Defense Smothers The Cougars In 38-13 Homecoming Win

Saturday, September 28

Salt Lake City, Utah

8:00 PM

University of Utah

4-1 , 1-1

Washington State

3-2 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Washington State

UTAH

Photo by: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

Defense Smothers The Cougars In 38-13 Homecoming Win

9/29/2019 12:21 AM | Football

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SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah football program held Washington State to its lowest offensive totals of the season on the way to a 38-13 win for its annual Homecoming game. Utah improved to 4-1 on the season and 1-1 in Pac-12 play.

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 Utes were led on defense by Francis Bernard, who racked up 12 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup. Javelin Guidry added eight tackles and a breakup with Terrell Burgess notching six tackles and a career high three pass breakups.

Senior Tyler Huntley moved up in the record books after his 334 yards passing and two passing touchdowns (21-30-0) tonight, adding 31 yards rushing and two rushing scores. He now ranks fifth in career wins (16), sixth in career passing yards (5,405), ninth in career passing touchdowns (34) and seventh in career 300-yard passing game (5).

Utah had nine different players attempt at least one rush with Devonta'e Henry-Cole leading the team with 15 carries and a career-high tying 79 yards. He added an 11-yard catch to his stat line for his first career receiving touchdown.

Bryan Thompson came away with his second 100-yard receiving game of the season, finishing with four receptions for 111 yards. Samson Nacua also posted a career-best in receiving yards with 90 on five catches that included a career-long 52-yard touchdown catch.

The Utes jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 4:03 on the clock in the first quarter after Utah drove 76 yards down field, ending with an 11-yard receiving touchdown from Henry-Cole. The drive, which burned 3:08 off the clock for eight plays, was propelled down field by multiple long rushes, including a 20-yarder from Huntley to put the Utes inside the 20.

Utah was able to hold Washington State to under 50 yards of total offense in the first 15 minutes of the game, but the Cougars were able to even the score with 17 seconds remaining in the first quarter on a 60-yard drive. The scoring drive resulted in a four-yard passing touchdown, ending a nine-play drive that took 3:46 off the clock.

The Utes wasted no time in regaining the lead, striking with 14:51 on the clock in the second quarter on a 52-yard pass from Huntley to Nacua for his first touchdown of the season. It ended a quick two-play, 75-yard drive that took 26 seconds off the clock to put the Utes up 14-7.

The scoring continued as Washington State made it a four-point game on a 51-yard field goal. The Cougar scoring drive ended with 12:25 on the clock in the second quarter on an eight-play, 41-yard drive that burned 2:26 off the clock.

The Utah defense was able to hold the Cougars to another field goal late in the second quarter with Washington State settling on a 24-yarder to make it a one-point game. It ended a 10-play, 54-yard drive that took 5:06 off the clock with Utah holding a 14-13 lead.

The Utes extended their lead to 21-13 with just 22 seconds remaining in the second quarter when Huntley was able to convert on fourth-and-one on the WSU 26 to keep the drive alive. Huntley went on to rush into the end zone for 15 yards and a touchdown, ending a 10-play, 75-yard drive.

Utah opened scoring in the second half with Jadon Redding knocking in a 28-yard field goal to give Utah a 24-13 lead with 7:20 on the clock. The 65-yard scoring drive was extended twice, first by a third-down conversion on a 15-yard pass to Thompson and a fourth-down converting rush by Devin Brumfield to put the Utes in scoring territory inside the WSU five-yard-line.

The Utes went up 31-13 with 1:20 left to play in the third quarter on the backend of an 11-play, 63-yard drive. Derrick Vickers punched in an eight-yard rushing score, his first touchdown as a Ute, giving Utah the 18-point lead.

After the Utah defense came up with some big plays in the fourth quarter that included a fourth down stop by Julian Blackmon and an interception by Bernard, the Utes were able to seal the victory with a rushing touchdown with 1:21 remaining in the game. Huntley broke free for a three-yard rushing score, his second of the game, to give Utah its 38-13 win.

The Utes enter their bye week this week and will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 12 when they travel to Oregon State. The game time will be announced later this week.