Utah Football’s Best Wins Of 2019
Dec 6, 2019, 4:46 PM
Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) hands the ball off to running back Zack Moss (2) during the first quarter of a game between the Washington Huskies and the Utah Utes on Saturday, November 2, 2019 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Utes finished the 2019 regular season with an 11-1 record, a Pac-12 South division title, and a spot in the conference’s championship game.
The No. 5 Utes will take on the No. 12 Oregon Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game on Friday, December 6 at 6 p.m. (MDT).
The Utes started off the season 3-0 with non-conference wins over BYU, Northern Illinois, and Idaho State.
After stumbling against USC in the Pac-12 Conference opener, Utah won eight straight games to finish out the schedule including a win over then No. 17 Arizona State.
Utah outscored opponents 434-128 during its 12 game schedule. Those opponents combined to finish 68-76 on the season.
S O U T H C H A M P S pic.twitter.com/2iHQmBCEjd
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 1, 2019
Four of the Utes’ opponents finished with a record of 7-5. Here’s a closer look at Utah’s wins over those teams.
BYU
The then No.14 Utes opened the regular season on August 29 with a road win over in-state rival BYU. Running back Zack Moss carried the Utes to a 30-12 win over the Cougars. He ran the ball 29 times for 187 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley was an efficient 13/16 throwing the ball for 106 yards. He added 8 carries for 39 yards.
Utah’s defense showed its superiority forcing three BYU turnovers including a pair of interceptions Francis Bernard and Julian Blackmon ran back for TDs.
The Utes had possession for 35:58 compared to 24:08 for BYU.
The win was the ninth consecutive for the Utes over the Cougars.
— Kyle Whittingham (@UtahCoachWhitt) August 30, 2019
Arizona State
On October 19, the then No. 13 Utes faced their first ranked opponent of the season in the Arizona State Sun Devils.
The Sun Devils entered the game with a 5-1 record and victories over ranked teams in Michigan State and California.
Utah’s defense stifled the Sun Devils offense all game long and held ASU to only 136 total yards and eight first downs.
Arizona State QB Jayden Daniels was 4/18 passing for 25 yards and an interception.
The Utes overcame a -2 turnover margin and an injury to QB Tyler Huntley to win 21-6.
I am a Utah man, sir. pic.twitter.com/x7FWNY10Qh
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 20, 2019
Zack Moss led Utah with 25 carries for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns. The running back also led the team in receiving with 3 catches for 78 yards.
California
The Utes recorded their first shutout in conference play since joining the Pac-12 in 2011 when they hosted the California Bears on October 26.
Then No. 12 Utah jumped out to an early 7-0 lead before scoring three touchdowns in the second quarter to hold a 28-0 advantage over the Bears at halftime.
A fourth quarter TD run by Zack Moss extended the Utes’ lead and gave them a 35-0 win over Cal.
Game ball: @SafetyPride & the Utah Defense!
🏈 First time shutting out a conference opponent since joining the pac-12
🏈 First time Cal has been shut out since 1999 pic.twitter.com/Yn8kiYxmJF— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 27, 2019
Huntley, who was injured in Utah’s previous game, started the game for the Utes and went 11/17 for 214 yards and a touchdown.
Moss ran the ball 17 times for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns. He added 3 receptions for 89 yards to led the Utes.
Washington
On November 2, the then. No 9 Utes recorded their most important win of the season according to KSL Sports’ Scott Mitchell and Tom Hackett when they went up to Seattle and defeated the Washington Huskies.
The Utes and Huskies traded punches to start the game. Washington led 14-13 at halftime.
Washington extended its lead to 21-13 midway through the third quarter before Utah mounted a comeback.
The Utes scored three unanswered touchdowns to take a 33-21 advantage with less than five minutes to play.
Washington responded with a TD with 1:01 left in the game but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Utes’ second half burst.
Utah claimed the game in Seattle 33-28.
#ULOG: Business Trip to Seattle. #UBoyz pic.twitter.com/s3UT7zCMnE
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 6, 2019
QB Tyler Huntley led Utah with 19/24 passing for 284 yards and a touchdown. He added 6 yards on the ground and another TD.
Ute RB Zack Moss posted 27 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He also recorded 5 catches for 41 yards and a touchdown.
The Huskies had been a thorn in Utah’s side since the Utes joined the Pac-12 in 2011. Washington held a 6-1 record against Utah entering the 2019 matchup.
It was a statement win for Utah and helped propel them a spot in the Pac-12 title game.
Which opponent did @Utah_Football have its best win of the season against? #GoUtes
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 6, 2019
Utah currently doesn’t have a win over a team in the College Football Playoff rankings. It could pick up its first of the season provided the Utes defeat Oregon in the Pac-12 championship and the Ducks remain in the top 25 of the rankings on Sunday, December 8.
The Utes vs. Ducks game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. (MDT) on December 6. It will be broadcast on ABC and 700 AM.
