Postgame Quotes: No. 17 Utah vs. Utah State
9/19/2026 6:29 PM | Football
Postgame Quotes
(at) No. 17 Utah 33, Utah State 0
Salt Lake City, Utah (Rice-Eccles Stadium)
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
Kick: 1:43 p.m. MT | End: 4:59 p.m.
Attendance: 51,455 (sellout)
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Utah Quotes
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Head Coach Morgan Scalley
Opening Statement…
First and foremost, prayers go out to Harrison Taggart and from talking to Coach Mendenhall and getting some updates, it sounds like he's got feeling back in legs, but I don't have official word on that. Harrison's a kid that we recruited at Utah. I know his mom and I went to school together, so really praying for him. That's not something that you want to see ever and that's the unfortunate thing about this game, so prayers go out to Harrison. Pleased with our guys. The way they started the game, a little disjointed in the second half. I'm grateful for stuff to improve upon and look at and there's penalties and false start, delay of game that we got to be able to clean up. The fake punt is completely on me. It was not called. That's something that I need to make sure that there's clarity there for that young man. Not his fault, that's completely on Morgan Scalley for not making things clear, but that was not a planned deal. Some individual highlights, I thought Trey Reynolds had a heck of a game, first of the season with double digit tackles. His brother playing at Clemson today started at quarterback. So, it was a good day for the Reynolds crew. Rabbit Evans with his first career interception. Defense, overall, anytime you can hold an offense to zero points, I don't care what offense it is, you're doing a really good job and they were put in tough situations a couple times. Really nice fourth down stop. Held Utah State 0-for-2 in the red zone. That was huge. Great to see Braden Pegan have a good game against his old team. The guy is so good at going up and getting the ball, unbelievable hands, body control, so very pleased there. [Daniel] Bray, that was fun to see. Good to see him get in the mix, 101 all-purpose yards for Bray. Dillon Curtis continues to be 100% on the season, a 54-yarder and a 36-yarder plus his PATs. A bit sloppy in the second half with things, but overall, happy with protecting our house three games in a row and now conference play starts. We go on the road. It'll be a big test for us against Iowa State, but definitely a lot on that film to look at and improve upon, but we're 3-0 going into conference play. Thanks to our fans again for an awesome atmosphere and to Utah State, nothing but respect. I think Bronco is a heck of a coach that builds culture the right way. Their defense, they run to the ball, they hit and they're physical.
Â
On where he wants to see improvement in the run game with Big 12 play beginning…
There are some ID things on the interior that we missed, but when you rush for 194, I think you're doing a pretty good job. I think those numbers too, you get a holding penalty on one of Wayshawn's runs and that jacks that up too. There's some really good things that we're doing. We'll have to look at the film and see where we're missing stuff, but I knew that there were going to be things to clean up.
Â
On where he's seen strides from the defense…
Definitely in rush defense. Our rush defense is really good right now. I think we're pretty tight on coverage. There were a couple times in this game where we let some things go maybe a little bit, grabby in the pass interference call, but I would just say shoring up the run. That's something that you really want, to be able to make teams one dimensional, particularly if that's their strength, is force them into longer yard situations, where you have to throw the ball.
Â
On Braden Pegan's success…
You want to see him have success against anyone, but you could see a different type of focus for him in this one. He really wanted to perform well. If you go shake his hand, he's got really big hands. Receivers, you want to have really big hands. I wish I had those hands. I couldn't. I was a body catcher, I was black and blue, but he can go get it with the best of them. I mean, unbelievable at tracking the ball, at body position, using that disadvantage, really good run after catch today as well. I'm happy for that young man.
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On how rewarding it was to see the defense succeed…
It's huge. You talk about kind of having a firefighter mentality, we're running into the burning buildings, everyone else is running out and just understanding we don't care. We're out there on the field. We're going to go make plays. Very proud of them. Again, 0-for-2 in the red zone. the interception from Rabbit, the big fourth-down stop. Coach Swan, that crew doing a really good job, getting those guys prepared. 3-0 going into a conference play, so we're excited and we definitely got some things to clean up, but grateful for our fans and go Utes.
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Senior Quarterback Devon DampierÂ
On how he was feeling today…
"I felt very confident in the way our receivers are playing, the play calls being made and the way our offense was blocking. I feel like the game is slowing down for me mentally and I'm able to make better decisions out there."Â
Â
On the hot connection today between Braden and Devon…Â
"I knew this was a big game for BP going against guys he used to be with. He's a hard worker during practice. The same plays we ran out there are the same we call in practice. If you're going to play him one on one, that's what will happen. Balls will find him and plays will be made."Â
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On how he felt about the offense's overall performance today…
"Sadly, I'm the guy that looks at the negative more than the positive, but I think there's a lot we can learn from this game. Utah State came prepared and played the whole game. I think there's a lot we need to improve on. Shout out to the defense. They truly take the stress off all of us."Â
Â
Rabbit EvansÂ
On how it felt to have the first shutout in a while…Â
"It felt good, just playing together, playing fast and running to the ball every play. Doing the little things right leads to results like this."Â
Â
On what was working with the run defense…Â
"It was just our front seven playing discipline and doing their jobs. And us just flying to the ball, playing fast and having fun."Â
Â
Cyrus Polu Â
On how it felt to have the first shutout in a while…Â
"Playing as a team, doing our assignment and not doing anything more. When we do that, we're going to hold them to low points."Â Â
Â
On the sack…Â
"Everyone just did their assignment. It opened an opportunity to make a play and I just had to make that play."
