Although the Utes returned home from Tempe, Ariz. with a 49-26 win, it almost looked like it was going to be Utah on the flip side of that score.
Arizona State jumped out to an early 13-0 lead after the Sun Devils had caused the Utes to cough up the ball two times. Utah quickly got back into the game after Troy Williams found Raelon Singleton for a 64 yard touchdown to make it 13-7. Then Williams connected with Siaosi Williams for a 27 yard touchdown to give the Utes a 14-13 lead. The slow starts have been a problem for the Utes all season long, however.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham likes how the Utes played for the second, third and fourth quarters, but what he needs to see out his guys in these last two conference games is a complete game with all units working well together.
“It’s kind of a recurring theme of not starting out very well and digging ourselves into a hole,” Whittingham said. “But we’re continuing to stick to the game plan and do things without panicking and pressing. And we’re finding ways to claw back into the game, and [we’ll] hopefully take control of the game in the later stages and come away with a win.”
With the last two games on the schedule against Oregon and Colorado, the Utes are looking at it like a two game season, with two more Super Bowls they need to win if they want to make it to the Pac-12 Championship game.
Safeties stepping up
Marcus Williams was back in action for the Utes this past Thursday night against ASU. It was his first game back for the Utes after he was sidelined for several games because of injury. The first time the defense took the field with Williams back in the starting rotation, he got an interception.
Chase Hansen has also had a few interceptions this season, and Whittingham thinks this Utah duo is the best their in the nation.
“I think they’re as good a pair of safeties as I’ve seen in the country,” Whittingham said. “They complement each other. Chase is a safety/linebacker type of a player where he can do so many things. He can come down and block. Marcus is more of a safety/corner where he’s got great speed, athleticism and great range.”
Senior day
This Saturday’s game will honor all the Utah football players who are in their senior seasons. While this is something the team and schools across the nation face each year, it does not make it any easier to say goodbye to some guys who have been with the program for four or, in some instances, five years.
The majority of these seniors were also on a part of 2013 squad that had an overall record of 5-7, so Whittingham enjoys seeing where this group of seniors has taken the team since then.
This year, the team will be saying goodbye to Joe Williams, Tim Patrick, Hunter Dimick and Andy Phillips among a few more seniors.
“We’ve got a great group of seniors, and they have forged the way in the Pac-12 for us almost from the onset,” Whittingham said. “It’s going to be tough to say goodbye to them, but it’s a part of college football, you lose your senior class every year. But we want to make sure we send those guys out the right way.”
All the seniors will be honored before Saturday’s kickoff at 12 p.m. at Rice Eccles Stadium.
@kbrenneisen