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Football
vs No. 25 Arizona State
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Saturday, October 21
Los Angeles, CA
6:00 PM
University of Utah
34
at
32
USC
#14 Utah Football Beats #18 USC 34-32 In The Coliseum
10/21/2023 10:56 PM | Football
LOS ANGELES – In what was a battle till the end, the No. 14 University of Utah Football team prevailed in the Coliseum on Saturday night, beating No. 18 USC 34-32 on a game winning field goal. Utah improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Pac-12 play.
Utah trailed with 1:52 remaining in the game with the Trojans taking a 32-31 lead on a quarterback keeper with the Utes starting on their own 25-yard line to start their final drive. Quarterback Bryson Barnes orchestrated a gritty performance as time ticked away that included third and fourth down conversions to keep the drive alive, getting the Utes to the USC 19-yard line with just three seconds left to play.
Kicker Cole Becker lined up for the 38-yarder, sending it right down the middle to win the game and send the Utes home with its fourth straight victory against the Trojans.
Utah racked up season-highs across the board on offense, producing 482 yards on which included 235 through the air and 247 rushing. Utah averaged 16.8 yards per completion and 5.3 yards per rush with 6.9 yards per play overall, also winning the time of possession battle at 34:42 to 25:18.
GAME LEADERS
Barnes led the Utes with a career-high night, going 14-of-23 passing for a career-best 235 yards and three touchdowns, also finishing with 57 rushing yards and a rushing score. Leading the Utes on the ground was Ja'Quinden Jackson, who had a career-high 26 carries, rushing for 117 yards (4.5 ypc).
Safety turned offensive weapon Sione Vaki produced 217 yards on offense tonight with a career-high 149 receiving yards on five catches, which included two touchdowns, also adding nine carries for 68 yards. The two-way player also finished with two tackles.
Linebacker Lander Barton recorded a team-high nine stops with Zemaiah Vaughn and Connor O'Toole producing five tackles each with O'Toole adding a sack as well. Van Fillinger also caused chaos on the edge with four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
On special teams, freshman Mikey Matthews put together spectacular runs on kickoffs, finishing the game with 103 yards, including a career-long of 53 yards. In the punting game, Jack Bouwmeester had four punts, averaging 45.3 yards that included two landing inside the 20-yard line.
FIRST QUARTER BREAKDOWN
It was an offensive shootout to start the game with the Utes and the Trojans trading possessions and points as the two teams battled in the Coliseum. Both teams scored on their first possessions of the game, starting with the Utes.
In just three plays, the Utes found their way onto the scoreboard first, going 75 yards in just 1:16 to take a 7-0 lead with 13:44 on the clock. The drive included a 13-yard rush from Jackson to give the Utes a first down right out of the gate with the drive ending on a 53-yard pass from Barnes to Vaki for the score.
USC went on to score back-to-back touchdowns, starting with a 45-yard rushing touchdown with 11:49 on the clock, ending a 75-yard scoring drive. The Trojans would then take the lead with 6:17 to go in the quarter on a two-yard rushing touchdown, making it 14-7 to their advantage.
The Utes would get the ball back with 6:06 remaining, keeping the drive alive with a fourth down conversion on a nine-yard catch by Vaki along with a 19-yard gain by Jackson on a second-and-10 to put Utah within the USC 15-yard line. Three plays later, Barnes used his legs to tie the game, rushing in for a 10-yard touchdown to make it 14-14 with 1:58 on the clock.
SECOND QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Compared to the first quarter, the flip switched to a defensive battle in the second, with neither team finding the end zone. Utah held the Trojans to just 68 yards in the second quarter, including negative rushing yardage, while producing 106 yards themselves that included 67 yards through the air and 39 on the ground.
Utah and USC's total yardage in the first half was close to identical with the Utes finishing with 239 compared to the Trojans' 236. Utah also held USC to just two third down conversions in the first half, going 2-of-6.
THIRD QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Utah once again kicked things off by scoring first in the third quarter. On their first drive of the half, Utah pushed down field for 59 yards with drive extending plays by Jackson and Money Parks (22-yard catch), ending with a beautiful pass to the end zone from Barnes to Landen King for a six-yard touchdown to give Utah a 21-14 advantage with 7:40 to go.
The Utes would get the ball back quickly after Van Fillinger forced a fumble that was recovered by Cole Bishop with Utah taking over on their own 45-yard line. Utah's drive lasted just five plays, which included a third down conversion from Barnes (11-yard rush) and a 26-yard gain from Jackson, all culminating with Vaki juking the entire USC defense to find the end zone for a 15-yard catch for the 28-14 lead.
Utah was able to hold the Trojans to just a field goal in the third quarter with USC knocking in a 44-yarder to end the quarter, making it 28-17. The Utes kept the Trojans to 86 yards of total offensive in the third quarter while producing 117 yards and 8.4 yards per play themselves.
FOURTH QUARTER BREAKDOWN
It was USC's defense that opened scoring in the fourth quarter with the Trojans getting a pick-six with 13:28 on the clock, failing the two-point conversion to cut the Utah lead to 28-23. Utah would answer quickly though, scoring a field goal on its next drive with Becker hitting a 33-yarder to make it 31-23.
The Trojans continued to push, scoring nine unanswered points on a field goal and a quarterback keeper to take a 32-31 lead with less than two minutes to play in the game. It would be up to the Utes to finish the game with the offense taking the field for one final drive.
Yard by yard, Utah put together a gritty drive, including Jackson converting on a fourth-and-one with under a minute to go with Barnes breaking free for a 26-yard rush on a second-and-15 to put the Utes in field goal range. Becker would enter the field, calm and composed, and put it through the uprights as time expired, sealing the victory for the Utes in Los Angeles.