Â
On what was working with the run defense… Â
"The d-line holding their gaps, doing their assignments and not trying to do too much. Also, our culture showing up, us being ballhawks."Â
Â
Braden PeganÂ
On playing his old team…
"I love those guys over there, but we don't prepare any differently. It's a nameless,s faceless opponent every week. When we have a game, we are going to come out and try to win no matter what."Â
Â
On taking the field today…
"It was awesome. Every time I take the field, it's a feeling of gratitude just to be out there playing ball."
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Utah State Quotes
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Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall
On Harrison Taggart's second-quarter injury…
"Harrison is the heartbeat of our program. There isn't anyone who is more vibrant or has more influence—not only through how he plays, but through the time he spends with our players, how he connects with them and his role as an emotional leader. What a journeyman. He's completely invested in our team. He is who we want our team to be. I know I have to be somewhat careful in terms of what I can and cannot share medically, but the injury was significant. I think I'll just stop with this: People carried him off on a spine board, and we're concerned.
Â
On punting while in Utah territory:
"I thought their defense was playing well. Their offense is super dynamic, and they're a team that can score from anywhere really fast. So, I chose to play field position. I believe it was the right call for our team at that time, on that day, against that team. I chose field position."
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On the running game still "finding its feet
"I think it would be putting it nicely to say that it's finding its feet. It doesn't really exist at this point. It's not that we haven't been addressing it, working on it, looking at it and trying to find different options. Javen had a really nice run on a draw that you guys saw. I think it's a fair question, but it's not happening yet."
Â
Safety Chapman Lewis
On returning to the field after a long-term injury:
"I was just so grateful to be back on the field and making plays because that's where my love is. That's why I do this. I wouldn't want to do anything else in the world. I'm just grateful to God. I told God that if He got me back out here after my knee injury, I was going to give Him all the glory and praise."
Â
On the impact of Harrison Taggart's injury:
"Harrison is a leader and a great player on this team. It hit us when we saw him go down and have to be carried off the field. That's our brother. When you see your brother go down, you just tell him that we've got his back and that he's going to be okay."
(at) No. 17 Utah 33, Utah State 0
Salt Lake City, Utah (Rice-Eccles Stadium)
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
Kick: 1:43 p.m. MT | End: 4:59 p.m.
Attendance: 51,455 (sellout)
Â
Utah Quotes
Â
Head Coach Morgan Scalley
Opening Statement…
First and foremost, prayers go out to Harrison Taggart and from talking to Coach Mendenhall and getting some updates, it sounds like he's got feeling back in legs, but I don't have official word on that. Harrison's a kid that we recruited at Utah. I know his mom and I went to school together, so really praying for him. That's not something that you want to see ever and that's the unfortunate thing about this game, so prayers go out to Harrison. Pleased with our guys. The way they started the game, a little disjointed in the second half. I'm grateful for stuff to improve upon and look at and there's penalties and false start, delay of game that we got to be able to clean up. The fake punt is completely on me. It was not called. That's something that I need to make sure that there's clarity there for that young man. Not his fault, that's completely on Morgan Scalley for not making things clear, but that was not a planned deal. Some individual highlights, I thought Trey Reynolds had a heck of a game, first of the season with double digit tackles. His brother playing at Clemson today started at quarterback. So, it was a good day for the Reynolds crew. Rabbit Evans with his first career interception. Defense, overall, anytime you can hold an offense to zero points, I don't care what offense it is, you're doing a really good job and they were put in tough situations a couple times. Really nice fourth down stop. Held Utah State 0-for-2 in the red zone. That was huge. Great to see Braden Pegan have a good game against his old team. The guy is so good at going up and getting the ball, unbelievable hands, body control, so very pleased there. [Daniel] Bray, that was fun to see. Good to see him get in the mix, 101 all-purpose yards for Bray. Dillon Curtis continues to be 100% on the season, a 54-yarder and a 36-yarder plus his PATs. A bit sloppy in the second half with things, but overall, happy with protecting our house three games in a row and now conference play starts. We go on the road. It'll be a big test for us against Iowa State, but definitely a lot on that film to look at and improve upon, but we're 3-0 going into conference play. Thanks to our fans again for an awesome atmosphere and to Utah State, nothing but respect. I think Bronco is a heck of a coach that builds culture the right way. Their defense, they run to the ball, they hit and they're physical.
Â
On where he wants to see improvement in the run game with Big 12 play beginning…
There are some ID things on the interior that we missed, but when you rush for 194, I think you're doing a pretty good job. I think those numbers too, you get a holding penalty on one of Wayshawn's runs and that jacks that up too. There's some really good things that we're doing. We'll have to look at the film and see where we're missing stuff, but I knew that there were going to be things to clean up.
