This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Midway through the third quarter, quarterback Travis Wilson had retired to the sideline for good.
He had 11 completions. That was all he needed.
Utah's offense attack shredded their visitors apart Saturday afternoon, as Wilson's five-touchdown day headlined a 59-27 victory over Fresno State. From the opening play — a 41-yard pass — until well after the game was decided, Utah (2-0) passed and ran all over the Bulldogs to stay perfect entering their first bye week.
Most lingering questions left over from a strong but imperfect season-opening victory over Idaho State were answered with authority. Beating down an FBS opponent has a way of instilling confidence.
Wilson and his weapons had few flaws in their games: Wilson had a 213.5 passer rating as he tagged his two top receivers, Dres Anderson and Kenneth Scott, each for two touchdowns. The catches were often dazzling, including a 38-yard reception by Anderson for the Utes' first touchdown, and Kenneth Scott's sideline juking for a 36-yard score that effectively crushed Fresno State before halftime.
Offensive coordinator Dave Christensen unveiled more of his vision for Utah's offense, stretching the field with long passes and mixing in effective running from Devontae Booker, Bubba Poole and his quarterbacks. Even after Wilson was done for the day, backup quarterback Kendal Thompson led two touchdown drives in the second half — extra insurance in a satisfying win.
Defense was a strength early, as the Utes were able to score 24 straight points to open the game while Fresno State struggled. A week after being called "soft" by Idaho State coaches, Utah's defensive line punished Fresno State starter Brian Burrell, sacking him early and only allowing four net yards in the entire first quarter.
The Bulldogs found momentum under replacement quarterback Brandon Connette, who led three scoring drives and added a degree of difficulty with his runs. But it was too little, too late: The Utes led by as much as 38 in the second half.
— Kyle Goon
4th quarter, Utah 59-14 • Troy McCormick capped off a 14-play, 77-yard scoring drive with a 2-yard rush, and Utah has amassed 526 yards on 81 total plays.
There may be no quarterback controversy, but Utah can rest easier knowing that waiting in the wings is Kendal Thompson. Thompson, McCormick, Andre Lewis and Co. look like starters against this Fresno State group, battered in consecutive road blowouts against Pac-12 teams.
— Matthew Piper
13:55, 4th quarter, Utah 52-14 • You don't hear a lot about senior Andre Lewis. He's buried on Utah's wide receiver depth chart, but on display on a 45-yard catch and run from Lewis was just how dangerous Utah's backup skill position players can be, and what a far cry they are from last year's group.
Kendal Thompson is 2-for-5 for 58 yards and one touchdown and has four carries for 39 yards and another score
— Matthew Piper
2:21, 3rd quarter, Utah 45-14 • Brandon Connette is quietly putting together a strong case to be Fresno State's future starter.
After Brian Burrell failed to get a single first down in the first quarter, Connette has entered the game and gone 16-for-23 for 177 yards and one touchdown, adding 44 yards and one touchdown — a 1-yard run to cap a seven-play, 81-yard drive — on 13 carries.
— Matthew Piper
4:37, 3rd quarter, Utah 45-7 • Travis Wilson's day was done after going 11-for-20 for 181 yards and five touchdowns, but the results were much the same on backup Kendal Thompson's first drive.
Thompson kept it three times for 41 rushing yards, including a 14-yard rushing score to the pylon. Thompson started the second half against Idaho State before eventually giving way for third-stringer Brandon Cox.
— Matthew Piper
6:35, 3rd quarter, Utah 38-7 • Jason Fanaika, Filipo Mokofisi, Hunter Dimick and Clint Shepard all have sacks against Fresno State, who allowed just one against USC in the opener.
The Utah defensive line has dominated the line of scrimmage against the rush, too, with Fresno State rushing 32 times for 43 yards.
— Matthew Piper
9:34, 3rd quarter, Utah 38-7 • After Nate Orchard raced to recover a bad snap to Fresno quarterback Brandon Connette at the Bulldogs' 1, Travis Wilson found Dres Anderson in the back of the end zone for a 31-point lead.
Anderson's third catch gave him 84 yards and two touchdowns, and boosted Wilson's stats to 11-for-20 for 181 yards and five touchdowns.
— Matthew Piper
14:22, 3rd quarter, Utah 31-7 • Offensive linemen Nick Nowakowski and Hiva Lutui are in the game for Junior Salt and Siaosi Aiono, respectively.
Aiono walked off early at the end of the second quarter on his own power. A quick scan of the sideline doesn't show Salt, an offensive captain, anywhere.
Halftime, Utah 31-7 • One half into its first game against an FBS opponent, Utah has erased some of the lingering questions from its season opener.
Dynamic passing game? Check.
Suffocating defense? Check.
Can blow out a team that isn't in the FCS? Check. Check. Check.
Utah leads 31-7 after a big start from the Travis Wilson-led offense, with four touchdowns through the air. The Utes didn't quite get the shutout, but abused Fresno State early allowing only 4 yards of offense in the first quarter.
The Utes flew out hard and fast, as Travis Wilson went 10-for-18 throwing for 176 while hitting Dres Anderson, Kenneth Scott and Westlee Tonga for touchdowns. The junior quarterback also picked up 28 yards on the ground, while running back Bubba Poole led the rushing attack with 66 first-half yards
Utah built up a 24-0 lead before Fresno State was able to score behind its second-string quarterback Brandon Connette. But what little momentum the Bulldogs got was quashed by Scott's second touchdown, a 38-yard scamper down the sideline four minutes before halftime.
A week after being called "soft" by Idaho State coaches, Utah's defensive line punished Fresno State starter Brian Burrell. Clint Shepard and Hunter Dimick sacked the Bulldogs' quarterback in back-to-back plays on an early drive.
