Upcoming Event: Football versus Idaho on September 3, 2026
Football
vs Idaho
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
The University of Utah Athletics
This Week In Utah Football
10/1/2019 6:09 PM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah football enters its off week with an overall record of 4-1 after beating the Washington State Cougars on Saturday, 38-13.
Washington State entered the game leading the country in passing yards per game (499.5), was second in total offense (605.2) and fifth in scoring (52.8) with the Utes holding the Cougars to 252 passing yards, 313 total yards on offense and just 13 points.
It was also the fifth straight game that the Utes have held an opponent to under 100 yards rushing. The Utes finished the game with a strong performance by the secondary, recording 12 pass breakups as a team, which ranks second all-time in school history.
For their efforts against the Cougars, Tyler Huntley and Francis Bernard won Pac-12 Player of the Week honors for offense and defense, respectively.
Huntley had his fifth career 300-yard passing game vs. the Cougars, throwing for 334 yards, going 21-of-30 with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had 31 yards rushing with two rushing scores.
Huntley's award is his second career weekly honor. Huntley was also named the Rose Bowl Pac-12 Player of the Week as well as one of the Davey O'Brien Award 'Great 8' performers of the week.
Bernard led Utah with 12 tackles, the second time this season he has led the team in tackles, which tied his season high. He had his second interception of the year with 5:36 remaining in the game, returning the ball 22 yards to set up Utah's final touchdown of the game, and also had a pass breakup in the final minutes.
Bernard also earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors earlier this year for his performance against BYU on Aug. 29, 2019.
The Utes also named Nephi Sewell and Kyrese Rowan as Utah Scout Team Players of the Week.
Rowan was a two-time all-state selection at Roy High School in Ogden, Utah, also earning Region 5 MVP in 2018. He had 38 receptions for 681 yards (5 TD) as a senior. Sewell transferred to Utah from Nevada and is sitting out this season due to NCAA transfer rules. He played in 23 games with 19 starts at Nevada, racking up 53 tackles in 2018.
Updates from head coach Kyle Whittingham:
On if the Jason Shelley package last week was to take some of the hits off Tyler Huntley…
"For the most part but also to get Jason involved. He is a weapon. Andy does a nice job of trying to utilize every player at his disposal. He did well and it was productive."
On if he expects Zack Moss back next week…
"We hope so. We have 11 more days now. We think we can get there, but no guarantees of course."
On the process of determining that Bamidele Olaseni has one year of eligibility left…
"The high school graduation date and then doing the math from there. They determined that he has two years to play one. Like we said, if we stay under the four game limit then that year won't count. So, we can actually get one and 1/3 of seasons out of it. So, it could have been two years to play one with one year having to sit mandatorily, which means he couldn't play in any games. So, that would have been worse. This is kind of the middle ground and we are happy with it."
Â
"Show them who we can be!"#goutes #WSUvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/2AlRxxLGkB
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) October 1, 2019
Washington State entered the game leading the country in passing yards per game (499.5), was second in total offense (605.2) and fifth in scoring (52.8) with the Utes holding the Cougars to 252 passing yards, 313 total yards on offense and just 13 points.
It was also the fifth straight game that the Utes have held an opponent to under 100 yards rushing. The Utes finished the game with a strong performance by the secondary, recording 12 pass breakups as a team, which ranks second all-time in school history.
The defense holds Wazzu to its lowest offensive totals of the season while the offense racks up 526 total yards. That's the recipe for a W!#goutes #Pac12FB pic.twitter.com/rRYmbHpe5m
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) September 29, 2019
For their efforts against the Cougars, Tyler Huntley and Francis Bernard won Pac-12 Player of the Week honors for offense and defense, respectively.
Huntley had his fifth career 300-yard passing game vs. the Cougars, throwing for 334 yards, going 21-of-30 with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had 31 yards rushing with two rushing scores.
Huntley's award is his second career weekly honor. Huntley was also named the Rose Bowl Pac-12 Player of the Week as well as one of the Davey O'Brien Award 'Great 8' performers of the week.
Bernard led Utah with 12 tackles, the second time this season he has led the team in tackles, which tied his season high. He had his second interception of the year with 5:36 remaining in the game, returning the ball 22 yards to set up Utah's final touchdown of the game, and also had a pass breakup in the final minutes.
Bernard also earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors earlier this year for his performance against BYU on Aug. 29, 2019.
Good luck trying to stop @_SNOOP1. ??
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 30, 2019
He led @Utah_Football to victory with ?? rushing TD and 334 passing yards.
Huntley is your #Pac12FB Offensive Player of the Week:Â https://t.co/Oi61srErpe pic.twitter.com/5KOuAAnyAM
Anchor so strong it stopped one of the most high-powered offenses in the country. ??Â
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 30, 2019
Francis Bernard led @Utah_Football's defense with 12 tackles and 1 interception over the weekend.
Bernard is the #Pac12FB Defensive Player of the Week: https://t.co/Oi61srErpe pic.twitter.com/hLZUtlOr4k
The Utes also named Nephi Sewell and Kyrese Rowan as Utah Scout Team Players of the Week.
Rowan was a two-time all-state selection at Roy High School in Ogden, Utah, also earning Region 5 MVP in 2018. He had 38 receptions for 681 yards (5 TD) as a senior. Sewell transferred to Utah from Nevada and is sitting out this season due to NCAA transfer rules. He played in 23 games with 19 starts at Nevada, racking up 53 tackles in 2018.
Big thank you to our scout team players of the week! pic.twitter.com/IFSF82Ah6Y
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 1, 2019
Updates from head coach Kyle Whittingham:
On if the Jason Shelley package last week was to take some of the hits off Tyler Huntley…
"For the most part but also to get Jason involved. He is a weapon. Andy does a nice job of trying to utilize every player at his disposal. He did well and it was productive."
On if he expects Zack Moss back next week…
"We hope so. We have 11 more days now. We think we can get there, but no guarantees of course."
On the process of determining that Bamidele Olaseni has one year of eligibility left…
"The high school graduation date and then doing the math from there. They determined that he has two years to play one. Like we said, if we stay under the four game limit then that year won't count. So, we can actually get one and 1/3 of seasons out of it. So, it could have been two years to play one with one year having to sit mandatorily, which means he couldn't play in any games. So, that would have been worse. This is kind of the middle ground and we are happy with it."
Â
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballCrimson Corner with Bill Riley - College football analyst Yogi Roth
Wednesday, May 06
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Utah Football Head Coach Morgan Scalley
Wednesday, April 29
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Utah Football legend Brian Johnson
Friday, February 20
Utah Football Head Coach Morgan Scalley Introductory Press Conference | 1.06.25
Tuesday, January 06