Utah Football Crushes Southern Utah In Home Opener
Sep 10, 2022, 11:16 AM | Updated: 2:44 pm
Dalton Kincaid #86 of the Utah Utes pulls in a pass against Mitch Price #7 of the Southern Utah Thunderbirds during the first half of their game September 10, 2022 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – After suffering a heartbreaking loss in Week 1 against Florida, the 13th-ranked Utah Utes bounced back with a blowout 73-7 win over Southern Utah.
Utah had nearly 600 yards of total offense, led by Cam Rising with 254 passing yards and three touchdowns. Dalton Kincaid caught seven passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
First @Utah_Football home game of the year. #GoUtes #UteProud #SUUvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/JGkM9jzdzU
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 10, 2022
First Quarter
Southern Utah tried to get the ball first by attempting an onside kick but touched the ball before it traveled 10 yards. Utah capitalized with a rushing touchdown by Tavion Thomas, his 11th consecutive TD. Utah was up 7-0 with 11 minutes remaining in the first.
1⃣1⃣ straight games with a @thiagoothomas9 TD for @Utah_Football.#GoUtes https://t.co/AQyUtMEY5p
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 10, 2022
Later in the first quarter, Tavion Thomas fumbled the ball and the Thunderbirds recovered. On the next play, Grady Robison ran in a 28-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven with under three minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
Second Quarter
With 14:38 left in the second quarter, Thomas scored his second touchdown of the half, this time from seven yards out. Utah took a 14-7 lead.
.@thiagoothomas9 x2⃣#GoUteshttps://t.co/haBIHPNWoT
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 10, 2022
Shortly after Thomas’ touchdown, Junior Tafuna got an interception on a deflected pass. Two plays later, Chris Curry ran in his first touchdown in a Utah uniform. The Utes had a 21-7 lead with 10:46 remaining in the first half.
.@JuniorTafuna45 INT ➡️ @thereal_chris24 1st @Utah_Football TD.#GoUtes https://t.co/qGOP1b1yJg
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 10, 2022
Utah’s defense forced the Thunderbirds to turn the ball over on downs. After a long run by Micah Bernard, Utah was stuffed in the red zone and was forced to kick a 26-yard field goal to extend their lead to 24-7 with 8:34 left in the half.
With 4:15 remaining in the second quarter, Cam Rising threw his first TD pass of the game, finding a wide-open Brant Kuithe for a two-yard TD on a play-action bootleg. Utah extended its lead to 31-7.
Fake handoff opens up Kuithe in the endzone. TD Utah. #GoUtes
— Michelle Bodkin (@BodkinKSLsports) September 10, 2022
Utah’s defense shut SUU down and the offense converted with a 37-yard touchdown catch by Dalton Kincaid. The Utes extended their lead to 38-7 with 1:08 remaining in the half. Utah got the ball back again and went down the field and Rising found Kincaid for the second consecutive TD and the Utes took a 45-7 lead into the halftime break.
.@_DaltonKincaid x2⃣ 🙌🏈#GoUtes https://t.co/9LT7z0MpwF
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 10, 2022
Third Quarter
Early in the quarter, Justin Miller threw the ball to an open part of the field in what looked like a miscommunication with his receiver, RJ Hubert easily intercepted the pass and returned it for a 39-yard TD. The Utes extended its lead to 52-7 with 13:53 remaining in the third.
RJ Hubert with his first career INT and 🏠 call.#GoUtes https://t.co/hKoPBqzfO8
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 10, 2022
Minutes later, true freshman Jaylon Glover ran in his first career touchdown from four yards out to give the Utes a 59-7 lead with 7:49 left in the third quarter.
Talk to ‘em @officiallyyjay1 💪 pic.twitter.com/AK87Gql2mo
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 10, 2022
Fourth Quarter
Less than one minute in the fourth quarter, Bryson Barnes threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Yassmin, his first career TD catch. Barnes completed all six of his passes for 98 yards and one touchdown since entering the game for Cam Rising in the third quarter. Utah extended their lead to 66-7 with 8:24 remaining in the game.
Another TNT TD 🧨@TYassmin21 pic.twitter.com/ZXRLvnlooM
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 10, 2022
Jaylon Glover scored his second touchdown of the game, this time from 29 yards out. Utah eclipsed the 70-point mark with a 73-7 lead with 10:54 to play in the game.
Make that 2 for Jay https://t.co/3ORtZ31RTr
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 10, 2022
Utah improved their record to 1-1 on the season. They will return to Rice-Eccles Stadium to face San Diego State on Saturday, September 17. Kickoff is at 8:00 p.m. MT on ESPN2.
