Utah Holds First Half Lead Despite Being Outgained In Total Yards

PROVO, Utah – At the half of the BYU-Utah rivalry game, the 14th ranked Utah Utes hold a 9-6 lead over BYU.

Both defenses came to play. Utah’s defense made the highlight play of the first half picking off Zach Wilson for a pick-six. The eighth pick-six for the Utes since 2010 against BYU.

That pick-six by Utah linebacker Francis Bernard has been the difference in the game so far.

If you looked at the box score, you would think BYU was in the lead with the Cougars having a 71-yard edge in total yards through the first 30 minutes of action.

BYU’s offense had 196 yards in the first half while Utah had 125, with 52 of those coming on Utah’s last drive before the end of the first half.

Kicking Playing Big Role

There were question marks heading into this game surrounding both kickers for the Utes and Cougars. But both have done a solid job so far.

Utah’s Andrew Strauch booted a 41-yard field goal to give Utah a 3-0 lead and BYU’s Jake Oldroyd has booted a 32-yard and 37-yard field goals to get the Cougars on the scoreboard.

Strauch did have one miscue as he missed a PAT after the Francis Bernard pick-six touchdown.

Comparing the QB’s

BYU sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson has thrown for 131 yards in his first start since having shoulder surgery earlier this year.

Utah senior quarterback Tyler Huntley is 6-9 for only 33 yards. Again, the big difference remains the interception thrown by Wilson that led to the difference.

BYU gets cute on 3rd down in redzone

Speaking of quarterbacks, BYU had backup quarterback Jaren Hall lineup in the shotgun on a critical 3rd & 3 with BYU in the red zone looking to score. Hall suffered a 12-yard loss that backed up the Cougars and forced BYU to settle for a field goal.