Recap and highlights: Utah rallies in second half, beats Washington State
Ty Jordan ran for 154 yards on 22 carries and three touchdowns to power Utah back from a three-touchdown deficit and beat Washington State 45-28 on Saturday in Salt Lake City.
Washington State led 28-7 at halftime but managed just 10 yards in the third quarter as Utah took control.
The Utes outgained WSU 278-108 in the second half and forced four WSU turnovers.
Jordan pulled the Utes to within 14 with a 5-yard TD run midway through the third.
After the Cougs second straight three-and-out to start the half, Utah scored on receiver Bryan Thompson’s 9-yard run to get within 7.
Jordan scored on Utah’s next possession on a 33-yard run on fourth down to tie the game in the fourth quarter. The freshman from Texas then scored on a 13-yard run to complete the comeback for the Utes.
Utah ran for 223 yards, averaging 6.0 yards per carry.
Washington State running back Max Borghi made his first appearance on the season.
The junior who had been dealing with a back injury got the Cougars on the board first with an 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. However, his fumble in the fourth, the Cougs’ first turnover of the day, set up Utah with great field position for Jordan to power in the go-ahead score.
Washington State’s final four possessions ended in turnovers, with Clark Phillips returning a Jayden de Laura interception for a touchdown to put the game away.
Borghi finished with 95 yards on 10 carries. Deon McIntosh had 19 yards on eight carries for the Cougs.
De Laura finished 17-of-28 passing for 204 yards, one touchdown and the interception. The freshman QB also had a 3-yard rushing TD that put the Cougs up 21 just before the half.
Jamire Calvin had the receiving touchdown and finished with seven catches for 104 yards.
First quarter
4:34 – Washington State 7, Utah 0: Max Borghi finds the end zone in his first game of the season and the Cougars have the early lead in Salt Lake City.
Borghi missed the Cougs first three games with an injury. The junior running back scored on an 8-yard rush and has 33 yards on three carries.
The Cougars started the scoring drive near midfield after Justus Rogers forced Utah running back Ty Jordan to fumble. Hunter Escorcia fell on it for the Cougs, who took over their own 43.
The WSU defense forced a 3-and-out on the Utes’ opening drive.
WSU quarterback Jayden de Laura is 7-of-10 passing for 68 yards.
Second quarter
8:31 – Washington State 14, Utah 0: Deon McIntosh plows his way in on an 11-yard touchdown run for the Cougars second rushing TD of the game.
McIntosh took an inside hand-off from QB Jayden de Laura, burst through the hole, and a few yards from the goal line lowered his head and split two would-be tacklers to fall into the end zone.
WSU has 80 rushing yards on 11 carries. Max Borghi, who was the other Coug TD, has 71 yards while McIntosh has 19. Each has five carries.
The WSU defense has held Utah to 87 total yards. Utes running back Ty Jordan has carried the load with 40 yards rushing, but has lost a fumble.
De Laura is 11-of-15 passing for 116 yards for the Cougs. He showed great mobility getting outside the pocket and finding Travell Harris for a 17-yard completion that set up the McIntosh score.
3:37 – Washington State 14, Utah 7: The Utes go deep on 3rd-and-6 from inside their own 10 and quarterback Jake Bentley connects with Britian Covey down the left sideline for a 91-yard touchdown pass.
Jaylen Watson made a nice play for the Cougs to end the prior Utah drive, stripping wide receiver Samson Nacua after a short completion.
1:41 – Washington State 21, Utah 7: Jamire Calvin hauls in a 8-yard touchdown pass from Jayden de Laura and the Cougs are back up 14.
Calvin had three receptions for 71 yards on WSU’s four-play, 75-yard drive. He has 87 yards receiving on five catches.
De Laura is 15-of-20 passing for 188 yards.
1:21 – Washington State 28, Utah 7: Quarterback Jayden de Laura keeps it for a 3-yard rushing touchdown for the Cougs second TD in 20 seconds.
