Still without their starting QB, Cam Rising, the Utes had no trouble dispensing with Weber State 31-7 at home in Rice-Eccles Stadium on their campus in Salt Lake City. Rising hasn’t suited up to play for Utah since tearing an ACL during the Rose Bowl in a 35-21 loss to Penn State on January 2nd of this year. This was the first start for Freshman QB Nate Johnson who was 13-of-21 for just seven ticks shy of 200 yards, 1 TD and no interceptions with almost half of those yards collected by Jr. WR Munir McClain on just three receptions—an average of 30 yards per catch. Freshman WR Mikey Matthews and Junior Money Parks picked up most of the rest with Parks also making it into the end zone with five minutes left in the first half on a 13 yard pass to go up 17-7 going into the break.
After deferring Utah got the ball back first to start the 2nd half and went on a typical Ute 9 play, 68 yard, close to five minute drive highlighted by Nate Johnson pass completions and Jaylon Glover runs with his last of the drive being a 2 yard scamper into the end-zone to go up 24-7 with over ten minutes left in the 3rd Qtr. After holding Utah to a three-and-out with more than five minutes left in the third Weber State got the ball after a 60 yard punt but the Utah defense, who has held this team together without their starting QB, picked the ball off for a 23 yard interception return for TD to go up 31-7 where it stayed the rest of the way with Weber State being held to a couple of three-and-outs on two of their next three possessions as well as fumbling the ball back to the Utes early in the 4th Qtr.
The game stats reveal just what a blow-out this was for Utah as they out-paced the Wildcats 23-5 in 1st downs; 193 yards to 66 passing yards; 231-61 rushing yards; were successful on 40% of their 3rd down attempts compared to just 27% for Weber State and 50% of those on 4th down; while also controlling the ball for a staggering 20 more minutes than their opponent.
Whether or not Utah will be as successful going forward as they enter conference play this Saturday as host to No. 22 UCLA AP Sports Writer Matthew Coles points out; “While waiting for Rising to return, Utah faces a mounting injury list with more than 15 regular contributors hobbled.” “We’ve got to start getting players back,” [head coach] Whittingham said. “We lost some more today. I have been coaching 40 years and I’ve never, never seen anything like this in that department.”