Quarterback Luke Bottari led the Utes into its final regular season matchup against the UCF Knights on Saturday night as Isaac Wilson was sidelined due to an injury suffered last week. Bottari and the offense combined with the suffocating defense from the Utes proved to be too much for UCF to handle as Utah snapped its 7-game losing streak in dominant fashion, 28-14.
Recap
What started as a promising opening drive for UCF ended in disaster, as a Lander Barton strip sack recovered by Logan Fano helped set up Bottari and the Utah offense at the opposing 46-yard line. The Utes were able to move the ball with conviction early, but a false start on fourth and one brought out Cole Becker, who would knock in the 37-yard field goal, giving Utah an early 3-0 advantage.
As the rain started coming down in Central Florida, both teams struggled mightily to move the ball on offense as the two teams each punted three times consecutively. With 7:45 remaining in the second quarter, however, a Zemaiah Vaughn interception returned for a touchdown gave the Utes a 10-0 lead late in the half.
Despite the pick-six given up by the Knights, its offense had an answer as a 10-play 89-yard drive capped off by an RJ Harvey touchdown helped UCF cut into the lead, 10-7.
Bottari and the offense would not go away as a couple long runs from Micah Bernard and a 33-yard reception for Zacharyus Williams set up Utah in the red zone. Unfortunately for the Utes, an incomplete pass on third down brought out the kicking unit, this time led by Trey Coleman as Becker left the game with an injury after his first quarter kick. Coleman didn’t blink, however, as he knocked in the 24-yarder to give Utah a 13-7 lead into halftime.
The second half was reminiscent of the first as both teams continued to exchange punts until a fourth down sack by the Ute defense with 4:59 to go in the third quarter set up the Utah offense inside UCF territory once gain. Utah has struggled converting on fourth down all year but early in the drive a beautiful ball from Bottari to Williams on fourth and three gave the Utes a fresh set of downs at the UCF 27-yard line as the 3rd quarter came to a close.
Utah opened up the fourth quarter, firing on all cylinders as Bottari fit a tight window in the back left corner of the end zone, finding Landen King for the 15-yard touchdown. A perfectly executed shovel pass from Bottari to Bernard on the 2-point conversion attempt extended Utah’s lead, 21-7, with just 14:46 remaining in the game.
Defensively, Utah has been one of the best teams in the conference this year and that continued in this game as multiple fourth down stops and 5 sacks capped off by a Smith Snowden interception return for a touchdown paved the way to a dominant 28-14 victory in the final game of the 2024 regular season.
Analysis
In a pleasant turn of events for Utah, the Utes pulled off their biggest defeat since Utah State earlier this year, securing a 14-point victory over the Knights.
Defense was certainly the name of the game this evening, with the Utes pulling off two interceptions that resulted in two return touchdowns. On the tackle side, Karene Reid led the way, with 10 total tackles and eight solo. Barton trailed with six of his own, on top of two total sacks.
Thought Bottari didn’t have an overwhelming number of passing yards, he held his own going 13-20 with 111 yards total. Bernard led the night in rushing with 87 yards, while Williams led in receiving with 72.
Since the Utes are no longer bowl eligible after their loss to Iowa State last week, tonight’s win over Central Florida marks the end of their inaugural season in the Big 12, with an overall record of 5-7. This victory should add an improved sense of morale across the team heading into the offseason, before the Utes return next year to fight their way to the top.
