SAN DIEGO — Two plays, two touchdowns. And just like that, Eric Weddle turned a gridlocked grudge-match into a rout.
And he was just getting started.
The MWC’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year scored on consecutive plays in the second quarter-once on offense, once on defense-to stake the Utes out to a big lead en route to their third victory in a row, 38-7 over San Diego State in the conference opener.
“He just knows how to get the job done-Eric ‘Amazing’ Weddle,” tailback Darryl Poston said. “You never can doubt him.”
Over the next three quarters, in addition to blanketing the SDSU receiving corps, Weddle added two more interceptions and a third touchdown, almost single-handedly earning the Utes the victory.
“You dream about those situations,” Weddle said. “To run back one and then later in the game run back another, that’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
Weddle had been under the radar for the first three games of the season, as teams made concerted efforts to stay away from him. But the Aztecs challenged him Saturday, and in order to return to his playmaking self, all he needed was a little motivation — which came in the form of SDSU wideout Brett Swain.
Down 7-0 late in the first quarter, Swain beat Weddle down the left sideline — a rare feat — and scored the game-tying 18-yard touchdown.
“They went my way a couple times. That first ball they threw at me was a touchdown?I was pissed off about it, but I knew I had to make it up to the team and to myself for giving that up,” Weddle said.
Indeed, that was as good as it got for Swain and the Aztec offense. Early in the second frame, Weddle capped off an 11-play, 76-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Lining up at quarterback in an unusual formation featuring just three offensive linemen and a trio of receivers split on either side, Weddle took the snap, found a crease in the Aztec D-line and dove through it, just crossing the goal line to give Utah a 14-7 lead.
“That was pretty sweet to get in there and help the O out. They’re doing their job, and they don’t really need me; I’m just in there to change it up and get some first downs,” Weddle said.
The Aztecs’ chance to answer back didn’t last long, as Weddle picked off Darren Mougey over the middle, cut left, then ran across the other side of the field for a 30-yard touchdown.
“We came out in a nickel?they came out with two running backs and a tight end, and we tried to match up,” Weddle said. “They ran a boot, and I just tried to track down the guy-because he wasn’t mine-but I tracked him down. (Mougey) threw it behind him, and I was able to make the pick.”
Weddle ended a nice-looking Aztec drive with his second pick of the day late in the first half, and put the finishing touch on the Utes’ decisive victory in the fourth, stepping in front of another Mougey pass and racing 30 yards down the left sideline for his third and final score of the evening.
“Don’t score on Eric Weddle — it’s a big mistake apparently,” said U head coach Kyle Whittingham. “Eric’s been a little frustrated the first three weeks because he’s been kind of quiet-nothing that he’s doing wrong, but people weren’t going at him. Tonight, they went at him and they came up on the short end.”
The Ute defense as a whole put together an impressive effort against the Aztecs (0-3, 0-1 MWC), who are still searching for their first win under new head coach Chuck Long. The Utes (3-1, 1-0 MWC) had five interceptions on the day — including picks on three straight Aztec drives in the second half.
Mougey and the Aztec passing attack were limited to just 83 yards through the air-the team only advanced into Ute territory twice after the first quarter.
“We saw some things offensively that we could take advantage of, and we did our best to take advantage of it tonight,” free safety Steve Tate said. “All in all, it was a good defensive effort and a good team effort tonight.”
The victory came at a crucial time for the Utes, whose consecutive blowout victories in the two weeks prior had come against less-than-stellar opponents. Saturday’s win over the Aztecs, however, was every bit as decisive. And for a team that dropped three of its first four conference games last season, it couldn’t have been any bigger.
“It’s huge to get off on the right foot,” Whittingham said. “You don’t want to get yourself behind the 8-ball in game one, that’s for sure.”
Darryl Poston scored twice for the Utes, diving for a 1-yard run for the game’s first score and snagging an 18-yard TD pass from Brett Ratliff in the third quarter. He and Darrell Mack combined for a solid ground attack, totaling 99 yards on 27 carries.
The Utes’ next challenge is next week against Boise State at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.