Utah Overcomes Penalties, Finds Rhythm in Gritty 31-6 Win Over Wyoming
Sep 13, 2025, 9:25 PM | Updated: Sep 14, 2025, 1:03 am
(Photo courtesy of Jordan Dowdle)
(Photo courtesy of Jordan Dowdle)
Laramie, WY — Utah’s trip to War Memorial Stadium was never going to be easy.
The altitude, the elements, and a scrappy Wyoming team combined to make Saturday’s matchup a grind.
But after a penalty-marred first half, the Utes regrouped, leaned on their defense, and eventually wore down the Cowboys in a hard-fought victory that showed both Utah’s flaws and its resilience.
🔴🔴🔴🔴
FINALUtah: 31
Wyoming: 06#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/xNgdVa3jTb— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 14, 2025
First Half: Wasted Chances
The opening half belonged more to Utah’s mistakes than to Wyoming’s resistance. The Utes repeatedly undercut themselves with costly penalties — false starts, holds, and a block in the back — that stalled promising drives and erased chunk plays.
Statistically, Utah dominated, holding a clear advantage in total yardage and yards per play, but the scoreboard told a different story. The Utah offense outgained Wyoming by 189 total yards, and the difference of 2.7 yards per play as well.
However, Utah had to settle for field goal tries, due in large part to penalties. The Utes had two early drives that got them inside the Wyoming 30-yard line, only for penalties to move them back, and leave freshman kicker Dillon Curtis to attempt and miss two 45-yard field goals.
While the offense failed to finish, the defense picked up the slack, led by John Henry Daley’s breakout performance. The edge rusher lived in Wyoming’s backfield, recording two sacks in the first half. His second — a strip sack of quarterback Kaden Anderson — showcased both his motor and his strength.
Daley’s presence forced Wyoming into uncomfortable down-and-distance situations all night. By intermission, Utah was pitching a defensive shutout, while the offense moved the ball well enough to be in control, but the score remained 3-0.
Second Half: Rhythm Restored
Whittingham shared that the only thing he said to the offense was “finish drives,” and that message was received loud and clear. Utah’s offense came out in the third quarter looking sharp, balanced, and confident.
First came a 10-play, 83-yard touchdown drive, capped by Dampier’s precision and poise. He looked much more decisive and did a tremendous job getting the ball to his playmakers. He also broke loose for a 23-yard gain that set Utah up at the 2-yard line, which NaQuari Rogers ultimately finished in the end zone.
Then the Utes followed with a marathon 19-play, 80-yard march, chewing up clock and spirit. After another drive that got deep into Wyoming territory, the penalties came in a flurry, sending Utah back to its own side of the field.
Then maybe the game’s defining moment: 3rd-and-21, Dampier found Dallen Bentley streaking up the sideline, hit him with a good pass, but short of the sticks. It seemed Bentley was going to be stopped short of the line to gain; instead, he lowered his shoulder and powered through a defender for the extra yard needed to move the chains.
That play flipped momentum squarely in Utah’s favor, and a few plays later was perhaps the highlight of the game: Dampier’s touchdown throw to Larry Simmons.
#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/8nW05pkhDG
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 14, 2025
Wyoming wasn’t done fighting, but Utah’s defense slammed the door in the fourth quarter. Jackson Bennee hauled in a pass and took it 57 yards the other way, setting the Utes up in the red zone. Just a few plays later, Dampier delivered a strike to JJ Buchanan from 14 yards out, putting the game out of reach.
.@BenneeJackson is a DAWG‼️😤#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/5XVBYrZ8Z7
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) September 14, 2025
Utah earns the 31-6 win
It wasn’t pretty. Utah’s first half was marred by penalties, miscues, and wasted red-zone trips. But the second half proved this team’s depth and resilience. Daley’s emergence, Dampier’s composure on long, grinding drives, and Bennee’s defensive spark all point to a group capable of correcting mistakes and finishing strong.
Against Wyoming, Utah found rhythm late — and found a way to win.
