Utah Runs Over Stanford In Blowout Win On The Road
Nov 5, 2021, 7:21 PM | Updated: 11:44 pm
Utah Utes running back Tavion Thomas (9) runs the ball in for his fourth touchdown, putting Utah up 28-0 over the Stanford Cardinal after the PAT, in Stanford, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
(Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah was very effective in the run game in their 52-7 blowout win at Stanford on Friday night in Palo Alto, California.
It was all about the running game for the Utah, racking up 441 yards. Tavion Thomas had 20 carries for 177 yards and four touchdowns. Micah Bernard posted 12 rush attempts for 110 yards and one TD. T.J. Pledger added four carries for 107 yards and one score.
The defense held Stanford to 167 yards of total offense.
Pregame
The Pac-12 Conference has been very supportive of the Utah football program after the Aaron Lowe tragedy. Stanford is the latest team to honor Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan by laying roses on the 22-yard line. The Cardinal tweeted out a photo with a little over two hours until kickoff.
#22Forever pic.twitter.com/er3ZIwxFmB
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) November 6, 2021
Stanford QB Tanner McKee was ruled out of the game about 90 minutes until game time. Jack West and Isaiah Sanders are both expected to play according to the Cardinal.
Tanner McKee has been ruled out for tonight’s game with an injury. Jack West and Isaiah Sanders are both expected to play in his absence. pic.twitter.com/iXQWMYQ2De
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) November 6, 2021
First Quarter
For the second straight week, Utah won the coin toss and elected to receive to start the game. Utah went ground-and-pound on the first drive with Cam Rising only attempting two passes. Between Tavion Thomas, Micah Bernard and Cam Rising, Utah ran the ball seven times for 47 yards. The drive was capped off with a 10-yard touchdown run by Thomas. That was his 11th TD of the season.
Utah took a 7-0 lead with 10:57 left in the first quarter.
Touchdown Tavion for the fifth straight game. 😤 #GoUtes #UTAHvsSTAN @thiagoothomas9 https://t.co/Xu3xC4sjvS
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2021
After forcing Stanford to punt on a three-and-out, Utah rolled down the field and Thomas found the end zone for the second time in the game and 12th this season. The Utes held a 14-0 lead with 6:15 left in the opening quarter.
.@thiagoothomas9 x2️⃣#GoUtes #UTAHvsSTAN https://t.co/MPJmo5d1Rd
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2021
Utah turned the ball over for the first time since the Arizona State game when Rising fumbled the ball. But Stanford couldn’t capitalize. After the first quarter, Utah had a 14-0 lead and limited Stanford to -13 yards, all rushing.
It's all @Utah_Football after one.#GoUtes #UTAHvsSTAN pic.twitter.com/uyM0aopeZQ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2021
Second Quarter
Early in the second quarter, Stanford punted the ball away. On the first play from scrimmage, Thomas busted out a 58-yard touchdown run to put the Utes up 21-0.
🎩🎩🎩@thiagoothomas9 2️⃣1️⃣@StanfordFball 0️⃣#GoUtes #UTAHvsSTAN https://t.co/eDmHf0YclO
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2021
Utah was able to get the ball back again and took 10 plays to go 90 yards that ended with Tavion Thomas’ fourth touchdown of the night. Utah was up 28-0 with 6:37 remaining until halftime.
.@thiagoothomas9 lives in the end zone. 🏠
Thomas has scored four touchdowns in each of the last two games. 🙌#GoUtes #UTAHvsSTAN https://t.co/DaWjrc1WDB
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2021
Stanford punted to Utah once again and T.J. Pledger broke out a 96-yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive. That was the longest rush in school history and the second-longest play from scrimmage.
.@uno_tj out there making @Utah_Football history. NBD. 💨#GoUtes #UTAHvsSTAN https://t.co/2sb9Lg3dMh
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2021
Utah kicked a field goal after getting the ball back just as time expired in the first half.
The Utes get a field goal as the first half ends.
It's all Utah on The Farm.#GoUtes #UTAHvsSTAN pic.twitter.com/my6U7IuoFm
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2021
Since 2004, only two other Power 5 teams have been outgained by 400+ in a half.
Kansas and West Virginia. Both against Baylor in 2013.
— Kyle Bonagura (@BonaguraESPN) November 6, 2021
Third Quarter
For the first time all game, Stanford went into Utah territory. The Cardinal found the end zone for the first time on a 4-yard TD by Isaiah Sanders. They cut Utah’s lead to 38-7 with 10:14 remaining in the third quarter.
.@Zay4G runs it in for 6⃣‼️ pic.twitter.com/ybuF57zC53
— Stanford Football (@StanfordFball) November 6, 2021
That was all the points that were scored in the third quarter.
15-minutes left and the Utes are looking good.#GoUtes #UTAHvsSTAN pic.twitter.com/MvRNGQHJ3w
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2021
Fourth Quarter
Utah faced a fourth and goal at their own three-yard line but Rising threw an incomplete pass. Stanford took over with 97 yards of field in front of them. The Cardinal had a third down play deep against their own end zone when Jack West threw it and Devin Lloyd snatched it out of the air and fell into the end zone. Utah’s lead extended to 45-7 with 12:11 to play.
.@DevinLloyd_ = Really Good Football Player 🙌#GoUtes #UTAHvsSTANhttps://t.co/4DE5AGFjDh
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2021
Micah Bernard put the nail in the coffin with an 11-yard TD to put Utah ahead 52-7 with 1:48 remaining in the game.
6 rushing TDs for the team tonight ‼️@ctb_mb pic.twitter.com/NfVL4pgURK
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 6, 2021
Utah improved their record to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in Pac-12 play. They will be on the road on Saturday, November 13 against Arizona. Kickoff is a noon MT on the Pac-12 Network.
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.