UP NEXT
The Utes return to Rice-Eccles Stadium for their MUSS Appreciation Game on Saturday, Oct. 28 when they host the Oregon Ducks. The game is set for a 1:30 p.m. MT kick, airing on FOX.
Utah trailed with 1:52 remaining in the game with the Trojans taking a 32-31 lead on a quarterback keeper with the Utes starting on their own 25-yard line to start their final drive. Quarterback Bryson Barnes orchestrated a gritty performance as time ticked away that included third and fourth down conversions to keep the drive alive, getting the Utes to the USC 19-yard line with just three seconds left to play.
Kicker Cole Becker lined up for the 38-yarder, sending it right down the middle to win the game and send the Utes home with its fourth straight victory against the Trojans.
Utah racked up season-highs across the board on offense, producing 482 yards on which included 235 through the air and 247 rushing. Utah averaged 16.8 yards per completion and 5.3 yards per rush with 6.9 yards per play overall, also winning the time of possession battle at 34:42 to 25:18.
GAME LEADERS
Barnes led the Utes with a career-high night, going 14-of-23 passing for a career-best 235 yards and three touchdowns, also finishing with 57 rushing yards and a rushing score. Leading the Utes on the ground was Ja'Quinden Jackson, who had a career-high 26 carries, rushing for 117 yards (4.5 ypc).
Safety turned offensive weapon Sione Vaki produced 217 yards on offense tonight with a career-high 149 receiving yards on five catches, which included two touchdowns, also adding nine carries for 68 yards. The two-way player also finished with two tackles.
Linebacker Lander Barton recorded a team-high nine stops with Zemaiah Vaughn and Connor O'Toole producing five tackles each with O'Toole adding a sack as well. Van Fillinger also caused chaos on the edge with four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
On special teams, freshman Mikey Matthews put together spectacular runs on kickoffs, finishing the game with 103 yards, including a career-long of 53 yards. In the punting game, Jack Bouwmeester had four punts, averaging 45.3 yards that included two landing inside the 20-yard line.
FIRST QUARTER BREAKDOWN
It was an offensive shootout to start the game with the Utes and the Trojans trading possessions and points as the two teams battled in the Coliseum. Both teams scored on their first possessions of the game, starting with the Utes.
In just three plays, the Utes found their way onto the scoreboard first, going 75 yards in just 1:16 to take a 7-0 lead with 13:44 on the clock. The drive included a 13-yard rush from Jackson to give the Utes a first down right out of the gate with the drive ending on a 53-yard pass from Barnes to Vaki for the score.
USC went on to score back-to-back touchdowns, starting with a 45-yard rushing touchdown with 11:49 on the clock, ending a 75-yard scoring drive. The Trojans would then take the lead with 6:17 to go in the quarter on a two-yard rushing touchdown, making it 14-7 to their advantage.
The Utes would get the ball back with 6:06 remaining, keeping the drive alive with a fourth down conversion on a nine-yard catch by Vaki along with a 19-yard gain by Jackson on a second-and-10 to put Utah within the USC 15-yard line. Three plays later, Barnes used his legs to tie the game, rushing in for a 10-yard touchdown to make it 14-14 with 1:58 on the clock.
SECOND QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Compared to the first quarter, the flip switched to a defensive battle in the second, with neither team finding the end zone. Utah held the Trojans to just 68 yards in the second quarter, including negative rushing yardage, while producing 106 yards themselves that included 67 yards through the air and 39 on the ground.
Utah and USC's total yardage in the first half was close to identical with the Utes finishing with 239 compared to the Trojans' 236. Utah also held USC to just two third down conversions in the first half, going 2-of-6.
THIRD QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Utah once again kicked things off by scoring first in the third quarter. On their first drive of the half, Utah pushed down field for 59 yards with drive extending plays by Jackson and Money Parks (22-yard catch), ending with a beautiful pass to the end zone from Barnes to Landen King for a six-yard touchdown to give Utah a 21-14 advantage with 7:40 to go.
The Utes would get the ball back quickly after Van Fillinger forced a fumble that was recovered by Cole Bishop with Utah taking over on their own 45-yard line. Utah's drive lasted just five plays, which included a third down conversion from Barnes (11-yard rush) and a 26-yard gain from Jackson, all culminating with Vaki juking the entire USC defense to find the end zone for a 15-yard catch for the 28-14 lead.
Utah was able to hold the Trojans to just a field goal in the third quarter with USC knocking in a 44-yarder to end the quarter, making it 28-17. The Utes kept the Trojans to 86 yards of total offensive in the third quarter while producing 117 yards and 8.4 yards per play themselves.
FOURTH QUARTER BREAKDOWN
It was USC's defense that opened scoring in the fourth quarter with the Trojans getting a pick-six with 13:28 on the clock, failing the two-point conversion to cut the Utah lead to 28-23. Utah would answer quickly though, scoring a field goal on its next drive with Becker hitting a 33-yarder to make it 31-23.
The Trojans continued to push, scoring nine unanswered points on a field goal and a quarterback keeper to take a 32-31 lead with less than two minutes to play in the game. It would be up to the Utes to finish the game with the offense taking the field for one final drive.
Yard by yard, Utah put together a gritty drive, including Jackson converting on a fourth-and-one with under a minute to go with Barnes breaking free for a 26-yard rush on a second-and-15 to put the Utes in field goal range. Becker would enter the field, calm and composed, and put it through the uprights as time expired, sealing the victory for the Utes in Los Angeles.
UP NEXT
The Utes return to Rice-Eccles Stadium for their MUSS Appreciation Game on Saturday, Oct. 28 when they host the Oregon Ducks. The game is set for a 1:30 p.m. MT kick, airing on FOX.
Players Mentioned
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CB
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