Utah Football stumbles against Sun Devils, falls 27-19

Match Review: Football | Oct 12, 2024 1:04 am

TEMPE, Ariz. – Utah Football’s redzone woes continued this week as they faced the Arizona State Sun Devils on the road and lost 27-19. Utah is 4-2 overall this season and 1-2 in Big 12 play.

Utah was 3 of 4 in the red zone but had to settle for four field goals and a touchdown, giving ASU the advantage. Utah won the first down battle by 22, ASU by 15, and held the ball 32:29 while ASU only had possession 27:31.

After recording just 43 yards of total offense in the first quarter, Utah found some rhythm with 105 yards in the second quarter, but still couldn’t find the end zone. Trailing 13-9 at halftime, the Utes entered the third quarter with a spark, averaging 6.5 yards per play at running back Micah Bernard scored a six-yard rushing score with 3:19 on the clock, giving Utah a three-point lead.

Unfortunately for the Utes, Arizona State scored its third touchdown of the game with less than two minutes left in the quarter, giving them the lead back. Cole Beckers The fourth field goal would make it a one-point game with 5:42 left, but the Sun Devils would strike again, scoring with just a few minutes left to seal the victory.

GAME DIRECTOR
Bernard finished the night with 190 all-purpose yards and led the team in rushing with 21 carries for 125 yards (1 TD) while also recording five catches for 61 yards. It was his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season.

senior Dorian Singer The Utes also led the way with 75 yards receiving on four catches, for an average of 18.8 yards per reception. On his return to the gridiron, senior Cameron’s rise completed 16 of 37 passes (0 TD, 3 INT) for 209 yards.

On defense, Utah was led by linebacker Lander Barton and security Rabbit Evanswho both had nine tackles, with Barton adding a tackle for loss and a quarterback rush. Defensive end Logan Fano and security Tao Johnson added seven stops each at linebacker John Hall He added five tackles and his first career sack.

Becker was 4 of 4 on field goals (48, 40, 29, 46), including his season-long 48-yard throw in the first quarter. He is the first Utah kicker since 2018 to have multiple games with multiple 40-yard field goals in a season.

EXCELLENT STATUS
Bernard is the first Ute since 2021 to have four 100-yard rushing games in a season (TJ Pledger and Tavion Thomas). He is also the first Ute to post three straight 100-yard rushing games on the road since Zack Moss in 2019.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Becker is the first Utah kicker to make four field goals since Matt Gay made six against Oregon on November 10, 2018.
• Junior Tafuna made an interception on ASU’s third offensive play of the game, his second pick as a Ute and first since the Southern Utah game on September 10, 2022. It was also the first interception by a Utah defender since that SUU game.
• The 7-minute, 5-second scoring drive for Bernard’s touchdown in the third quarter was the longest TOP for a Utah scoring drive this season.

NEXT

The Utes return to Rice-Eccles Stadium for their annual Ute Proud game on Saturday, October 19th to face the TCU Horned Frogs. The game is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. MT on ESPN.