Three Takeaways From Utah’s Win Over Arizona

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The seventh ranked University of Utah football team won their seventh straight game taking down the Arizona Wildcats, 35-7.

Utah scored two touchdowns in both the first and third quarters before adding one more score in the fourth. Their defense held Arizona scoreless until the final drive of the fourth quarter with their backups in the game.

Here is the Crimson Corner’s “three point stance” from Utah’s win over Arizona:

Utah’s Defense In Playing On Another Level

It was another showcase performance for the Utah defense and continues to show why they are one of the best units in college football. For the sixth time this season, they have held their opponent to less than 10 points. They suffocate the opponent’s run game and is nearly a “no-fly” zone in the passing game.

They held the Wildcats to 196 yards of total offense (135 passing, 61 rushing) and 11 first downs. Utah was able to hold their own on third down, allowing Arizona to covert twice on third down on 12 attempts and forced two turnovers on downs.

Make that six opponents held under 10 points this season. Utes win! #goutes #LightTheU pic.twitter.com/dDXpW3xd7b

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 24, 2019

Linebacker Francis Bernard led the team with eight tackles, including seven solo tackles and one tackle for loss. Bradlee Anae finished with seven tackles and one sack, putting his career sack total to 28, which is good for second in school history and is two sacks away from breaking the record. The other opponents that were held to under 10 points include Idaho State (31-0), Oregon State (52-7), Arizona State (21-3), California (35-0) and UCLA (49-3).

Arizona used two quarterbacks throughout the game with Gunnell getting the start. He completed 8 of his 16 attempts for 96 yards. Khalil Tate recorded just 39 passing yards on 6-11 passing. In their rushing attack, J.J. Taylor was held to 33 yards on 10 attempts. Six other players had rushing attempts but didn’t get more than seven yards.

Brant Kuithe Is Turning Heads

After a career performance last week against UCLA with 5 catches for 132 yards and one touchdown, sophomore Brant Kuithe had another fantastic performance and is starting to turn heads as a special talent at tight end. In the win over Arizona, Kuithe finished with two carries for nine yards and two touchdowns, along with 4 receptions for 81 yards.

💪 start!
Demari Simpkins scores and the Utes go up 14-0.
📺: FS1#goutes pic.twitter.com/ZTbR12l8rI

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 24, 2019

“He can do everything that we ask him to do,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said about Kuithe after the Arizona game. “He is not the typical size of a tight end, but he is fast, athletic and quick and he has great hand-eye coordination. He is just a throwback football player and is just a good ole fashion football player.”

Kuithe now leads the team in catches (tied with Demari Simpkins), yards and touchdowns through the air. He has 487 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Zack Moss Owning Every School Record

Moss added two more reasons why he is the greatest running back in Utah football history. In the first quarter against Arizona, Moss needed 45 yards to reach 1,000 yards on the season and he did that by the second offensive drive. It’s the third straight season that Moss has rushed for over 1,000 yards.

It’s the first time in school history that a Utah football running back has three 1,000 rushing yard seasons in a career.

‼️ANOTHER RECORD FOR @PresMoss2 ‼️

3 times a thousand yard rusher. First in school history. pic.twitter.com/jPQxoOCVpQ

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 24, 2019

The next record was when he had his 649th rushing attempt of his career. He passed Tony Lindsay, who had 648 rushing attempts in his career from 1977-80. Moss now has 180 carries for 1,158 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. He leads the Pac-12 in yards and touchdowns and is the only 1,000 rusher in the conference to this point in the season.

The senior holds the following records:

• Most career 100-yard rushing games
• Rushing touchdowns
• Rushing yards
• Total touchdowns
• Most 1,000 yard rushing seasons
• Rushing attempts

Utah improved to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in Pac-12 play. They will clinch a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game with a win at home over Colorado on Saturday in their regular season finale. The game will kickoff at 5:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ABC.

The Crimson Corner podcast is the one-stop for all things University of Utah Athletics hosted by Utah insider Trevor Allen. Ute fans will find interviews with current players, coaches, and staff alongside expert analysis of every game, story and angle coming out of the University of Utah.

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