Utah Football Comes Up Short In Defensive Battle vs. Northwestern, Falling 14-7

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Utah Football Comes Up Short In Defensive Battle vs. Northwestern, Falling 14-7

12/23/2023 9:45 PM | Football

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SALT LAKE CITY – In a defensive battle, the University of Utah Football team came up short against the Northwestern Wildcats in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, falling 14-7. Utah finished the season with an 8-5 overall record.

It was another season full of adversity for the Utes, but the culture of "next man up" rang true throughout 2023 with the program once again banding together as a family.

GAME LEADERS
On defense, Utah was led by linebacker Levani Damuni, who racked up a career-high tying 12 tackles to give him five double-digit games to end the season. Cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn added a career-best eight stops (1.5 TFL) with safety Nate Ritchie also recording a career-high tying seven tackles in his third start of the year.

For the offense, quarterback Bryson Barnes finished the game 8-of-13 passing for 55 yards along with Luke Bottari going 1-for-1 with a career-long 18-yard pass. Running back Micah Bernard made his first appearance since week one, catching a team-high three passes for 24 yards along with nine carries for 31 yards and a rushing touchdown. Running back Ja'Quinden Jackson led the Utes on the ground with eight carries for 55 yards while Jaylon Glover contributed 16 carries for 49 yards.

FIRST HALF BREAKDOWN
The Utah offense struggled to find rhythm in the first half, only producing 59 total yards with two turnovers while also converting on just one third down attempt. The two teams traded three-and-outs to start the game, followed by Northwestern missing its first field goal attempt of the game to keep things scoreless in the first quarter.

The Utes held the Wildcats to just 31 yards of total offense in the first quarter with Northwestern only averaging 1.9 yards per play, but the second quarter was a different story with the Wildcats being able to put up 154 yards, taking a 7-0 lead into halftime on a 12-yard passing touchdown to wrap up an eight-play, 78-yard drive.

SECOND HALF BREAKDOWN
As the third quarter wound down and the fourth quarter began, Utah's offense began to flow together as the Utes marched down field for its first score of the game. Quarterback Luke Bottari came in after Barnes' helmet was knocked off in the game, completing an 18-yard pass to Glover on a third-and-seven to keep the drive alive.

The drive would end with Bernard pushing his way into the end zone on a six-yard rush, scoring his first touchdown of the season in his first appearance since week one. The 60-yard, eight-play scoring drive took 3:59 off the clock, tying things up 7-7 with 12:38 to go in the game.

On Northwestern's next drive, Utah stopped the Wildcats on a fourth-and-seven on the Ute 33-yard line, regaining possession with 9:56 on the clock. Unfortunately, the Utes would turn the ball over on downs with Northwestern scoring just three plays into its next drive on a 19-yard passing play, taking a 14-7 lead with 6:19 left.

In Utah's final drive of the game, Barnes, Bernard and Glover put together a gritty performance to get the Utes to the Northwestern 38-yard line, but were unable to convert on their final fourth down attempt. The Wildcats would get the ball back with 1:55 remaining, securing its bowl victory after converting on a third down with less than a minute to play, kneeling the remaining time on the clock.