud game on Friday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m. MT in Rice-Eccles Stadium. ESPN will televise the game. Search #AZvsUTAH for conversation.

National Notes
> Utah is No. 3 in the nation in rush defense, No. 10 in total defense and No. 2 in red zone defense. The Utes lead the Pac-12 in six defensive categories. See pages 2-3 for complete Utah rankings.
> After their road win over No. 14 Stanford, the Utes returned to the "others receiving votes" category in both the AP and the Coaches poll. See page 5 for this week's national polls.

Quick Hits
> The Utes have sold out 53 straight games in Rice-Eccles Stadium dating back to the 2010 season opener. Of the 53 sellouts, 50 exceeded the seating capacity of 45,807.
> With his next victory, Kyle Whittingham will have participated in 200 Utah wins as a head and/or assistant coach. Whittingham, in his 25th overall year at Utah, is 114-58 in 14 years as the head coach.
> Whittingham's first regular-season win (Sept. 2, 2005) and his 100th career win (Oct. 8, 2016) came against Arizona.
> In celebration of the fifth-annual Ute Proud game, members of the Ute tribe will be recognized and the Pow Wow committee will perform a cultural demonstration at halftime.
> Fans are encouraged to purchase and wear Ute Proud t-shirts to the game with proceeds benefitting Ute Tribe scholarships and youth programs.
> Utah is 2-2 in Ute Proud games with wins against Arizona State (2015) and San Jose State (2017) and losses to Arizona (2014) and Washington (2016).
> Arizona is Utah's first Pac-12 South division opponent this season. The Utes are 1-2 against the North with a win over No. 14 Stanford after losses to Washington and Washington State.
> The Utes have won the last two games with the Wildcats and lead 12-9 in Salt Lake City.
> Utah leads the series with Arizona 22-19-2. It is Utah's second-longest series with a Pac-12 Conference school (behind Colorado).

Statchat
> Utah is No. 2 in the nation (No. 1 Pac-12) in red zone defense (0.615, 8-of-13).
> Utah is No. 3 in the nation (No. 1 Pac-12) in rushing defense (75.4).
> Utah is No. 10 in the nation (No. 1 Pac-12) in total defense (296.4).
> Utah is No. 1 in the Pac-12 (No. 12 nationally) in first down defense (83).
> Utah is No. 1 in the Pac-12 in pass efficiency defense (109.22).
> Utah is No. 1 in the Pac-12 in opponent third-down conversion percentage (31.1).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 (No. 9 nationally) in fewest passes intercepted (2, tie).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 (No. 11 nationally) in net punting (42.52).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 (No. 12 nationally) in defensive touchdowns (2, tie).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 (No. 18 nationally) in scoring defense (17.2).
> Utah is No. 2 in the Pac-12 in tackles for loss (7.6).
> Utah is No. 3 in the Pac-12 in interceptions (5, tie).
See sidebar on page 3 for more Utah rankings.

In the Huddle
Matt Gay (special teams) and Jaylon Johnson (defense) were named the Pac-12 Players of the Week on Oct. 8 for their efforts in Utah's upset win at No. 14 Stanford. It is the first career Pac-12 Player of the Week award for both Gay and Johnson … Tyler Huntley is one of the top 30 candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award … With his 160-yard game against Stanford last week, Zack Moss became the 14th player in Utah history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in his career. The junior running back has 2,020 career rushing yards, which ranks 12th in school history … Junior Caleb Repp played three ways against Stanford, seeing time at tight end, defensive end and on special teams. Repp began his Utah career as a tight end before moving to the defense … Replacing Repp in the two deep at defensive end this week is Nick Heninger … 14 players have started every game: Huntley, Moss, offensive linemen Jackson Barton and Jordan Agasiva, receiver Demari Simpkins, tight end Jake Jackson, defensive linemen Bradlee Anae and Pita Tonga, linebackers Cody Barton and Chase Hansen, and defensive backs Jaylon Johnson, Julian Blackmon, Corrion Ballard and Marquise Blair. Nine others have started at least one game, including true freshman tight end Cole Fotheringham, redshirt freshman OL Nick Ford and redshirt freshman receiver Bronson Boyd … Eight true freshmen have played: Fotheringham, Devin Brumfield, Braeden E. Daniels, Solomon Enis, Maddie Golden, R.J. Hubert, Brant Kuithe and Malone Mataele … Utah has 41 players of Polynesian descent on its roster.

Two Minute Drill
Zack Moss has scored seven of Utah's 15 touchdowns (6 rush, 1 receive) ... By making field goals of 48 and 49 yards vs. Stanford, Matt Gay improved to 4-of-7 from 40 yards and out and 8-of-11 overall. Gay has made his last six field goal attempts and is 15-of-15 in PATs … Utah is 15-14 all-time in games televised by ESPN … Utah has scored 31 points off turnovers … Opponents are averaging just 2.4 yards per rush … Utah has allowed just 10 points in the fourth quarter … Utah's best offensive quarter is the first (35 points) … The Utes are 2-0 when they lead at halftime and 3-1 when they lead after three quarters.

Outside the Lines
The ESPN 700 Smith's Coach's Show with Kyle Whittingham airs every Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. on ESPN 700 and the ESPN 700 app. The coach's show is also streamed live on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/uathletics ... Use the hashtag #AZvsUTAH all week to follow the conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram … 20 former Utes are on NFL rosters this week (see page 10 for current list).

Game Day Activities
Men's tennis coach Roeland Bratenau will be honored as the 2017-18 Don Reddish Award winner and his team will be recognized for qualifying into the NCAA Tournament … The family of first-team All-America volleyball player Adora Anae will accept the 2017-18 Occie Evans Award as she is currently playing professionally in South Korea. The volleyball team will also be recognized for reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 last fall … Fans at Friday's game will be introduced to the men's lacrosse team, which is in its first year as a varsity sport … The Ute Walk starts at 5:30 p.m. on the corner of 500 S. and Guardsman Way. The first 200 fans in attendance will receive a clear bag from the Crimson Club … For a full list of 2018 home game promotions, visit UtahUtes.com/Promotions… The Utah ROTC's Ute Thunder blasts a pre-game cannon call to notify fans outside the stadium that kickoff is 30 minutes away.