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6 p.m.
Football
at Wyoming
Saturday, November 18
Tucson, AZ
12:30 PM
University of Utah
7-4 , 4-4
18
at
42
Arizona
8-3 , 6-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Utah
0
7
3
8
18
Arizona
21
7
0
14
42
#22 Utah Football's Slow Start Proves Costly, Falling 42-18 At #17 Arizona
11/18/2023 5:03 PM | Football
TUCSON, Ariz. – After going down 21 points in the first quarter, the No. 22 University of Utah Football team was unable to recover, falling to the No. 17 Arizona Wildcats on the road, 42-18. Utah is 7-4 overall this season and 4-4 in Pac-12 play.
Utah finished the game with 438 yards of total offense compared to Arizona's 443 with a season-high 320 passing yards, holding the ball for 35:34 compared to the Wildcats' 24:26. Utah also won the first downs battle at 26 to 21, additionally converting on 11 third downs (11-of-21), but the Utes' turnovers proved costly in the end.
GAME LEADERS
Quarterback Bryson Barnes recorded a career-high 320 passing yards on 31-of-53 passing (2 INT, 2 TD), the most completions by a Ute since 2005 (Brian Johnson vs. Wyoming, 32). He also had a team-high 59 rushing yards on 19 carries.
On the receiving end for the Utes, the team finished with three players having four-or-more catches for 60+ yards, led by Devaughn Vele who had a career-high nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. His nine catches was the most by a Utah receiver since 2020 (Britain Covey at Colorado, 9).
Munir McClain also had a career-high six catches, recording 70 yards and a touchdown with Landen King adding a career-best four catches for 63 yards. Jaylon Glover also contributed 10 carries for 47 yards in the run game.
On defense, Van Fillinger put up a team and season-high eight tackles (1.0 TFL), followed by Zemaiah Vaughn's seven tackles (1.0 TFL) and one pass breakup. Connor O'Toole also contributed six tackles (1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack) and a career-high two pass breakups.
FIRST HALF BREAKDOWN
With just 23 yards of total offense and one first down in the first quarter, Utah's slow start was costly with Arizona scoring 28 unanswered points to begin the game. Arizona got things started with 10:33 on the clock in the first quarter, scoring on a 21-yard passing play for the 7-0 lead.
They followed it up by forcing a three-and-out against the Utes, going on to block the punt and recover it in the end zone to take the two-possession lead. Arizona then scored on 32-yard and 31-yard receptions, taking the 28-0 lead with 14:53 to go in the second quarter.
It was in the second quarter that Utah started to find its footing on defense, holding the Wildcats to just 37 yards prior to their final drive with under a minute to go. Utah's offense also found some momentum with 52 seconds remaining in the half, scoring to make it 28-7.
Utah started on its own eight-yard line with Barnes and Vele staying in sync all the way down field, allowing Vele to rack up 59 of Utah's 92 yards on the drive. Vele finished the drive with a 20-yard touchdown catch under pressure on a third-and-15, putting the Utes on the scoreboard for the first time in the game.
SECOND HALF BREAKDOWN
The Utes offensive momentum from the first half continued into its first drive of the third quarter with Utah pushing down field 57 yards on 12 plays, including a drive-extending third down conversion from Jaylon Glover. Utah eventually settled on a 36-yard field goal from Cole Becker to make it 28-10 with 10:00 on the clock with the drive taking 5:00 off the clock.
Those would be the last points scored until the 7:57 mark of the fourth quarter with Arizona extending its lead to 35-10 on a one-yard rush. It ended a seven-play, 61-yard drive that took 3:25 off the clock.
Utah would score with 43 seconds to go in the game on a drive that included two 20+ yard catches from King on fourth downs with the Utes eventually scoring on a two-yard pass to McClain. Barnes would keep the ball for the two-point conversion, cutting the Arizona lead to 35-18 with 41 seconds to go.
Utah attempted an on-side kick with Arizona recovering, scoring on a 51-yard pass on the next play to seal the 42-18 win.
UP NEXT
Utah will finish up the regular season at home on Saturday, Nov. 25 when its hosts the Colorado Buffaloes. The game will be Utah's Senior Day with the game time and TV Network being announced at a later date.
Utah finished the game with 438 yards of total offense compared to Arizona's 443 with a season-high 320 passing yards, holding the ball for 35:34 compared to the Wildcats' 24:26. Utah also won the first downs battle at 26 to 21, additionally converting on 11 third downs (11-of-21), but the Utes' turnovers proved costly in the end.
GAME LEADERS
Quarterback Bryson Barnes recorded a career-high 320 passing yards on 31-of-53 passing (2 INT, 2 TD), the most completions by a Ute since 2005 (Brian Johnson vs. Wyoming, 32). He also had a team-high 59 rushing yards on 19 carries.
