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As trainers walked across midfield with Kenneth Scott limping between them, Jared Norris and Gionni Paul looked at each other with the same thought.

"Man, the trainers are struggling — let's go help," as Paul recalled later.

The two senior linebackers dashed out to Scott's side and held him up the rest of the way to the sideline, a tender moment between team captains.

Utah's banged-up offense leaned on the defense again in a 20-14 victory over Colorado — in more ways than one.

It's nothing new this season, but the numbers still impress: Utah's defense held the Buffaloes to 49 yards on the ground, sacked their quarterbacks six times (and took one out of the game), and managed to get three turnovers to make up for a fumble-prone attack.

The final one turned out to be the game-winner: Viliseni Fauonuku collapsed the pocket for his fourth and final sack of the game. Jordan Gehrke lost the ball, and Norris pounced on it for his first fumble recovery of the season, and the last he'll ever get at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Between Fauonuku's sacks, Paul's 13 tackles and an interception, and Norris' clinching turnover, the trio of seniors made an otherwise ugly game a memorable one.

"It's our job," Fauonuku said, matter-of-factly. "It's our job to go out there and line up. We just take it one play at a time. It doesn't matter if the offense is rocky, or special teams is rocky, we do what we do."

In a snowy start, the defense looked rocky itself.

Colorado's first two drives accumulated 138 yards on 19 plays, both leading to the red zone. The Utes were on their heels between Phillip Lindsay's rushing attack and Nelson Spruce in the receiving game.

But both times, the defense stood tall. A sack on the first drive led to a field-goal attempt that was blocked by the long arms of Kylie Fitts. Marcus Williams put an end to the second with an interception off a tipped pass, the fifth time the sophomore safety has gotten a pick this year.

"I room with Marcus the night before the game," Tevin Carter said. "Every time he wakes up in the morning, he yells out, 'Pick six!' Every morning. I expect big plays from Marcus because he thinks about it every day."

Before long, the Utes were dictating everything on defense: The only score in the first three quarters came from a possession that started on a muffed punt in Utah territory.

But on the final Colorado drive, the Utes were reeling after allowing a Lindsay touchdown. When CU got the ball back with 2:28 left, it was time to regroup.

They did, with two sacks and a turnover. It was nothing unique from Utah's defense, which showed how special the defense is.

"It's awesome, man," Fitts said, walking off the field. "Watching Jared, watching Seni, all the sacks. It's awesome to experience this."

Twitter: @kylegoon —

Utah's defense holds up

• Utes notch two sacks and a fumble recovery on Colorado's final drive.

• Utah accumulates six sacks, led by Villiseni Fauonuku with four.

• Utes get three interceptions and a fumble recovery for the game.