Recap and highlights: No. 19 Utah storms past Washington State, 38-13, in rainy Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY – Worn down by Utah’s offense, Washington State lost its second consecutive game to start Pac-12 Conference play, 38-13, on a rainy Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

The Cougars (3-2 overall, 0-2 Pac-12) trailed 21-13 at halftime but barely had the ball in the third quarter: Utah drove and hit a field goal, forced an Anthony Gordon interception and then drove for a touchdown, adding 10 points to its lead while running 25 of the first 28 plays of the second half.

A week after collapsing in the second half against UCLA, Washington State’s defensive struggles continued at Utah. The Cougars were especially bad on third downs: the Utes converted on 6 of 12 such situations. Utah also finished 2 of 3 on fourth downs and didn’t punt until the fourth quarter.

In all, No. 19 Utah (4-1, 1-1) outgained WSU 526-313 and achieved 11 more first downs. Quarterback Tyler Huntley finished 21 of 30 for 334 yards. He also ran for 31 yards and two touchdowns.

In contrast, Gordon rarely got into a rhythm for the Cougars. The redshirt senior finished with season lows in passing yards (252) and touchdowns (one), and he also threw his fifth and sixth interceptions of the year.

Sophomore running back Max Borghi led Washington State with 121 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches, including a team-high nine receptions. Next best was Dezmon Patmon, with five catches for 62 yards. – Dan Thompson, For The Spokesman-Review

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First quarter

8:41 – WSU 0, Utah 0: Utah comes up empty on its first possession after Jadon Redding pulled his 33-yard field goal attempt wide left.

The Utes rocketed down the field after starting at their own 10. A 54-yard catch-and-run by Bryan Thompson got Utah down to the WSU 20. Thompson was able to escape down the sideline thanks to a blown tackle by safety Bryce Beekman.

On the next play, Utah QB Tyler Huntley found Demari Simpkins open in the end zone, but Simpkins dropped the pass. The drop was Huntley only incompletion of the drive.

Washington State started the game with the ball and picked up a first down after two Max Borghi runs. An incomplete pass by Anthony Gordon, a 5-yard screen, and a sack followed and the Cougs had to punt.

4:03 – Utah 7, WSU 0: Utah gets on the scoreboard first as Tyler Huntley finds Devonta’e Henry Cole out of the backfield for an 11-yard touchdown pass.

Utah put together there second long drive in as many tries behind Huntley. The senior quarterback threw for 36 yards and ran for 20 on the drive that started on the Utah 24. He is up to 97 yards passing on 5 completions.

After two possessions for each team, Utah is outgaining WSU 150 yards to 40.

0:17 – WSU 7, Utah 7: Washington State strikes back after the Utah’s opening score with a touchdown of its own through backup running back Deon McIntosh.

McIntosh and WSU quarterback Anthony Gordon connected on a 4-yard touchdown to tie the game. McIntosh, a transfer from Notre Dame, circled out of the backfield and in front of the Utah defenders, caught the pass short of the goal line and fell into the end zone for his first receiving TD with the Cougars.

The drive was jump started by a facemask penalty on Utah during WSU’s kick return, starting the Cougs at the WSU 40. Gordon threw for 50 yards during the drive.

Second quarter

14:51 – Utah 14, WSU 7: Utah regains the lead as Tyler Huntley hits Samson Nacua for a 52-yard touchdown.

Huntley continues to scorch the WSU secondary and is now up to 172 yards on 7-of-9 passing.

12:25 – Utah 14, WSU 10: Blake Mazza connects on a career-long, 51-yard field goal for Washington State.

The Cougars moved from their own 25 into Utah territory thanks to 19-yard pass from Anthony Gordon to Dezmon Patmon. From there, though, the drive stalled and Mazza was called on.

3:31 – Utah 14, WSU 13: Blake Mazza hits his second field goal of the quarter to pull the Cougars within 1 of Utah.

After turning Utah over on downs, Washington State went 54 yards in 10 plays to set up Mazza for a 24-yard field goal.

The Cougars benefited from a holding call on Utah on a 4th and 10 from the Utah 33.

Washington State QB Anthony Gordon has 154 yards on 17-of-27 passing. Running back Max Borghi is at 59 total yards.

0:22 – Utah 21, WSU 13: Tyler Huntley continues to torment the Washington State defense as he powers in for 15-yard rushing touchdown to extend Utah’s lead.

Huntley now has 274 yards of total offense, with 242 passing and 32 rushing. He made an extraordinary play under pressure to convert a 4th and 1 at the WSU 27. Huntley broke free of one pass rusher and, with a defender draped on him, was just able to get a short pass off to Devin Brumfield, who picked up the needed yardage.

Utah covered 75 yards in 3:09 to eat up most of the remaining time in the quarter, leaving WSU with little chance to move the ball before halftime.

Halftime

Third quarter

7:20 – Utah 24, WSU 13: Jadon Redding makes a 28-yard field goal after a long Utah drive stalls in the red zone and the Utes lead by 11.

Utah used 7:40 to cover 65 yards in 14 plays on the opening drive of the second half.

The Utes converted a 4th and 1 at the WSU 10 when Devin Brumfield picked up 7 yards on a run up the middle. Two plays later, Utah QB Tyler Huntley thought he had picked up his second rushing touchdown of the night, only for the 1 yard bootleg to be called back for an illegal shift.

Huntley passed for 39 yards on the drive and now has 281 for the game. He also has 28 rushing yards.

7:12 – Utah 24, WSU 13: Anthony Gordon is flushed from the pocket by the Utah pass rush and throws an interception.

On 3rd and 15, Gordon was forced to his right and tried to make a throw on the run. Utah defender Jaylon Johnson undercut the throw intended for Travell Harris and intercepted the pass.

1:28 – Utah 31, WSU 13: Utah capitalizes on the interception, going 63 yards on 11 plays for a Derrick Vickers 7-yard touchdown run.

Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley continued to pick apart the Washington State secondary, throwing for 53 yards on the drive. The senior quarterback now has 334 yards on 21-of-30 passing.

Fourth quarter

5:36 – Utah 31, WSU 13: Anthony Gordon throws his second interception of the game, this one to Utah linebacker Francis Bernard.

Gordon’s pass was intended for Travell Harris but Bernard was underneath the deep crossing route and easly made the pick.

1:21 – Utah 38, WSU 13: Tyler Huntley finishes his great night in style with a 3-yard rushing touchdown to put the game away for the Utes.

Huntley has accounted for 365 total yards. The senior quarterback has thrown for 334 yards and run for 31. He has four touchdowns.

Pregame