Tavion Thomas’ Career-Night Helps Utah To Blowout Win Over Stanford

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The 13th-ranked Utah Utes utilized the legs of Tavion Thomas to pick up a blowout 42-7 win over Stanford on Senior Night on Saturday.

Tavion Thomas had a career-high 180 yards on 22 carries, along with two touchdowns in the win. Cam Rising completed 20 of his 33 pass attempts for 219 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

As a team, Utah rushed for 280 yards.

Pregame

.@weddlesbeard here for #SeniorDay #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/0q0N8janHC

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 13, 2022

First Quarter

Not a lot of offense happening in the first quarter but Stanford was able to get a one-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Tanner McKee to give the Cardinal a 7-0 lead with 3:40 remaining in the opening quarter.

PUNCH THAT IN, @McKeeTmckee! 💪💪💪

🌲: 7
🔴: 0#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/YRWuiyBiyx

— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) November 13, 2022

Second Quarter

Cam Rising flushed out of the pocket and made a nice throw to Devaughn Vele in the corner of the end zone against Stanford.

Utah needed to convert on fourth down twice in order to get the touchdown from Rising to Vele. It’s the first touchdown of the game for the Utes. Rising threw his 17th TD of the season and Vele caught his fifth score of the year.

The game was tied at 7-7 with 12:49 remaining in the second quarter.

.@crising7 ➡️ @devaughn_vele for 6⃣#GoUtes https://t.co/MOprvoynrr

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 13, 2022

Later in the second quarter, Utah running back Tavion Thomas ran in a four-yard touchdown to give the Utes the lead.

The touchdown by Tavion Thomas was set up by a tremendous fourth-down catch by Devaughn Vele for 28 yards. Utah had a 14-7 lead with 6:37 remaining in the second quarter.

It’s the sixth touchdown of the season for Thomas, which tied Cam Rising for the most rushing TD’s this season for the Utes. Through that point in the game, Thomas had 14 carries for 77 yards and one touchdown.

.@thiagoothomas9 with rushing TD #⃣6⃣ this season.#GoUtes https://t.co/annd5emN6H

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 13, 2022

Third Quarter

Utah tight end Thomas Yassmin extended the Utes’ lead by reaching for the pylon and scoring a touchdown against Stanford on Saturday.

Cam Rising threw the ball to the flat on the right side to Thomas Yassmin who had to shed a tackle while reaching for the pylon and scoring the touchdown. That gave the Utes a 21-7 lead with 8:49 remaining in the third quarter.

It was the first catch of the game for Yassmin and his third receiving touchdown of the season. Rising completed 14 of his 26 pass attempts for 137 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He threw his 18th touchdown pass of the season.

.@TYassmin21 with TD #⃣3⃣ this season.#GoUtes https://t.co/mujOfxTnNH

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 13, 2022

Micah Bernard juked a couple of Stanford defenders and coasted into the end zone on a receiving touchdown.

Cam Rising threw another touchdown pass into the flat when the found Micah Bernard, who juked two defenders before getting the 19-yard touchdown to give the Utes a 28-7 lead with 5:07 remaining in the third quarter.

It’s the first touchdown of the game for Bernard and his first receiving TD of the season. Rising threw his third touchdown of the game and the 19th this season.

.@ctb_mb 💨#GoUtes https://t.co/WWzPeDdAkn

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 13, 2022

Utes true freshman Nate Johnson threw his first career touchdown pass.

The touchdown by Nate Johnson was set up by back-to-back trick plays, where he ran for 21 yards before Andy Ludwig put Johnson and Cam Rising in the game at the same time. Johnson was at quarterback and Rising was lined up as a wide receiver. The true freshman took the snap and threw a 16-yard touchdown to Logan Kendall to give the Utes a 35-7 lead with 1:37 remaining in the third quarter.

It’s the first receiving touchdown of the season for Kendall.

.@Shaboinate3 can do it all. 💪💨#GoUtes https://t.co/qnBNTpJkhO

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 13, 2022

Fourth Quarter

Tavion Thomas continued his big night with a 36-yard rushing touchdown to give the Utes a 42-7 lead with 8:32 remaining in the game.

Get off the train tracks!! @thiagoothomas9 coming through!! 🚂

📺 https://t.co/iqZFvPKAxa@Utah_Football | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/XIhXSEqNQ7

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 13, 2022

Utah improved its record to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in Pac-12 play. They will be on the road to face No. 6 Oregon on Saturday, November 19. The time and broadcast information will be released on Sunday.