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Utah went ahead and took care of its business on Friday night, but it didn't get much brotherly cooperation.

The Utes beat in-state rival Utah State at Rice-Eccles Stadium by the count of 24-14, and, believe it, they'd happily take that and go balm their wounds. By the end of the fourth quarter, the Mountain West's Aggies stubbornly acquiesced to the Pac-12 Utes, but that acquiescence was a long time coming.

The game was tied at 14 at the half. It was 21-14 at the end of the third quarter, and, by that juncture, nobody really was certain who would walk off the field as victors. En route to its slight margin, Utah stumbled over itself, and was often matched, toughness for toughness, tackle for tackle, man for man, play for play. Moreover, the Utes were fairly roughed up, suffering injuries to a number of players, including quarterback Travis Wilson, who was hurt midway through the second quarter and watched the remainder of the game with his left shoulder in a sling.

By game's end, the offensive numbers looked like this: Total yards — Utah 327, Utah State 373. Even after the Utes grew their lead to 10, midway through the fourth, USU moved down the field and threatened to score before a sack separated Chuckie Keeton from the ball just as he was about to pass, giving possession back to Utah, and saving a good portion of the 46,000 in attendance from cardiac arrest.

Another Utah State drive — another Utah heart attack — a few minutes later, was stopped at the Ute 7-yard line — with a Gionni Paul interception off a tipped Keeton pass.

All along, everybody figured if this game was going to be anywhere near as tight as it turned out being, those expectations fell mostly into the which-defense-will-put-up-the-greatest-resistance category. With the way the Aggies had played on offense in the small sample of evidence available, last week's bump-and-stumble showing against Southern Utah, it was a good bet that the Utes, with or without complete superiority, would come out on the favorable side.

That's what happened.

It's just that it was much more challenging than some supposed it to be.

In the end, the Utes deserved credit for winning, for surviving, and the Aggies deserved respect for playing the way they did. That's not meant to be anywhere within shouting distance of condescending. Truth is, on this night, a rivalry that has hatched 112 games now, was played out nobly and worthily by both sides. It wasn't pretty, but it was rugged, righteous football.

It mattered little which conference each of these teams represented, or what label anybody wanted to slap on either of those leagues. This was a match and a game that should have been played - and probably should be played moving forward, although no future dates have been set.

Battling brothers these were on this occasion, just like the past two meetings between them.

Another bonus revelation from Friday night: Keeton, the USU quarterback who had fought back from serious injuries in his last two seasons, may not be perfect, but … let's say it this way, nobody's feeling sorry for him anymore. Dude is still a threat.

Playing at Rice-Eccles only by the good graces of a medical hardship, Keeton returned from those injuries to run for 46 yards and pass for 256, with two touchdowns.

Chuckie's back, back to being himself again.

And that was good news for everyone … except maybe momentarily for the Utes.

Utah finished up with Kendal Thompson at quarterback, with uncertainties about Wilson's status for Fresno State and beyond. But those were questions for another night. This particular one was made satisfying and certain enough — just by way of a grueling, difficult win.

GORDON MONSON hosts "The Big Show" with Spence Checketts weekdays from 3-7 p.m. on 97.5 FM and 1280 AM The Zone. Twitter: @GordonMonson.