Â
On where he's seen strides from the defense…
Definitely in rush defense. Our rush defense is really good right now. I think we're pretty tight on coverage. There were a couple times in this game where we let some things go maybe a little bit, grabby in the pass interference call, but I would just say shoring up the run. That's something that you really want, to be able to make teams one dimensional, particularly if that's their strength, is force them into longer yard situations, where you have to throw the ball.
Â
On Braden Pegan's success…
You want to see him have success against anyone, but you could see a different type of focus for him in this one. He really wanted to perform well. If you go shake his hand, he's got really big hands. Receivers, you want to have really big hands. I wish I had those hands. I couldn't. I was a body catcher, I was black and blue, but he can go get it with the best of them. I mean, unbelievable at tracking the ball, at body position, using that disadvantage, really good run after catch today as well. I'm happy for that young man.
Â
On how rewarding it was to see the defense succeed…
It's huge. You talk about kind of having a firefighter mentality, we're running into the burning buildings, everyone else is running out and just understanding we don't care. We're out there on the field. We're going to go make plays. Very proud of them. Again, 0-for-2 in the red zone. the interception from Rabbit, the big fourth-down stop. Coach Swan, that crew doing a really good job, getting those guys prepared. 3-0 going into a conference play, so we're excited and we definitely got some things to clean up, but grateful for our fans and go Utes.
Â
Senior Quarterback Devon DampierÂ
On how he was feeling today…
"I felt very confident in the way our receivers are playing, the play calls being made and the way our offense was blocking. I feel like the game is slowing down for me mentally and I'm able to make better decisions out there."Â
Â
On the hot connection today between Braden and Devon…Â
"I knew this was a big game for BP going against guys he used to be with. He's a hard worker during practice. The same plays we ran out there are the same we call in practice. If you're going to play him one on one, that's what will happen. Balls will find him and plays will be made."Â
Â
On how he felt about the offense's overall performance today…
"Sadly, I'm the guy that looks at the negative more than the positive, but I think there's a lot we can learn from this game. Utah State came prepared and played the whole game. I think there's a lot we need to improve on. Shout out to the defense. They truly take the stress off all of us."Â
Â
Rabbit EvansÂ
On how it felt to have the first shutout in a while…Â
"It felt good, just playing together, playing fast and running to the ball every play. Doing the little things right leads to results like this."Â
Â
On what was working with the run defense…Â
"It was just our front seven playing discipline and doing their jobs. And us just flying to the ball, playing fast and having fun."Â
Â
Cyrus Polu Â
On how it felt to have the first shutout in a while…Â
"Playing as a team, doing our assignment and not doing anything more. When we do that, we're going to hold them to low points."Â Â
Â
On the sack…Â
"Everyone just did their assignment. It opened an opportunity to make a play and I just had to make that play."
Â
On what was working with the run defense… Â
"The d-line holding their gaps, doing their assignments and not trying to do too much. Also, our culture showing up, us being ballhawks."Â
Â
Braden PeganÂ
On playing his old team…
"I love those guys over there, but we don't prepare any differently. It's a nameless,s faceless opponent every week. When we have a game, we are going to come out and try to win no matter what."Â
Â
On taking the field today…
"It was awesome. Every time I take the field, it's a feeling of gratitude just to be out there playing ball."
Â
Utah State Quotes
Â
Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall
On Harrison Taggart's second-quarter injury…
"Harrison is the heartbeat of our program. There isn't anyone who is more vibrant or has more influence—not only through how he plays, but through the time he spends with our players, how he connects with them and his role as an emotional leader. What a journeyman. He's completely invested in our team. He is who we want our team to be. I know I have to be somewhat careful in terms of what I can and cannot share medically, but the injury was significant. I think I'll just stop with this: People carried him off on a spine board, and we're concerned.
Â
On punting while in Utah territory:
"I thought their defense was playing well. Their offense is super dynamic, and they're a team that can score from anywhere really fast. So, I chose to play field position. I believe it was the right call for our team at that time, on that day, against that team. I chose field position."
Â
On the running game still "finding its feet
"I think it would be putting it nicely to say that it's finding its feet. It doesn't really exist at this point. It's not that we haven't been addressing it, working on it, looking at it and trying to find different options. Javen had a really nice run on a draw that you guys saw. I think it's a fair question, but it's not happening yet."
Â
Safety Chapman Lewis
On returning to the field after a long-term injury:
"I was just so grateful to be back on the field and making plays because that's where my love is. That's why I do this. I wouldn't want to do anything else in the world. I'm just grateful to God. I told God that if He got me back out here after my knee injury, I was going to give Him all the glory and praise."
Â
On the impact of Harrison Taggart's injury:
"Harrison is a leader and a great player on this team. It hit us when we saw him go down and have to be carried off the field. That's our brother. When you see your brother go down, you just tell him that we've got his back and that he's going to be okay."
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