Utah Brought The Storm In 42-10 Over The Sun Devils
Oct 11, 2025, 11:40 PM | Updated: 11:55 pm
Devon Dampier runs into the end zone against Arizona State. Photo by Joel Davidson
SALT LAKE CITY — The rain came down in sheets, lightning flicker rolled over the Rice Eccles Stadium, and for a brief moment it looked like kickoff might not happen on time. Utah football has built a mantra of ‘bringing the weather’—and Saturday night against No. 21 Arizona State, that theme played out perfectly.
The Utes overwhelmed the Sun Devils with the ground game, finishing the game with 276 yards and all six touchdowns. Devon Dampier finished with 120 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while going 7-of-12 for 104 yards through the “air” (read: rain).
Utah improves to 5-1 overall, 2-1 in Big 12 play, and a valuable win in the conference race. This will be a short lived celebration, as Utah will promptly turn the page to the rivalry game next Saturday.
Devon Dampier got Utah on the board first
With rain pelting the field and the wind swirling, Utah didn’t blink. Devon Dampier led a methodical opening drive that showcased the offense’s growing rhythm under Jason Beck.
Running back Wayshawn Parker ripped off an 11-yard gain to open things up, and Dallen Bentley added a tough 13-yard grab across the middle. Facing a 4th-and-2 from the Arizona State 12-yard line, Dampier kept the ball on an option read, cut inside a block, and slipped across the goal line.
.@Devonddampier splits the defense and takes it in for a 12 YD run🕸️🕷️
Tune into @ESPNCFB‼️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/IDT31ORQfj
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 12, 2025
Utah 7, Arizona State 0 — and that drive set the tone for the Utes the rest of the night. The Utes made clear they weren’t going to let weather or Arizona State dictate terms.
Wayshawn Parker, Daniel Bray, and NaQuari Rogers rotated in the backfield, pounding out yards behind an offensive line that gradually wore down the Sun Devils’ front. Dampier was the engine — converting two fourth downs on keepers, including a bruising touchdown run and a 24-yard burst through the heart of ASU’s defense.
Making 'em slip and slide on his way to the end zone‼️#GoUtes | @Devonddampier pic.twitter.com/oTSEAYJeMl
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 12, 2025
Defensively, Morgan Scalley’s group was every bit as physical. The corners — Smith Snowden and Blake Cotton — matched up in coverage against Jordyn Tyson, while Scooby Davis held down the other side of the field.
Lander Barton patrolled the middle with speed and violence. The Utah defense bent on a few early possessions but refused to break, forcing two red-zone stops and even blocking a field goal late in the half thanks to Jackson Bennee’s perfectly timed rush up the middle.
Not in this house☝️#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/7CJuiFffiy
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 12, 2025
As the rain died down, Utah’s offensive execution continued to shine. Dampier’s option-read game opened up lanes, Rogers exploded for a 22-yard touchdown before halftime, and the Utes jogged to the locker room with momentum on their side.
Finishing the job: Utah earns 42-10 win over Arizona State
Utah came out of the locker room still drenched but entirely in control, and the defense wasted no time proving the intermission hadn’t slowed its storm. A swift three-and-out from Arizona State’s opening drive gave Utah an opportunity to put this game out of reach.
On just the second play of Utah’s first drive of the half, Dampier found a wide open Ryan Davis streaking up the middle for a 56-yard gain, electrifying a relentless Rice Eccles crowd.
Two plays later, Dampier ran right on a speed-option play, evaded a defender, and somehow — with his left hand — flipped an audacious late pitch to NaQuari Rogers, who darted into the end zone.
Arizona State countered with its best stretch of the night — a six-minute, 75-yard drive capped by a Jordyn Tyson jet sweep. A questionable delay-of-game penalty deep in the red zone gave the Sun Devils an extra set of downs, but even with the officiating boost, it barely dented Utah’s control.
#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/u1F0FbEhSY
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 12, 2025
However, Dampier and the offense responded. Starting near midfield, Utah fed Bray for an 11-yard gain, then Dampier hit Bentley over the middle to move the chains again. Dampier escaped and bolted for 22 more yards, finishing the drive with his third rushing touchdown of the night. That made it 35–10, and the game was effectively done.
On ASU’s next series, the pass rush finally broke through — John Henry Daley notched two sacks, with a Levani Damuni sack on between them to force an absurd 4th-and-36. Then, true freshman Mana Carvalho added the exclamation mark with a slick 24-yard punt return, giving Utah short field position and another chance to flex its depth.
#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/u1F0FbEhSY
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 12, 2025
With Byrd Ficklin taking over at quarterback, Utah’s offense didn’t skip a beat. Wayshawn Parker ripped off a 19-yard run, and a few plays later, Ficklin finished the drive himself on a keeper — Utah’s sixth touchdown of the game.
By the time the clock hit zero, the scoreboard told the full story: Utah’s offense found its rhythm, the defense mauled Arizona State’s front, and the Utes had turned a stormy night into a statement win — one built, once again, on running the ball and playing big-boy defense.
