Utah Takes Full Control Of Pac-12 South Race With Big Win Over UCLA
Oct 30, 2021, 8:08 PM | Updated: 11:38 pm
Utah Utes tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) is upended by UCLA Bruins defensive back Stephan Blaylock (4) in thee first quart of the game between Utah and UCLA at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021. (Deseret News)
(Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah football now has full control of their destiny in the Pac-12 South race with a big win over the UCLA Bruins on Saturday night.
The Utes hosted the Bruins at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, October 30.
Utah beat UCLA, 44-24.
.@Utah_Football picks up its fourth @pac12 win of the season. 🙌#GoUtes #UCLAvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/i5tJPVRLm1
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 31, 2021
Pregame
Utah will retire number 22 between the first and second quarter.
Number 22 going up there tonight. #LLAL #LLTJ #22forever pic.twitter.com/Y8gqNeJHBi
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 31, 2021
When they unveil the number inside Rice-Eccles Stadium, they will unveil a decal near the Utes’ tunnel.
The #22forever decal that will be unveiled tonight. #LLTJ #LLAL pic.twitter.com/xsnFz0CjTk
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 31, 2021
According to the UCLA’s radio broadcast, quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson is out and Ethan Garbers will start.
Overhearing the UCLA beat writers sitting next to me that Dorian Thompson-Robinson will not play tonight. That means Ethan Garbers will get the start for the Bruins.#GoUtes #UCLAvsUTAH @kslsports
— Trevor Allen (@TrevorASports) October 31, 2021
First Quarter
It was a great start for Utah as they got the ball to begin the game. They went up the field on a 9-play, 75-yard drive that finished with a 10-yard TD run by Tavion Thomas. That gave Utah a 7-0 lead with 11:26 to play in the first quarter.
.@thiagoothomas9 finds pay dirt for the seventh time this season. 😤#GoUtes #UCLAvsUTAH https://t.co/xupWkxGyaH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 31, 2021
UCLA was able to get down the field as well on their first drive of the game. They converted on fourth down and got inside the 10-yard line. On third and goal, UCLA snapped the ball before Ethan Garbers was ready but was able to get on top of the ball before the Utes did.
The Bruins settled for a 28-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 7-3 with 3:48 left in the opening quarter.
The first drive of the game for UCLA results in a 28-yard field goal from Nicholas Barr-Mira (@nickbarrmira), and the Bruins are on the board.
Utah 7, UCLA 3
3:48 – 1st quarter💻: https://t.co/LqDEMgXUTo
📺: ESPN#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/XP60htWIc6— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) October 31, 2021
Second Quarter
Just before the second quarter started, Utah football retired number 22 in honor of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe.
Number 22 is officially retired. #22forever #LLTJ #LLAL pic.twitter.com/62L75pOgwT
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 31, 2021
Right after the second quarter started, Tavion Thomas found the end zone for the second time in the game. Utah held a 14-3 lead with 14:55 to play until halftime.
.@thiagoothomas9 lives in the end zone 🏠 🙌#GoUtes #UCLAvsUTAH https://t.co/TgFv12Wjxn
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 31, 2021
After UCLA got the ball back, they were able to get a 30-yard rushing touchdown by Zach Charbonnet. Utah’s lead was 14-10 with 9:06 remaining in the first half.
Fourth down? No problem for Zach Charbonnet, who busts out for a 30-yard touchdown run!
Utah 14, UCLA 10
9:06 – 2nd quarter💻: https://t.co/LqDEMgXUTo
📺: ESPN#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/qykIMDZchD— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) October 31, 2021
Utah answered with another impressive drive, resulting in a four-yard TD pass from Cam Rising to Dalton Kincaid. The Utes had a 21-10 lead with 5:51 remaining in the second quarter.
.@crising7 💪 @_DaltonKincaid 🙌 #GoUtes #UCLAvsUTAHhttps://t.co/uPoeZRexJn
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 31, 2021
The Bruins had their drive come to a screeching halt with as Ethan Garbers threw an interception to Nephi Sewell, who returned it to the UCLA 17-yard line. Two plays later, Tavion Thomas ran in his third touchdown of the night and Utah had a commanding 28-10 advantage with 4:27 until halftime.
🎩🎩🎩 @thiagoothomas9#GoUtes #UCLAvsUTAHhttps://t.co/VaM1tXdYbI
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 31, 2021
UCLA was able to get in field goal position but missed a 54-yard field goal as time expired.
At the half, @Utah_Football is looking good on both sides of the ball.#GoUtes #UCLAvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/ppM4RB15Sf
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 31, 2021
The only score in the third quarter came with 4:59 remaining when Ethan Garbers threw a four-yard TD to Michael Ezeike and Utah’s lead was cut down to 28-17.
Fourth Quarter
The very first play of the fourth quarter was a 12-yard rushing touchdown by Cam Rising to extend Utah’s lead to 35-17 with 14:55 to play.
Cam with the keeper 🙌 #GoUtes #UCLAvsUTAH @crising7https://t.co/M1rNKJVMk9
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 31, 2021
The Bruins countered by getting down the field and capping the drive off with a nine-yard TD catch by Greg Dulcich and the game was back to within 11, 35-24 with 11:04 to play.
Hauati Pututau sacked Garbers in the end zone for a safety with 7:16 left to play and made it 37-24 Utes.
Thomas ran for his fourth touchdown of the game with 4:40 remaining to put Utah up 44-24.
Tavion Thomas finds the end zone again. 😤#GoUtes #UCLAvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/PzJuJHWIaT
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 31, 2021
Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com, Co-Host of Faith, Family and Football podcast with Clark Phillips III and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports.
