The long-anticipated Utah vs. BYU rivalry game returned with intense action as the Utah Utes took on the No. 9 BYU Cougars. The Deseret News is tracking every key moment of the matchup to keep fans informed of the latest updates.
Halftime Report: Utah Leads BYU 21-10
As the first half wrapped up, the Utah Utes established a solid 21-10 lead over BYU, thanks to a dominant second-quarter performance. Despite an initial back-and-forth in the first quarter, Utah’s offense came alive, giving them an 11-point advantage going into halftime.
BYU’s final drive of the half ended in frustration due to a false start penalty. With no timeouts left, the 10-second runoff rule applied, cutting their drive short and ending the half.
Key First-Half Stats
- Brandon Rose: Utah quarterback Brandon Rose completed 8 of 10 passes, racking up 87 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, he contributed on the ground, rushing for 44 yards, adding versatility to Utah’s offense.
- Utah’s Rushing Attack: The Utes gained 93 rushing yards by halftime, helping them control the clock and set the pace for the game.
- BYU’s Offensive Struggles: The Cougars managed 151 total yards, as Utah’s defense controlled possession for over 11 minutes in the second quarter alone. BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff completed 9 of 15 passes for 106 yards but found limited success due to mounting penalties.
- Penalties: Penalties plagued BYU in the first half, costing them 53 yards and hampering their progress on multiple drives.
Second Quarter Highlights
Utah 21, BYU 10 (1:46)
Utah closed out an impressive second quarter with a touchdown pass to Micah Bernard, bringing the score to 21-10. The Utes capitalized on BYU’s earlier failed fourth-down attempt at the BYU 45-yard line. After gaining momentum from two personal foul penalties on BYU, Utah orchestrated its third consecutive touchdown drive, solidifying control over the game.
Major Defensive Stop for Utah (3:22)
Utah’s defense delivered a crucial fourth-down stop at BYU’s 45-yard line. BYU attempted a short pass on fourth-and-1, but Zemaiah Vaughn stopped receiver Chase Roberts short of the line, securing possession for Utah.
Utes Regain the Lead (5:31)
Earlier in the second quarter, Utah reclaimed the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run from Brant Kuithe using a wildcat formation. This play put Utah ahead 14-10 and marked the beginning of their scoring surge.
