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Boulder, Colo. • It was about time, said junior quarterback Travis Wilson, that Utah's offense gave the defense a lift.
In what was almost a Stumble in the Rockies, Utah leaned on its maligned passing attack for a 38-34 victory and the school's first winning conference record since joining the Pac-12 in 2011.
"It was definitely our turn to play well for the defense," Wilson said. "Our defense has played great so many games throughout the season, so it was really our job on offense to play for them."
Wilson finished with 311 yards — tying his career mark, set against Arizona in 2012 — and three touchdowns, and the Utes overcame an eight-point halftime deficit in the fourth straight dramatic conclusion between the arranged rivals.
Junior running back Devontae Booker finished with 25 carries for 95 yards — including two key first downs to ice the 8-4 record — and senior wideout Kaelin Clay caught 10 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
The Utes trailed 24-16 at the half, behind three rushing scores from Christian Powell and collected play from Liufau.
The decisive play came in the fourth quarter, when Nate Orchard may have pressured Sefo Liufau earlier than he expected on a screen play, and Colorado's sophomore quarterback airmailed the ball into the hands of alert sophomore defensive back Dominique Hatfield, who returned it 20 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
Earlier in the third quarter, before a 35-yard Andy Phillips field goal, Liufau connected with junior wideout Nelson Spruce — quiet to that point — for a 66-yard third-quarter scoring strike to retake the lead at 34-28 and set new CU single-season records for passing yards in a single season (3,170) and touchdown receptions by a wideout (12).
Utah's defense seemed in shambles.
But they clamped down after that. Shredded for 283 yards before halftime, they conceded just 84 yards in the second, outside of Spruce's gallop.
It was the fourth straight regular season finale between the two that has been decided by a touchdown or less. Utah expected nothing less.
"We knew we were going to be in a dogfight," Clay said. "Colorado's a great team. The record might not show it, but if you watch their games, they've been in a lot of close games."
Wilson appeared to throw his fifth interception of the season to senior strong safety Terrel Smith shortly after the restart, but a review showed the ball hit the ground, and Utah dialed up a fake punt that Tom Hackett carried 24 yards for a first down. Wilson then found senior tight end Westlee Tonga for 42- and 7-yard gains, downed just short of the goal line on the latter, and then Booker took a direct snap and dove to the left to pull the Utes within two.
The Buffs extended their edge to five on a 46-yard Will Oliver field goal, but the Utes roared back with a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 28-yard Wilson pass to a waiting Tonga for a 1-point advantage at 28-27.
Tonga finished with a career-high 77 receiving yards.
"It was good to see the passing game make a major contribution to what we're doing," said head coach Kyle Whittingham afterward. "We needed that."
Now the Utes await their bowl destination, with the selection show next Sunday and the Pac-12 Championship Game between Arizona and Oregon to be played in Santa Clara, Calif., on Friday.
"It wasn't a perfect season by any means," said Whittingham afterward. "We've got a lot of things we've got to get better at, and things that we're not there yet with, but as far as taking steps forward, I don't think there's any question about that."
Sophomore place kicker Andy Phillips was 2-for-2 but missed an extra point for the first time in his career after 78 consecutive makes. Utah tried to offset the difference with a Statue of Liberty attempt after Booker's touchdown, but Colorado didn't fall for the fake. Later, Ahkello Witherspoon picked off Wilson's two-point pass attempt.
But in the end, it wasn't needed.
The Utes were without sophomore defensive end Hunter Dimick, who sustained an undisclosed injury against Arizona and felt he lacked his usual explosiveness during practice. In his stead, junior Jason Fanaika moved from linebacker to end and recorded eight tackles, including three for a loss.
Orchard was helped off the field early in the second quarter, not putting any weight on his left leg, but returned by halftime.
Twitter: @matthew_piper —
Utah 38, Colorado 34
• Utah QB Travis Wilson passes for 311 yards, tying his career high, and three TDs.
• After giving up 283 yards in the first half, Utah's defense allows just 150 in the second.
• Utah finishes with a winning record in the Pac-12 for the first time.