CORVALLIS, Ore. – The University of Utah football program dominated the Oregon State Beavers on Saturday night, winning 52-7 to improve to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Pac-12 play.Â
Utah's 52 points is the most points Utah has scored since its 54-point outing against San Jose State in 2017 and is the most points in a Pac-12 game since scoring 52 against UCLA in 2016. It is the largest margin of victory (45 points) against a Pac-12 opponent since joining the conference.
The Utes finished the game with 503 yards on offense while holding Oregon State to 217, including just 48 yards rushing. Utah has now held all six of its opponents to under 100 yards rushing.
Zack Moss led the Utes in rushing, finishing with 121 yards on five carries (24.2 ypc) with two touchdowns. He is now tied for the school record in career 100-yard rushing games (14) and needs 55 rushing yards to break the program record for career rushing yards (3,165).
Tyler Huntley was 14-of-17 passing for 247 yards and two touchdowns, becoming one of just three quarterbacks in the FBS that has yet to throw an interception this season. Demari Simpkins led the Utes in receiving as Huntley's favorite target against the Beavers, recording four receptions for a season high 97 yards while both Brant Kuithe (2 rec., 44 yds) and Samson Nacua (3 rec., 46 yds) scored receiving touchdowns.
Jaylon Johnson had a team-high eight tackles on defense, adding a tackle for loss and two pass breakups while Francis Bernard contributed six tackles, one tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry. Devin Lloyd also had a strong game with four tackles, a sack and Utah's longest pick-six of the season with a 64-yard return for a touchdown.
After forcing the Beavers to a three-and-out on their first drive, the Utes marched down field 65 yards for their first score of the game. Kuithe was on the receiving end of a 21-yard touchdown, putting Utah up 7-0 with 9:58 remaining in the first quarter for his second receiving touchdown of the year.
The Utah defense continued to stifle the Beavers later in the first quarter, holding Oregon State in its own half for the second straight drive. The Utes offense didn't take long to capitalize on another possession with Moss breaking free for a 91-yard rushing touchdown, the third-longest rushing play in school history, to give the Utes a 14-0 lead with 6:26 on the clock.
The Utes scored their third touchdown of the first quarter on a beautiful pass from Huntley to Nacua with Nacua coming up with a strong catch under pressure. The 30-yard receiving score was Nacua's second touchdown of the season, ending a five-play, 87-yard drive that took 3:02 off the clock with 1:09 left to play in the quarter to give Utah a 21-0 advantage.
It was the Utah defense that scored next for the Utes as the pressure continued to be ramped up on the Beaver offense. Jake Luton's pass was tipped by Bradlee Anae on a second-and-11 with Lloyd picking it off for a 64-yard touchdown, putting Utah up 28-0 at the 3:03 mark in the second quarter for Utah's third pick-six of the season and the second by a linebacker.
Moss punched in his second touchdown of the game with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter on the backend of a 39-yard drive that was set up by a fourth down stop by Mika Tafua. Moss found the end zone on a six-yard rush with the Utes leading 35-0 with Moss producing his second multi-rushing touchdown game of the year.
The Utah defense held the Beavers to just 163 yards on offense in the first half, including 34 yards rushing, forcing two missed field goals along with the pick-six. On offense, the Utes produced 306 yards with a balanced plan in the first half, rushing for 135 (2 TDs) and passing for 171 (2 TDs) scoring 35 points in a half for the first time since 2015 (vs. BYU).
Devin Brumfield scored his first career touchdown as a Ute with 9:17 to play in the third quarter, driving in a one-yard rushing touchdown to put the Utes up 42-0. It was the end of a seven-play, 57-yard drive that took 3:15 off the clock after forcing the Beavs to another three-and-out.
Jordan Wilmore followed suit for the Utes, also scoring his first career touchdown in the red and white with 2:46 remaining in the third quarter to make it 49-0. Wilmore dragged the Beaver defense for seven yards into the end zone, ending the nine-play, 61-yard drive that burned 5:29 off the clock.
The Utes tacked on three more points at the 9:34 mark in the fourth quarter when Jadon Redding knocked in a 42-yard field goal. Utah was stopped on a third down, allowing Redding to come in and end the 11-play, 50-yard drive to give Utah a 52-0 lead.
Oregon State would get on the scoreboard with less than a minute remaining in the game, scoring on a 15-yard pass to make the final score 52-7.
Utah returns to action when they host the Arizona State Sun Devils on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. MT on the Pac-12 Networks.