This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
The Utes traveled to Tempe without two of their best defenders this weekend.
Cornerback Eric Rowe and safety Tevin Carter, two of the senior leaders of the unit, stayed behind. Carter missed his third straight game, while Rowe missed his first after exiting early in the second half against USC.
Senior Davion Orphey started at corner for Rowe, while freshman Marcus Williams started at safety for Carter.
Together, Rowe and Carter have been two of the more robust playmakers on the defense. Though Carter has played in only four games, he has two interceptions on the year and 3.5 tackles for a loss. Rowe has 35 tackles, a pick-six and a blocked kick on the season.
Orphey made his second straight start at corner, while Williams started for the third time this year.
On the flip side, center Siaosi Aiono made another start at center. Aiono's status was up in the air earlier in the week when he left early against USC and had to be helped off the field.
Familiar ground for Erickson
For the second straight road game, Utah running backs coach Dennis Erickson was haunting an old home.
The longtime head coach last led a program when he was in Tempe, bringing Arizona State a 31-31 record from 2007 to 2011. Erickson's best season with the Sun Devils was his first: He led a 10-3 campaign on the way to conference coach-of-the-year honors.
But time soured his tenure. Erickson ended up losing 28 games over his final four seasons and missed a bowl game in the middle three seasons of his time at ASU.
Erickson faced Arizona State last season, but this is his first return to Tempe as a member of an opposing coaching staff since he was dismissed. Erickson previously made a homecoming at Oregon State for Utah's 29-23 double-overtime win at Reser Stadium.
Utah's next opponent with a statement win
While Utah was unable to look ahead with its hands full against Arizona State, if the Utes had, they wouldn't've liked what they saw.
Oregon pounded Stanford, 45-16, at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks gained 525 yards of total offense — almost an equal split between run and pass — and quarterback Marcus Mariota threw two touchdowns and ran for two more with 343 yards of total offense.
The No. 5 Ducks are scheduled to kick off at Rice-Eccles on Nov. 1 at 8 p.m.
Twitter: @kylegoon