The highly anticipated return of Cam Rising was a night to forget for Utah as a determined Arizona State Sun Devils team proved to be too much for the Utes to handle. The red zone woes have plagued Utah since Rising went out with injury, and unfortunately, that continued to be the difference maker as the Sun Devil defense made plays down the stretch and held the Utes offense in check. Multiple efforts late in the game to mount a comeback fell just short as Utah dropped their second straight game with a final score of 27-19.

First Half

Utah started the game showcasing senior running back Micah Bernard‘s rushing ability, converting multiple third downs and driving all the way to the Arizona State 29-yard line. Despite success on the ground, an incomplete pass on third down from Rising to Bernard brought out Cole Becker for his first of two field goals throughout quarter number one. Utes would strike first, 3-0.

Before Arizona State could get anything going offensively, a rare Junior Tafuna interception just three plays into the drive helped set up Utah on offense inside the Sun Devil 30-yard line. The excellent field position would not be enough, however, as Arizona State held strong defensively on third down and forced Utah into another field goal attempt. Becker would add his second field goal of the night, this time from 40 yards out, to give the Utes an early 6-0 lead.

After a less than ideal opening drive for ASU, the offensive woes would no longer be a problem as an 11-play, 81-yard drive capped off by a 26-yard touchdown helped tie things up, 6-6. A Utah three-and-out and another long Sun Devil touchdown drive helped add to the ASU lead as they took a 13-6 advantage midway through the second quarter.

Offensively, Utah continued to move the ball throughout the first half, but multiple crucial mistakes, including a Rising interception at the Arizona State 19-yard line, killed any momentum the Utes hoped to gain.

The theme of the season thus far has been the Utes’ inability to convert in the red zone, and that remained consistent as a 1st and goal from the 6-yard line failed to result in a touchdown, leaving Becker to knock in his third field goal of the night with 0:23 remaining in the first half.

Despite multiple drives deep in Arizona State territory, Utah would trail at halftime as the Sun Devils took a 13-9 lead into the locker room. The Utes have overcome adversity in the past under Rising, and they would have to do it again in the second half if they wanted to avoid back-to-back losses to unranked opponents.

Second Half

An early three-and-out forced by the Utah defense followed by a massive 23-yard run by Bernard were the exact momentum-shifting plays the Utes needed to cut into the Sun Devil lead, but another Rising interception in opposing territory halted a potential game-changing drive for Utah early on in the second half.

Fortunately for the Utes, the defense came out firing in the second half, forcing back-to-back three-and-outs and setting up Rising and the offense with another opportunity to put up points.

Bernard has been the workhorse running back this year for Utah, and that was on full display once again as the senior ran for 35 yards and finished off the 12-play, 79-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown to the right, helping the Utes take back the lead, 16-13.

Arizona State would not stay quite long, however, as a quick touchdown from the Sun Devil offense helped them take back the lead 20-16 with just 1:32 remaining in the third quarter.

The Utes offense responded accordingly, moving the ball at will down the field, but a failed fourth down conversion again in Sun Devil territory allowed the ASU defense to get off the field as time ticked away in the fourth quarter.

A massive fourth down stop by the Utah defense at Arizona State’s 30-yard line gave Utah an excellent opportunity to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. In Utah’s seventh drive, reaching opponent territory, the offense could not punch it in and instead settled for Becker’s fourth field goal of the game, cutting the Sun Devil lead to just 20-19 with 5:42 left in regulation.

After Arizona State extended their lead on a long touchdown run, 27-19, Rising threw his third interception of the game as the Utes attempted to mount a comeback.

The Utes would head back to Salt Lake City with a bad taste in their mouth as they fall to the Sun Devils, 27-19, dropping their second consecutive game. Utah could not find a way to get into the end zone the entire game, and that would be the difference maker in this loss.

Analysis

Bernard carried the bulk of the offensive load on the ground in this one finishing with 129 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.

Rising struggled mightily throwing the ball tonight completing just 16 of his 37 attempts for 209 yards and three interceptions. Dorian Singer was Rising’s favorite target as he hauled in four catches for 75 yards on the night.

Defensively, Utah held strong for the most part but a couple of big rushing touchdowns from the Sun Devils were the difference maker in what turned out to be a devastating loss for the Utes.

Utah will have to regroup and return with vengeance as they take on the TCU Horned Frogs next week Saturday at 8:30 p.m. MST.

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