facebook-pixel

Utah’s dream of third straight Pac-12 title ends vs. Washington

No. 5 Washington 35, No. 13 Utah 28 • After a stellar opening half, the Utes go silent after the break and see their championship hopes dashed.

Seattle • For 30 minutes on Saturday at Husky Stadium, it looked like Utah’s long-shot chances for a third consecutive Pac-12 Conference championship were in good shape.

It wouldn’t last.

Following an incredible opening half, the 13th-ranked Utes came undone after halftime, falling 35-28 to fifth-ranked and undefeated Washington.

After racking up 306 yards before the break against a porous Huskies defense, the Utes couldn’t get anything going afterward, gaining just 76 yards the rest of the way.

“Tough loss,” said Utes coach Kyle Whittingham. “… We just didn’t play as well in the second half as we did in the first. Nothing dramatically different.”

The Utes appeared to have one last shot late after blocking a chip-shot Washington field goal with just over a minute remaining.

However, three straight passes fell incomplete, and Bryson Barnes’ desperation heave on fourth down was picked off around midfield.

“We just weren’t able to get things going offensively,” Barnes said afterward. “We couldn’t get that spark going.”

Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes (16) reacts with offensive lineman Falcon Kaumatule (59) and tight end Miki Suguturaga (47) after a touchdown against Washington during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Meanwhile, Washington scored the only 11 points of the second half.

The Huskies seemed to gain confidence and momentum as the latter half progressed, chewing up much of the clock in the final quarter.

“Not enough production from us when we were bringing seven men and [coverages were] one-on-one,” said linebacker Levani Damuni. “We’ve got to get home on blitzes.”

The turning point of the game came in a wild third-quarter sequence when a Barnes pass was tipped and picked off, returned for an apparent touchdown, but then overruled as the Washington player was deemed to have dropped the ball before the goal line.

Utah, given a reprieve, tried handing the ball off up the middle, only for running back Ja’Quinden Jackson to get swallowed up several yards deep in the end zone for a safety.

“A whole myriad of emotions going on through that whole sequence,” said receiver Devaughn Vele, who had 145 receiving yards. “We were just trying to do our best to respond in the correct way we needed to.”

They never did, though.

Whittingham acknowledged that play swung the momentum in a big way.

“It took some of the wind out of our sails when that happened,” he added.

Still, it didn’t just come down to those two plays.

“We just weren’t as good at anything in the second half,” Whittingham said.

Huskies lead 35-28 after third quarter

Well, that was pretty much a disaster.

Momentum deserted the Utes in the third period, as Washington outgained Utah 130-60 over the 15-minute span to surge ahead.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) walks out to the field before the first half of an NCAA college football game against Utah, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Washington’s Michael Penix to Rome Odunze combo resulted in yet another long touchdown.

Then, Utah’s one promising drive ended in disaster, as Bryson Barnes threw behind the receiver, the ball was tipped, picked off, and seemingly returned for a score.

The Utes got a reprieve however when it was determined the Huskies defender dropped the ball before crossing the goalline, giving Utah the ball at its own 1.

The relief was short-lived, however.

Utah went conservative and tried to do a handoff to Ja’Quinden Jackson against a stacked line. He was swallowed up several yards deep in the end zone, giving the Huskies a safety, a 35-28 lead, and the ball.

Utes lead 28-24 at halftime

For anyone worried that Saturday’s game might resemble Utah’s matchup with Oregon, well, that’s no longer a concern.

It’s more reminiscent of the Utes’ game at the Coliseum against USC.

After a few vanilla opening series, Utah’s offense finally caught fire and began to punish Washington’s porous defense. The result? A 28-24 halftime lead at Husky Stadium.

Utah running back Ja'Quinden Jackson reacts after scoring a touchdown against Washington during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

“The Pig Farmer” Bryson Barnes outplayed Heisman Trophy candidate Michael Penix, completing 13 of 17 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns, while Penix went 13 of 27 for 198 and a score.

Devaughn Vele was the Utes’ biggest offensive weapon, catching four passes for 122 yards. Sione Vaki had three catches for 65 yards — 53 of which came on a WR screen for a TD.

Ja’Quinden Jackson added two rushing touchdowns for the Utes.

Washington will have the ball to open the second half.

Methodical Utes drive for TD, take 14-10 lead

Utah didn’t get much done on the ground in the opening quarter.

That changed in their first drive of the second.

Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig opened up his playbook a bit, using an end-around to receiver Money Parks, a few short throws to Sione Vaki, and a designed run by quarterback Bryson Barnes.

Utah running back Sione Vaki, right, scores a touchdown in front of Washington safety Vincent Nunley during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

The 75-yard drive had more than half its yardage come on the ground.

It culminated with a pass, though, as Barnes found tight end Miki Suguturaga alone in the end zone. Cole Becker’s ensuing PAT made it 14-10 for the Utes with 9:00 left in the second quarter.

It’s an encouraging sign that Utah’s offense has kept up with the Huskies’ thus far.

Huskies lead Utes 10-7 after first quarter

Michael Penix is not looking comfortable out there.

Utah is getting constant pressure on him, forcing him to get the ball out early. As a result, he’s just 5 of 12 passing.

Two of those incompletions came on what should have been easy touchdowns on Washington’s last drive. Instead, he missed his target both times, and the Huskies wound up settling for a 41-yard field goal and a 10-7 lead.

After the opening quarter, Bryson Barnes actually outgained his counterpart 70-69 through the air.

Utes answer back, tie the game 7-7

Bryson Barnes missed Devaughn Vele earlier in the first quarter.

Not this time.

The duo connected on a 41-yard completion down the right sideline.

Utah tight end Miki Suguturaga (47) celebrates scoring a touchdown with running back Jaylon Glover (1) and wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

And just a few plays later, Ja’Quinden Jackson was in the end zone from 2 yards out.

That was a big response from the Utes, who don’t have Washington’s offensive firepower, but who will be trying to capitalizew on a subpar defense.

Utes miss a chance, and Huskies take a 7-0 lead

Devaughn Vele was wide open down the field.

If Bryson Barnes hit him in stride, Utah would’ve had a touchdown at Husky Stadium. Instead, the underthrown pass led to a pass interference call which netted the Utes 15 yards, but they’d wind up punting a few plays later.

Washington’s big-play offense took it from there.

The Huskies went 77 yards in just seven plays. Washington had an 18-yard pass play, a 22-yard rush, and a 10-yard defensive pass interference penalty to help them before quarterback Michael Penix ran it in on a keeper from 2 yards out.