With 45,905 reported fans in attendance on Thursday evening at Rice-Eccles Stadium — marking the 45th straight sellout — the University of Utah football team clinched its 10th straight season opener victory, 37-16, over North Dakota. It was a game where the offense started slow, penalties were called left and right and quarterback Tyler Huntley showcased his dual-threat talent.
“Offensively … we did some good things, but far too many penalties,” said Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham. “Far too many penalties overall as a team, but most of those coming on the offense. Ball security’s not good. Carrying the ball loose. We didn’t put it on the ground, but it’s a fumble waiting to happen if we don’t get that corrected.”
Huntley didn’t exactly get off on the right foot as he threw an interception in the first drive of the game to give North Dakota the ball on Utah’s 29-yard line. The Fighting Hawks were forced to kick a 32-yard field goal with 9:58 remaining in the first quarter that gave them a 3-0 lead.
On Utah’s next drive, running back Troy McCormick rushed for 11 yards, but a holding call lead to the field goal unit coming on. With a chance to tie the game, freshman kicker Chayden Johnston missed the field goal. The Utes went scoreless through the first quarter, and they had four penalties that cost them a total of 45 yards.
Huntley got Utah on the board with a 16-yard rushing touchdown with 14:24 left in the second quarter. After an incomplete pass on third-and-goal, North Dakota was forced to kick another field goal to bring the score within one. Utah remained on top 7-6 with 8:30 left before the half. Huntley then threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to connect with receiver Darren Carrington. A 14-6 lead belonged to the Utes with 6:10 left in the first half after senior kicker Matt Gay delivered with the extra point.
“It feels great actually,” Carrington said on scoring his first Utah touchdown. “I’m just happy to be here. Thankful for another chance.”
For the remainder of the half, field goals were the only points to get on the board. Gay’s 33-yard field goal with 1:15 on the clock put Utah up 17-6 before the Fighting Hawks added a 43-yard field goal to their score, but still in favor of Utah, 17-9.
Going into the half, Utah had 128 passing yards, 133 rushing yards for 261 total yards compared to North Dakota’s 51 passing and 41 rushing for 92 total yards. Huntley was 13-of-20 for 128 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
To start the second half, Huntley rushed for 9 yards before rushing for 25 to get the first down at the North Dakota 5-yard line. Zack Moss finished the drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown to put Utah up 24-9 with 8:46 to go in the third.
“It felt great,” Moss said. “We prepared all week, running backs especially, to come out and have a great game. … I think we executed pretty good.”
Huntley threw a pass to Harrison Handley and it was originally ruled a catch, but the call was reversed as Handley did not have possession of the ball. Huntley was able to get off an 11-yard pass to receiver Samson Nacua, but Utah fell short of the first down. Gay drilled his second field goal of the night, this one 33 yards out to extend Utah’s lead 27-9 in the third.
A 41-yard pass by North Dakota followed by a 32-yard pass lead to another Fighting Hawks score. North Dakota then scored a touchdown by virtue of a 3-yard pass near the beginning of the fourth quarter. McCormick went on a 43-yard run before a pass interference penalty by Siaosi Wilson pushed the team back 15 yards. Gay nailed a 49-yard field goal to put Utah up 30-16. To close out the game, Huntley drove in a 1-yard touchdown with 2:09 left on the clock.
“Defensively, some real good things, some not so good things as well,” Whittingham said. “We’re known for sacks and takeaways, and we only got one of each tonight. That’s got to change. We got to be better on defense at those havoc plays is what we call them.”
Utah finished the night with 499 total yards, 272 were rushing and 227 were from passing. Overall, the Utes racked up 11 penalties for 139 yards. Moss ran for 128 yards on 22 rushes, and he had one touchdown. Huntley went 23-of-32 for 227 yards with one interception, one touchdown and 18 rushes for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
Next up for the Utes, they will travel south to take on in-state rival BYU on Saturday, Sept. 9 at 8:15 p.m. MT.
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