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It deserves to be remembered.

The run, the magnificent run as Devontae Booker staked his claim as Utah's featured back. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound pinball ran to the left, fought through two arm tackles and broke free. He didn't stop for 76 yards, when the green turf under him had become red.

He wanted to be Utah's starter, and he's said as much this season, but not like this. Not on a night when the chief memory will be how the Utes' attack faltered and allowed Washington State to come back for a 28-27 win at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

It should have been a happy moment for Booker, sitting in front of the media in a postgame press conference, eyes on him. But the final score was a more pressing numbers than his rushing yard totals. It ate at him.

"We had a 21-point lead. Everything went down south from there," he said, eyes cast down. "We had a lot of opportunities to win, but we didn't."

The offense didn't find much rhythm or success Saturday night, but just about every victory on that side of the ball could be directly tied to Booker.

He had 178 yards on 24 carries, just about 50 percent of the offense Utah could muster. His 76-yard touchdown run, Utah's only offensive touchdown of the game, was the centerpiece, but Booker charged hard on every carry.

He broke tackles. He leaned forward for yards when it appeared his progress had stopped. Washington State didn't have an answer for him, and his chief competition, Bubba Poole, was mostly confined to the sidelines.

In the end, Booker had more yards than any Utah running back since John White ran for 185 in 2011, also against Washington State. But that game was a win. What Utah lacked this time was enough help around Booker to pull out a game it had every chance to win.

"He had the big run early, and he ran hard," coach Kyle Whittingham said. "Kept doing his thing, and came away with 170. But you gotta be balanced. We weren't good enough in the throw game."

Going forward, Utah knows it has a running back it can build around. Booker has the physical style that can wear a defense down. The Utes didn't have pieces to complement him Saturday.

But Booker didn't worry about who did and didn't perform. The bottom line, he said, is all that mattered.

"I don't put no blame on anybody," he said. "We all play out there as a team. We just got to watch film on Monday and regroup ourselves." —

More coverage

• Devontae Booker gains 178 yards, accounting for half of Utah's offense.

• Highlight of the game is his 76-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

• Booker has most single-game rushing yards for a Utah back since John White had 185 against Washington State in 2011.