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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Quartet Lauded With Pac-12 Weekly Awards
10/23/2023 2:00 PM | Football
Barnes, Becker, Fillinger and Laumea all praised for their performance in an instant classic at USC
SAN FRANCISCO – Four members of the Utah Football team have earned Pac-12 Conference weekly awards, the league announced on Monday.
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Quarterback Bryson Barnes took home Offensive Player of the Week, kicker Cole Becker was named Special Teams Player of the Week, and both awards in the trenches went to Utah as defensive end Van Fillinger snagged Defensive Line Player of the Week and right tackle Sataoa Laumea picked up Offensive Line Player of the Week.
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All four were instrumental in Utah's road victory this past Saturday at then-No. 18-ranked USC, an absolute thriller of a ballgame inside the L.A. Coliseum.
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With Utah trailing 32-31 and just 1:46 remaining in regulation, Barnes orchestrated an 11-play, 54-yard drive to set the stage for Becker's game-winning field goal. On that final drive, Barnes had two completions for nine yards, plus a pair of keepers (one for 13 and the other for 26 yards). He passed 14-of-23 on the night for career-highs of 235 yards and three touchdowns. He also kept the ball 10 times for a season-high 57 rushing yards and a score, finishing the night combining for 292 total yards of offense and having a hand in four touchdowns. He contributed 44 rushing yards and 45 passing yards during the fourth quarter.
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Becker was perfect on four PATs and both field goal attempts, including a 38-yard game-winner as time expired on the Coliseum clock. He also connected on a 33-yarder in the fourth quarter, accounting for all of Utah's six points in final period. Becker's game-winner gave Utah its second final minute, game-winning score this season and 26th dating back to the 1966 season. It was Utah's first walk-off field goal in regulation since 2008. It was also Becker's second collegiate walk-off field goal; while at Colorado, he hit a 43-yarder in an overtime win vs. Oregon State in 2021.
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Fillinger made four tackles, including a five-yard sack, and forced a fumble. His sack was a third-down stop during the third quarter, and forced USC to punt deep in its own territory. Utah marched down and scored a go-ahead touchdown on its ensuing drive. On USC's very next possession after Fillinger's sack, he popped the ball out on the third play of the drive. Utah recovered the fumble and scored another touchdown on a five-play drive.
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He was a force off the edge for a defense that allowed two touchdowns to begin the game, but settled down and forced four punts and a fumble on USC's next six possessions (the other ran into halftime). After allowing 100 rushing yards to USC during the first quarter, the Trojans had just 45 rushing yards the rest of the game. It included minus-three yards on the ground during the second quarter. USC also averaged 10.5 yards per play in the first quarter and just four yards in the second quarter.
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Laumea earned another start at right tackle, protecting for an offense that produced a season-high 482 total yards, including 243 in the second half. He and his fellow linemen, known collectively as the OBlock, gave Barnes the time and opened holes for a highlight performance, against just one sack and an interception. Laumea and the group also helped the team rush for 235 yards on the night, including a 117-yard performance from Ja'Quinden Jackson and 68 yards by two-way player Sione Vaki.
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FOLLOW US!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program during its journey through the 2023 season, follow the Utes on social media along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
Twitter:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
Instagram:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Threads:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Facebook:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Utah Football
TikTok:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
UP NEXT
The Utes return to Rice-Eccles Stadium for their MUSS Appreciation Game on Saturday, Oct. 28 when they host the No. 8 Oregon Ducks. The game is set for a 1:30 p.m. MT kick, airing on FOX.
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Quarterback Bryson Barnes took home Offensive Player of the Week, kicker Cole Becker was named Special Teams Player of the Week, and both awards in the trenches went to Utah as defensive end Van Fillinger snagged Defensive Line Player of the Week and right tackle Sataoa Laumea picked up Offensive Line Player of the Week.
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All four were instrumental in Utah's road victory this past Saturday at then-No. 18-ranked USC, an absolute thriller of a ballgame inside the L.A. Coliseum.
Â
With Utah trailing 32-31 and just 1:46 remaining in regulation, Barnes orchestrated an 11-play, 54-yard drive to set the stage for Becker's game-winning field goal. On that final drive, Barnes had two completions for nine yards, plus a pair of keepers (one for 13 and the other for 26 yards). He passed 14-of-23 on the night for career-highs of 235 yards and three touchdowns. He also kept the ball 10 times for a season-high 57 rushing yards and a score, finishing the night combining for 292 total yards of offense and having a hand in four touchdowns. He contributed 44 rushing yards and 45 passing yards during the fourth quarter.
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Becker was perfect on four PATs and both field goal attempts, including a 38-yard game-winner as time expired on the Coliseum clock. He also connected on a 33-yarder in the fourth quarter, accounting for all of Utah's six points in final period. Becker's game-winner gave Utah its second final minute, game-winning score this season and 26th dating back to the 1966 season. It was Utah's first walk-off field goal in regulation since 2008. It was also Becker's second collegiate walk-off field goal; while at Colorado, he hit a 43-yarder in an overtime win vs. Oregon State in 2021.
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Fillinger made four tackles, including a five-yard sack, and forced a fumble. His sack was a third-down stop during the third quarter, and forced USC to punt deep in its own territory. Utah marched down and scored a go-ahead touchdown on its ensuing drive. On USC's very next possession after Fillinger's sack, he popped the ball out on the third play of the drive. Utah recovered the fumble and scored another touchdown on a five-play drive.
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He was a force off the edge for a defense that allowed two touchdowns to begin the game, but settled down and forced four punts and a fumble on USC's next six possessions (the other ran into halftime). After allowing 100 rushing yards to USC during the first quarter, the Trojans had just 45 rushing yards the rest of the game. It included minus-three yards on the ground during the second quarter. USC also averaged 10.5 yards per play in the first quarter and just four yards in the second quarter.
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Laumea earned another start at right tackle, protecting for an offense that produced a season-high 482 total yards, including 243 in the second half. He and his fellow linemen, known collectively as the OBlock, gave Barnes the time and opened holes for a highlight performance, against just one sack and an interception. Laumea and the group also helped the team rush for 235 yards on the night, including a 117-yard performance from Ja'Quinden Jackson and 68 yards by two-way player Sione Vaki.
 Â
FOLLOW US!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program during its journey through the 2023 season, follow the Utes on social media along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
Twitter:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
Instagram:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Threads:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Facebook:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Utah Football
TikTok:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
UP NEXT
The Utes return to Rice-Eccles Stadium for their MUSS Appreciation Game on Saturday, Oct. 28 when they host the No. 8 Oregon Ducks. The game is set for a 1:30 p.m. MT kick, airing on FOX.
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Players Mentioned
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