Utah football: Long pass to Reed gives Utes spark to victory

Early in the third quarter of the Utah-Air Force game Saturday, the mood at Rice Eccles Stadium was as dreary as the weather.

Then, David Reed provided a little lightening.

With the Utes trailing 10-6, struggling on offense and buried deep in their own territory, Reed took a third-down slant pass from quarterback Terrance Cain

After slipping one tackle and breaking another by Air Force safety Luke Hyder, Reed raced 90 yards for a touchdown.

Along with energizing a rain-soaked crowd, the score put the Utes in front, 13-10.

Although the lead didn't hold up -- Utah eventually needed overtime to score a 23-16 win -- the Falcons never regained a lead after Reed's touchdown.

"That was a spark," said coach Kyle Whittingham.

The catch-and-run was the longest pass play by Utah since Alex Smith hit Steve Savoy for 78 yards in 2004.

It was the second-longest pass play in school history.

"We had the slant [open] all day," Reed said. "We just took advantage of it."

As Reed crossed midfield and gradually pulled away from the last two Air Force defender, he said, "I was just looking at the Jumbotron and saying, 'I can't be caught.'"

Before Reed's catch, Utah had gained a total of 114 yards, including 44 after Eddie Wide picked up a fumble by Cain and ran for a first-quarter touchdown.

"That's not a bad defense," Whittingham said. "... We knew it would be tough sledding."

Said Air Force coach Troy Calhoun: "We had them pinned. ... [But] when you have them pinned, you have to keep them down there. I loved the call. I loved the coverage. We just have to execute better."