For the half, Fresno State only managed 130 yards of offense, only 37 rushing yards a week after having some success on the ground against USC.
— Kyle Goon
4:22, 2nd quarter, Utah 31-7 • Think Kenneth Scott is back to 100 percent? Sure looks like it.
Scott has caught six passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns, giving him three on the season, but his latest 36-yard scoring grab from Wilson showcased the yards-after-catch ability that made him such a dynamic target before his season-ending injury against Utah State in last season's opener.
— Matthew Piper
6:19, 2nd quarter, Utah 24-7 • Brandon Connette's 2-yard touchdown pass to Malique Micenheimer snapped Fresno's scoreless start to the game, and Connette on the whole hasn't been so bad.
Connette is 6-for-10 for 64 and one touchdown, and has rushed six times for 32.
— Matthew Piper
7:24, 2nd quarter, Utah 24-0 • Utah's Kaelin Clay, a senior who returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in the Utes' debut, walked off the field gingerly with the help of trainers after getting hammered by Fresno's Charles Washington while trying to catch a punt.
After being looked at by trainers, Clay was up and apparently testing his left leg on the sideline.
— Matthew Piper
7:31, 2nd quarter, Utah 24-0 • After a short intermission, the onslaught continues. Travis Wilson found Westlee Tonga over the middle on fourth-and-1 for Tonga's first touchdown of 2014.
Tonga has been one of Wilson's favorites in live situations during spring and fall camp and has been targeted fairly often so far this year.
— Matthew Piper
11:00, 2nd quarter, Utah 17-0 • Brandon Connette has made an immediate impact for Fresno State.
After starter Brian Burrell failed to get a first down in the first quarter, Connette rattled off four straight first downs before failing to complete an option pass that was ruled a foward pass on fourth down at Utah's 25.
The Blue Devils transfer rushed for 14 touchdowns last season and has six rushes for 32 yards.
— Matthew Piper
End, 1st quarter, Utah 17-0 • Utah's Bubba Poole was stuffed on fourth down at Fresno State's 19, the first whiff of good news for the Bulldogs in a quarter that saw them outgained 174-4.
Brandon Connette, a senior transfer from Duke, has entered the game for Fresno. Last week he threw two interceptions in the second quarter against USC. Utah, which had just three interceptions last season, is still searching for its first of 2014.
—Matthew Piper
2:21, 1st quarter, Utah 17-0 • Idaho State's offense started well against Utah, with its top two rushers combining for more than 190 yards and averaging 5-plus yards per carry.
Against Fresno State, no such worry. After five drives, Fresno State has exactly 2 yards, including -12 rushing yards. The Utes have five tackles for a loss.
— Matthew Piper
5:56, 1st quarter, Utah 17-0 • It's easy so far for Utah.
Fresno State's defense has gone three and out three times for a total of -5 yards. Meanwhile, Utah's offense has rolled to 132 yards — most recently a third-and-16 hookup for 38 yards from Travis Wilson to Dres Anderson, who was very, very open.
Anderson now has two catches for 79 yards. The touchdown was his first of the season.
— Matthew Piper
8:02, 1st quarter, Utah 10-0 • Kenneth Scott might quickly be becoming a favorite target for Travis Wilson in the red zone.
Wilson went to the 6-3 wideout first on second down and missed him, then again on third in the corner of the end zone. Scott went up over a defender for the grab and tapped his feet in-bounds for his second touchdown of the young season. His first, against Idaho State, was another toe-tapper.
— Matthew Piper
11:03, 1st quarter, Utah 3-0 • The Bulldogs went backward on three consecutive plays, with senior safety Eric Rowe making a tackle for a loss, Clint Shepard sacking quarterback Brian Burrell, and Hunter Dimick sacking him again.
Burrell's start thus far mirrors his start last week against USC. We'll see if Tim DeRuyter opts to go to the bullpen with Brandon Connette earlier this week. Last week, Burrell and Connette traded off quarters, to little effect.
— Matthew Piper
12:33, 1st quarter, Utah 3-0 • Days after becoming a new father, Andy Phillips made his first field goal of the 2014 season, 49 yards from the right hash.
Utah went five plays for 34 yards, with Travis Wilson connecting with Dres Anderson for a 41-yard gain on the first play of the game. Thus far this season, Wilson has shown confidence that if he puts it between Anderson and a defender, his guy will come down with it.
— Matthew Piper
14:30, 1st quarter • Fresno State came at Justin Thomas, who missed the Idaho State game with knee soreness, twice on Utah's first drive. Twice, Thomas had tight coverage, and the Bulldogs went three and out.
Utah prepares for its Saturday match-up with Fresno State. #Utes fired up for second home game of the year. #football http://t.co/2YUvgqHcXw
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) September 6, 2014— Matthew Piper
For a second straight week, the Utah football team (1-0) gets to experience the comforts of home.
But Saturday's opponent, Fresno State (0-1) is expected to offer just a bit more resistance than the Utes got in their season opener.
Utah is looking to stay undefeated at Rice-Eccles Stadium by crunching an old conference foe. The Bulldogs are coming off a rough loss to USC, but they're looking to push the Utes' revamped offense and a defense that struggled against the run last week.
Nine days ago, Utah opened the season with a healthy quarterback, Travis Wilson, and stampeded past Idaho State. But coach Kyle Whittingham has called for more domination on the line of scrimmage - on both sides of the ball — and the Utes will hope for a big run game between backs Devontae Booker and Bubba Poole.
Fresno State is rebuilding on offense, working in two quarterbacks Brian Burrell and Brandon Connette. The defense is experienced, led by standout safety Derron Smith, but let up more than 700 yards of offense last week to the Trojans.
- Kyle Goon