De Laura scored on the first play of the drive after WSU linebacker Jahad Woods intercepted Utah quarterback Jake Bentley’s pass at the Utah 39 and nearly took it back for a pick 6.
Halftime
Washington State 28, Utah 7: The Cougars lead by 21 thanks to two touchdowns in 20 seconds to close the second quarter.
After the WSU defense made its only mistake of the game – allowing a 91-yard touchdown pass from Jake Bentley to Britian Covey on 3rd-and-6 – the Cougs offense responded behind quarterback Jayden de Laura and wide receiver Jamire Calvin.
Calvin caught three passes for 71 yards – including and 8-yard TD strike from de Laura – as the Cougs drove right down the field to answer Utah’s touchdown and lead 21-7.
Senior linebacker Jahad Woods intercepted Bentley’s third-down pass on the next Utah drive, setting up de Laura to score the next play on a 3-yard run with 1:21 left in the half.
De Laura is 15-of-20 passing for 188 yards. Calvin has five receptions for 87 yards.
WSU jumped out to a 14-0 lead behind its two-piece combo at running back: Max Borghi and Deon McIntosh.
Borghi, playing in his first game of the season, scored the opening TD on an 8-yard carry. The junior has 71 yards on five rushes.
McIntosh scored on an 11-yard rush. The transfer from Notre Dame has 23 yards on six carries.
The WSU defense has three takeaways, two fumble recoveries and the interception by Woods. They have allowed 250 total yard to Utah, but 91 came on the scoring play.
The Cougars have 288 total yards and no turnovers.
Third quarter
6:09 – Washington State 28, Utah 14: The Utes trim the WSU lead to 14 on a 5-yard touchdown run by Ty Jordan.
Utah need nine plays to go 81 yards for the score.
Drew Lisk, who replaced starting quarterback Jake Bentley after Bentley’s second quarter interception, started the drive with a 20-yard completion to Bryan Thompson.
Jordan has 77 yards on 10 rushes.
The Cougars went three-and-out on their first drive of the half.
0:55 – Washington State 28, Utah 21: Wide receiver Bryan Thompson scores on a 9-yard run and the Utes have made it a one score game.
Thompson took an end around and the Cougars lost contain on the backside and he was able to win the race to the end zone.
Utah running back Ty Jordan hit 100 yards for the game on his 13th carry.
The WSU offense went three-and-out again. They have two total yards this half.
Fourth quarter
12:01 – Washington State 28, Utah 28: Utes running back Ty Jordan scores on a 33-yard run on fourth-and-1.
Jordan took the handoff off-tackle and got the edge to the sideline where he outraced the WSU defense.
Jordan has 135 yards on 16 carries. The Utes have 199 yards rushing yards, averaging 7.1 yards per carry.
WSU has zero total yards in the half after quarterback Jayden de Laura was sacked for a 10-yard loss on third down, forcing the Cougs to punt.
6:29 – Utah 35, Washington State 28: Ty Jordan finds the end zone for the third time this half and the Utes have completed the comeback and lead.
Jordan broke two tackles and spun over the goal line for a 13-yard rushing score. The freshman from Texas has 151 yards on 19 carries.
WSU turned the ball over in its own end, giving the Utes, who trailed 28-7 to start the half, great field position to take the lead.
Cougars running back Max Borghi took a handoff and raced into the defensive secondary where he was met by Utes safety Vonte Davis. Davis got his helmet on the football and knocked out loose after Borghi had run for 13 yards. Utah’s Clark Phillips picked up the loose ball at the WSU 24 and returned it to the 13.
Jordan scored two plays later.
2:06 – Utah 45, Washington State 28: Utes corner Clark Phillips intercepts Jayden de Laura’s third down pass and returns it 36 yards for a touchdown as Utah continues to pound WSU in the second half.
After three incompletions to start the possession, de Laura tried to jam his fourth down pass into zone coverage on the sideline.
Utah took a 10-point lead on Jadon Redding’s 44-yard field goal that was set up by a de Laura fumble and roughing the punter penalty on the Cougs.
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