This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
On a night when Utah couldn't stop turning over the ball, Sunia Tauteoli got a few back for them.
The junior linebacker set the tone of the game with an initial pick-six off Taysom Hill on the first play. He caught a tipped pass off the hands of freshman receiver Aleva Hifo, and then blazed 33 yards for a score on the opening snap of the game. Only 15 seconds into the contest, the Cougars had spotted Utah a 7-0 lead.
Tauteoli's opening score was one of two picks for the 25-year-old, who also picked off Hill in the third quarter after Hunter Dimick hit the quarterback's arm. It was the first and second interceptions of his Utah career for Tauteoli, who came to the Utes by way of Snow College last season.
Another Ute had his first career interception: Senior cornerback Reggie Porter made a pick of Hill in the third quarter.
Missing in action
The Utes were again without senior cornerback Dominique Hatfield, who missed his second straight start with injury. Brian Allen made the start at corner in his stead, and Hatfield was out on the field in street clothes during warm-ups.
Also missing action was sophomore receiver Caleb Repp, listed on Utah's two-deep as back-up X-receiver.
On the field for the first time was freshman running back Zack Moss. The Florida native got his first carry of his career in the first half.
Stuffed stands
Utah's official attendance on Saturday night was 46,915, the fifth-highest attendance ever at Rice-Eccles Stadium. It was Utah's 40th straight home sellout dating to the 2010 season.
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