Utah Will Bounce Back After Facing Adversity
Sep 21, 2019, 12:15 AM | Updated: 12:17 am
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – It took four weeks into the 2019 season for the No. 10 ranked Utah football team to face adversity.
After suffering their first loss of the season, 30-23 at the hands of the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Utah fans are disappointed and discouraged.
The highly rated and ranked defense that the Utes has gave up 381 yards of total offense and 368 yards through the air. USC wide receiver had 10 catches for 232 yards and one touchdown.
But, the season isn’t over for Utah after one loss.
Final:
Utah 23 | USC 30We appreciate our traveling fans, and those who cheered us on from home. pic.twitter.com/qfD1s5MWYE
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 21, 2019
Offense Still Improving
Utah racked up 457 yards of total offense in the loss and had the ball for 38:12 of the game, while USC held onto the ball for 21:48.
The big negative in the loss to USC was the play by the offensive line. The USC defensive line was getting consistent pressure on quarterback Tyler Huntley, who was sacked twice after not being sacked at all in the first three weeks of the season.
Star running back Zack Moss left the game with a shoulder injury in the second quarter and did not return. Utah had the opportunity to give some reps to other running backs on the roster. Devin Brumfield led the Utes with 10 carries for 63 yards.
That was one of the positives for Utah coming out of fall camp was their depth at the running back position.
Pac-12 Title Game Still In Reach
Utah’s schedule was set up well heading into the 2019 season with four road games outside of the state of Utah. The game against USC was one of the games that was a potential loss with how the Utes have played in the Coliseum. The other three road games are at a struggling Oregon State as well as the Washington Huskies and Arizona Wildcats.
One loss in Pac-12 play is not the end of Utah’s chances to reach the conference championship game for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Utes lost their first two conference games and three games overall and still reached the title game.
USC holds the tiebreaker over Utah with their win but their schedule is more difficult than the Utes. They will travel to Washington and Notre Dame over the next two weeks. The Trojans will also face Oregon at home, and Arizona State and California on the road.
It is unlikely that USC will win out on their schedule or in conference play.
The Utes will face the 19th ranked Washington State Cougars on Saturday, September 28 at 8 p.m. on FS1 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
