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Longtime Pac-12 tormentor Arizona up first as Utes open conference play

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Arizona quarterback Brandon Dawkins carries for a gain as UCLA defensive lineman Jacob Tuioti-Mariner defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Saddle up.

Pac-12 play has arrived.

Fresh off their first AP Top 25 ranking of the year, the No. 23 Utah Utes (3-0) have happily put the non-conference schedule in the rear-view mirror. The Utes have now won 19 straight non-conference games dating back to 2012, but after another unblemished precursor to Pac-12 Conference play, another march toward a hopeful Pac-12 crown starts Friday night in the desert.

Utah travels south to face division rival Arizona (2-1) at Arizona Stadium, the first time the program will leave the state this season. The Utes rolled over a North Dakota, extended its rivalry win streak against BYU to seven and stomped the weary San Jose State Spartans. The Wildcats, coming off their own beatdown of UTEP 63-16, annually present headaches for the Utes.

“[We’ve been] tested a little bit,” sophomore defensive back Julian Blackmon said, “but not compared to what we’re about to see.”

Prior to last year’s win, Utah had lost four straight to Arizona.

“The level of competition certainly goes up, we’re aware of that,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “You play the games as they’re scheduled.”

Known as one of the most-stout defensive fronts in the nation, Utah has struggled against Arizona’s zone-read, run-first offense. The Wildcats have averaged 233 yards per game on the ground against the Utes since Utah entered the Pac-12. The same goal the program has every week heightens against a team that has, for better part of the last six years, had its number.

“We have struggled with them,” Whittingham said. “It all stems to the games we lost that we did not do a good job defending the run. So that is going to be job No. 1 this week like it is every week.”

The Wildcats are No. 6 in college football in rushing yards per game with 328 per outing. Conversely, the Utes rank No. 2 in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 49.3 yards per game. Universes will, yet again, collide in Tucson.

“We’re still finding out about ourselves, what our strengths are, what we’re good at, what we need to get better at,” Whittingham said. “This will definitely be our stiffest test of the year.”

Some high praise

How highly does Darren Carrington II think of his young quarterback?

After Utah’s 54-16 win over San Jose State and after Carrington had one of the best nights of his career (153 yards, three touchdowns), he said sophomore quarterback Tyler Huntley reminds him of a quarterback Carrington played with at Oregon.

A younger version of Marcus Mariota, obviously. But still.

“I think he’s going to be, when it’s all said and done, one of the greats,” Carrington said. “He’s not up there yet, but almost. He reminds me of Marcus a lot.”

Whittingham said he can see the comparison.

“That speaks to what Tyler’s shown so far,” Utah’s coach said. “There are a lot of similarities in their style of play. Marcus was very accurate, as is Tyler. I think there’s some merit to that.”

What a leg

The Matt Gay revelation continues.

Utah’s senior transfer and former Utah Valley University soccer player entered Week 4 of college football as the nation’s top field-goal kicker. Gay, a former forward at UVU, has 44 total points, which leads all kickers. Gay is tied for first in college football in field goals made with 11, field goals per game (3.67) and field-goal percentage, which rolls in at even 1.000.

By drilling two 50-yard field goals in the win, Gay made program history, becoming the first kicker ever at Utah to ever do so.

“He’s been a guy that so far — we’re only three games in — but so far, a guy we can really rely on,” Whittingham said, “which is a good luxury.”