SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – October 12, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – After knocking off the league’s other unbeaten team, Cal, 30-24 on Saturday night, the Ute’s are now 5-0 overall and the only unbeaten team in the Pac-12.
The first half of the Ute-Cal game was wild. Both teams had touchdowns and both teams allowed turnovers. By half time each team saw Utah with a 24-17 lead. In a nail-biting fourth quarter, California came within 20 yards of a potentially game winning touchdown and just a mere 30 seconds on the clock.
While it wasn’t the Ute’s best game offensively, Utah was able to stop Cal on their last drive to the end zone. Coach Kyle Whittingham said “Devontae Booker and our offensive line picking up over 200 yards on the ground definitely helped.”
Utes are ranked third in the Pac-12 in rushing defense and have allowed just two sacks, which is tied for third in the nation and leads the Pac-12. Whittingham said the coaching staff and the defensive plan they put together for [Jared] Goff worked well in the game on Saturday with six takeaways and scoring 30 points.
Adding to an exceptional defense, Utah’s special teams, who boasts the 2014 Pac-12 first-team punter and first-team kicker with senior punter Tom Hacket and junior kicker Andy Phillips, held true to it’s own reputation. “Tom Hackett and his punting was big for us,” said Whittingham. “Britain Covey had one return for about 20 yards. We didn’t allow any huge plays.”
Utah’s quarterback Travis Wilson said they knew it was going to be a battle and felt they did a great job preparing. “All credit to our defense because they played lights out. They got a bunch of turnovers and that gave us great field position,” said Wilson. “It’s a great accomplishment and it’s great for our program. I couldn’t be happier for the team but we know we can play better and we will do that moving forward.”
Coach Whittingham said the best thing about being 5-0 is the chance to be 6-0 and with the next week’s game scheduled against ASU, that’s a tall, but not impossible, goal.
With the help of Utah’s assistant head coach coach Dennis Erickson, who was the head coach at ASU from 2007-11 and the Pac-10 Coach of the Year in his first season, Utah is looking for its first win against ASU since 1976 and the first over the Sun Devils in Salt Lake City since 1973.
Utah is currently ranked No. 4 in this week’s AP rankings, picking up 16 of 60 first-place votes, and has accumulated seven Pac-12 Player of the Week awards in just five games. Running back Devontae Booker and punter Tom Hackett are this week’s Pac-12 Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week.
Utah players will be recognizing members of the Ute tribe by wearing Ute Proud decals on their helmets and honoring members who are planning on attending Saturday’s game. Fans are encouraged to purchase and wear Ute Proud t-shirts to the game and proceeds from the shirt sales will benefit Ute tribe scholarships and youth programs.
The game starts at 8 p.m. at Rice Eccles Stadium and will be televised on ESPN.
