Utes Roll to Nine After Weather Delay
University of Utah senior linebacker Francis Bernard (13) celebrates after a touchdown from making an interception vs. Brigham Young University during an NCAA Football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. (Photo by Kiffer Creveling | The Daily Utah Chronicle)
August 30, 2019
Nine is fine. The No. 14 University of Utah football team won their ninth straight game against Brigham Young University in Provo with a final score of 30-12.
The game started slow for the Utah offense, with only 125 yards of total offense to BYU’s 196 going into the half. Fortunately for the Utes, they came out of halftime strong, and went ahead 16-6, finishing the game with over 300 total yards on offense.
BYU received the opening kick and after a subpar first drive had a turn-over on downs that let senior Tyler Huntley and the Utah offense a shot at scoring the first points of the season for both teams.
Making his triumphant return to the Utah football field, senior Zack Moss got the first, first down of the season. The drive was capped off by Andrew Strauch kicking a 41 yard field goal to go ahead 3-0 with 8:07 left in the first quarter.
BYU’s second drive wasn’t productive either but on the ensuing punt junior Britain Covey returned the punt 47 yards which put the ball on the BYU 32 yard line for Utah’s second drive of the season.
By the end of the first quarter Utah lead the Cougs 3-0.
(Photo by Cassandra Palor | The Daily Utah Chronicle)
The second half included two BYU field goals and a pick six for the former BYU linebacker turned Ute Francis Bernard.
“I spent two years here and I really enjoyed my time here. But getting that pick six was amazing,” Bernard said.
The Utes lead the Cougs 16-6 going into the half.
The second half was full of surprises. Not only did the Utah offense show what new offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig had been putting into place all off-season but the game was halted for just under an hour due to lightning in the area.
Right before the game was paused, senior Julian Blackmon picked off Zach Wilson and ran it back 39 yards for a Utah score that put the team up 30-6 with just under 13 minutes left in the game.
This was the second time that Blackmon has picked off Wilson during his career at Utah.
“I definitely take pride in it. I told him I was going to,” Blackmon said.
In his first game back from his injury Moss had 189 yards on 29 carries and 1 touchdown.
With this game in the rearview Kyle Whittingham believes it is time to move on and get ready for the next one.
“This one’s over with,” he started. “We have a couple of home games and then we get going in the Pac-12. We have a lot ahead of us, so it’s good to get this one in the rearview mirror. Away we go.”
This was also the first and last time that junior wide receiver Britain Covey would play in LaVell Edwards Stadium. Covey grew up watching BYU games in this stadium.
“I’ve dreamed of it my whole life. Just looking up at my seats where I had season tickets for a long time was surreal,” he said. “It was an emotional win for me because of everything that happened with my knee and coming back. It was hard and emotional but I’m grateful.”
The Utes will now turn their focus to Northern Illinois. The team will open up their home schedule next Saturday, Sept. 7. The game is set to kick off at 11:00 a.m.