On the receiving end for the Utes, the team finished with three players having four-or-more catches for 60+ yards, led by Devaughn Vele who had a career-high nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. His nine catches was the most by a Utah receiver since 2020 (Britain Covey at Colorado, 9).
Munir McClain also had a career-high six catches, recording 70 yards and a touchdown with Landen King adding a career-best four catches for 63 yards. Jaylon Glover also contributed 10 carries for 47 yards in the run game.
On defense, Van Fillinger put up a team and season-high eight tackles (1.0 TFL), followed by Zemaiah Vaughn's seven tackles (1.0 TFL) and one pass breakup. Connor O'Toole also contributed six tackles (1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack) and a career-high two pass breakups.
FIRST HALF BREAKDOWN
With just 23 yards of total offense and one first down in the first quarter, Utah's slow start was costly with Arizona scoring 28 unanswered points to begin the game. Arizona got things started with 10:33 on the clock in the first quarter, scoring on a 21-yard passing play for the 7-0 lead.
They followed it up by forcing a three-and-out against the Utes, going on to block the punt and recover it in the end zone to take the two-possession lead. Arizona then scored on 32-yard and 31-yard receptions, taking the 28-0 lead with 14:53 to go in the second quarter.
It was in the second quarter that Utah started to find its footing on defense, holding the Wildcats to just 37 yards prior to their final drive with under a minute to go. Utah's offense also found some momentum with 52 seconds remaining in the half, scoring to make it 28-7.
Utah started on its own eight-yard line with Barnes and Vele staying in sync all the way down field, allowing Vele to rack up 59 of Utah's 92 yards on the drive. Vele finished the drive with a 20-yard touchdown catch under pressure on a third-and-15, putting the Utes on the scoreboard for the first time in the game.
SECOND HALF BREAKDOWN
The Utes offensive momentum from the first half continued into its first drive of the third quarter with Utah pushing down field 57 yards on 12 plays, including a drive-extending third down conversion from Jaylon Glover. Utah eventually settled on a 36-yard field goal from Cole Becker to make it 28-10 with 10:00 on the clock with the drive taking 5:00 off the clock.
Those would be the last points scored until the 7:57 mark of the fourth quarter with Arizona extending its lead to 35-10 on a one-yard rush. It ended a seven-play, 61-yard drive that took 3:25 off the clock.
Utah would score with 43 seconds to go in the game on a drive that included two 20+ yard catches from King on fourth downs with the Utes eventually scoring on a two-yard pass to McClain. Barnes would keep the ball for the two-point conversion, cutting the Arizona lead to 35-18 with 41 seconds to go.
Utah attempted an on-side kick with Arizona recovering, scoring on a 51-yard pass on the next play to seal the 42-18 win.
UP NEXT
Utah will finish up the regular season at home on Saturday, Nov. 25 when its hosts the Colorado Buffaloes. The game will be Utah's Senior Day with the game time and TV Network being announced at a later date.
Team Stats
UTA
ARI
Total Yards
438
443
Pass Yards
320
325
Rushing Yards
118
118
Penalty Yards
55
22
1st Downs
26
21
3rd Downs
11
7
4th Downs
2
0
TOP
35:34
24:26
1st Quarter
UTA 0, ARI 7
ARI - Wiley,Michael 21 yd pass from McMillan,Tetairoa (Loop,Tyler kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:27
UTA 0, ARI 14
ARI - Ward,Anthony 2 yd punt return (Loop,Tyler kick)
UTA 0, ARI 21
ARI - Lemonious-Craig,Montana 32 yd pass from Fifita,Noah (Loop,Tyler kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:55
2nd Quarter
UTA 0, ARI 28
ARI - Wiley,Michael 31 yd pass from Fifita,Noah (Loop,Tyler kick) 6 plays, 72 yards, TOP 02:19
UTA 7, ARI 28
UTA - Vele,Devaughn 20 yd pass from Barnes,Bryson (Becker,Cole kick) 10 plays, 92 yards, TOP 04:46
3rd Quarter
UTA 10, ARI 28
UTA - Becker,Cole 36 yd field goal 12 plays, 57 yards, TOP 05:00
4th Quarter
UTA 10, ARI 35
ARI - Coleman,Jonah 1 yd run (Loop,Tyler kick), 7 plays, 61 yards, TOP 03:25
UTA 18, ARI 35
UTA - McClain,Munir 2 yd pass from Barnes,Bryson (Barnes,Bryson rush) 14 plays, 88 yards, TOP 02:44
UTA 18, ARI 42
ARI - McMillan,Tetairoa 51 yd pass from de Laura,Jayden (Loop,Tyler kick) 1 plays, 46 yards, TOP 00:09
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
31
TD
2
YDS
320
INT
2
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
K
/ Football
DE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DE
/ Football
CB
/ Football
WR
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