This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Boulder, Colo.
Utah's perfect weekend came too late for coach Kyle Whittingham to fully enjoy it. Nothing that unfolded elsewhere during one last round of Pac-12 craziness could truly help the Utes, but they did the only thing available to them: They beat their rivals.
Maybe this is all manufactured, but Utah vs. Colorado is consistently producing bigger drama than any of the Pac-12's historic rivalries lately. The team's fourth late-November meeting since the conference's expansion produced more of the same entertainment value, with another game decided by less than a touchdown. Utah's 38-34 victory at Folsom Field came via Dominique Hatfield's interception return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter Saturday.
The Utes happily walked up the ramp to the visiting locker room, generally acting as if they'd accomplished something. Actually, Colorado validated that belief with an inspired effort, trying to avoid the school's first winless record in conference play since 1915. But the Buffaloes invented yet another way to lose, while the Utes concluded their adventurous Pac-12 season. They won twice in double overtime, and by two, three and four points in regulation to finish 5-4 (8-4 overall), representing a breakthrough for the program.
"As far as taking steps forward, I don't think there's any question about that," Whittingham said. "This conference is a moving target, so we've got to get better at a faster rate than anybody else."
Sure, Utah wanted more in November. In a weird way, Stanford and Arizona ruined Whittingham's Friday. The Utes would have qualified for the Pac-12 championship game, thanks to those teams' wins — if only they had beaten Arizona last weekend.
So the way it all played out was "a little bit irritating," Whittingham said. "That happened, that happened, that happened … but we didn't take care of business."
The Utes did so in Boulder, though. After everything that's transpired, this regular-season finale was like one of those goofy movies where adults and children change bodies.
Wouldn't you know, the Ute defense produced the winning points after uncharacteristically struggling for three quarters. That's a role reversal from Utah's other four Pac-12 victories, in which the offense suddenly produced a winning effort after not doing much until then.
The offense did more than its share this time, scoring 31 points and repeatedly matching Colorado's production. Offensive coordinator Dave Christensen stood outside the locker room and hugged quarterback Travis Wilson and other players after the passing game delivered 311 yards and the running game succeeded in finishing the victory.
Like I've been saying all along, imagine where the Utes would be if they had a decent defense.
The defense will get full credit for the winning TD after one of its worst outings, but that's only fair after all those guys have done in 2014. "We've definitely had better days," Hatfield said, "but I still believe we're one of the toughest, most physical defenses in the Pac-12 — and in the country, to be honest."
The defense came through in the fourth quarter, forcing three punts and a takeaway, allowing 35 yards after giving up 398 through three quarters. The further twist of the season-ender: this marked the only time in Utah's five conference wins that the defense maintained a lead throughout the fourth quarter/overtime.
The winning play came right after Whittingham sarcastically challenged his defense about its inability to create a turnover, saying later that he "got right in their face." Hatfield took it personally, and then took his interception of a screen pass 20 yards to the end zone.
On a gorgeous afternoon beneath the Flatirons, that play depicted the story of Colorado's season. Utah's, too, in many ways.
"I know one thing: We played our asses off in a lot of games, excuse my language," said Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre.
Whittingham could have said the same about his team. The Utes also proved they're stronger finishers than the Buffs, in a rivalry that just might grow into something.
Twitter: @tribkurt