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Utah-Arizona State live blog: Utes become only undefeated team in Pac-12 with 35-21 win over Sun Devils

The latest updates on the game between the Utes and Sun Devils.

(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) celebrates his touchdown with the team as the University of Utah hosts the Arizona Sun Devils in Pac-12 action at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Oct. 10, 2021.

Final: Utah 35, ASU 21

The Utes scored 28 unanswered points in the second half en route to a victory over the Sun Devils. They are now the 3-0 in the Pac-12 and the only remaining undefeated team in the entire conference.

Utes quarterback Cam Rising threw for two touchdowns and 247 yards against two interceptions. Wide receiver Brant Kuithe caught both of those touchdown passes, while three different running backs ran in a touchdown apiece for the team.

Utah 35, ASU 21

The Utes may have put the nail in the coffin.

They put together a very long drive that ended with running back TJ Pledger punching in a 7-yard rushing touchdown with just 2 minutes, 39 seconds left in the game.

Utah 28, ASU 21

Kuithe caught his second touchdown pass of the night. It was a 7-yard throw from Rising inside of 12 minutes remaining in the game.

Rising now has two touchdown passes in the game.

Fans turn on phone camera lights in honor of Ty Jordan, Aaron Lowe

In between the third and fourth quarters, the crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium honored Jordan and Lowe in multiple ways. First, there was a “moment of loudness” like the team had for Jordan earlier in the season.

But then, the entire crowd turned on the camera lights on their mobile phones. It was a display of solidarity and lit up the stadium.

End of 3: Utah 21, ASU 21

The third quarter was all Utes.

After not scoring in the second quarter, Utah shut out the Sun Devils in the third and scored on two consecutive drives. The Utes had 154 total yards in that quarter, 91 of which were on the ground.

Utah held ASU to negative-4 yards rushing in the third quarter.

Utah 21, ASU 21

The Utes have some good momentum.

Britain Covey gained a bunch of yards on a scramble when he couldn’t find a good pass on a trick play. He then caught the ball to put Utah inside the 10-yard line. But an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty out the team at the 20-yard line.

It didn’t matter.

Quarterback Cam Rising threw to Brant Kuithe for a 20-yard touchdown to knot the game at 21 apiece.

ASU 21, Utah 14

The Utes put together an impressive opening drive to start the second half. It ended with running back Tavion Thomas rushing 7 yards for a touchdown.

Halftime: ASU 21, Utah 7

The Utes entered halftime down two touchdowns after failing to score in the second quarter. The Utes were in very good position to score with 25 seconds left in the quarter, but quarterback Cam Rising threw his second interception of the game.

Arizona State amassed 288 passing yards in the first half, while Utah grabbed just 170. ASU holds a lead despite committing 65 yards worth of penalties.

ASU 21, Utah 7

Quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for his second touchdown with less than minute left in the first half. It was a 15-yard throw to Curtis Hodges.

ASU 14, Utah 7

The Sun Devils capitalized off of Rising’s interception by coming right back and scoring. The big play of the drive was the 59-yard catch by LV Bunkley-Shelton, who got that many yards mostly after the catch.

Daniels ended the drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown, which was his fourth rushing touchdown of the season.

Rising throws interception

After a big completion and a near touchdown pass, Rising threw the ball straight to ASU’s Darien Butler. Each team now has a turnover.

Utes recover fumble

Utah forced the Sun Devils to fumble the ball less than three minutes into the second quarter and recovered it. It was the first turnover of the game by either team.

End of 1: Utah 7, ASU 7

Neither the Utes nor the Sun Devils were able to score again in the first quarter after they each had touchdowns on their respective opening offensive drives.

Utah long snapper leaves game with injury

Keegan Markgraf, the long snapper for the Utes, went down with an injury after the team punted the ball away. He was later helped off the field by teammates and was not able to put weight on his right leg.

Utah 7, ASU 7

The Utes answered Arizona State’s opening drive with an impressive set of plays of his own, led by the pinpoint passing of Cam Rising. The quarterback ran it in for a 9-yard touchdown to tie the game.

ASU 7, Utah 0

The Utes gave up an opening-drive score to the Sun Devils. Jaylin Conyers caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Daniels.

ASU’s drive went 75 yards.

Rice-Eccles Stadiums holds 22 seconds of silence before the game

Before the game between ASU started, there was 22 seconds of silence to honor Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe. The two late players wore 22 as their jersey number.

During the moment of silence, some Utes players knelt at the 22-yard line.

Another way the Utes honored Jordan and Lowe pregame was when they came out onto the field, the players ran between members of the school band, which was organized to form the number 22 on the field.

Arizona State honors the memory of Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe

Saturday is the first home game for the Utah Utes since the death of Aaron Lowe, who was shot and killed at a Sugar House party after an alleged argument about an unmoved car. The team kept a locker space for Lowe, just like the team did for Jordan.

Utah’s opponent, Arizona State, is also honoring Jordan and Lowe as the team visits Rice-Eccles Stadium. The players’ helmets have a decale of two number 2s reversed to make a heart, with “TJ AL Forever,” corresponding to the initials of the two late Utes.

In addition, Sun Devils player Bryan Thompson, formerly a Utah player, will be named an honorary captain of the game.