Utah football reminds USC to always play through the whistle

Always play through the whistle. That bit of advice seems obvious, but it wasn't for USC in the first minute of a 24-21 Utah victory Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler threw a swing pass to Darreus Rogers on his team's first drive, but what USC thought was a drop and an incompletion was far from it. Even the game's cameraman didn't realize the pass was thrown backward, and it took a few seconds for the Utes to realize the whistle never blew. The ball was live and it never bounced out of play. 

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The cameraman eventually caught up on Utah defensive back Davion Orphey, ball in hand, leaping into the end zone for an early score as the Trojans watched. Replays showed the officials calling Kessler's toss a backward one. Credit Orphey for staying alert.

Turns out the early score was a big one. USC looked in control late, but Utes quarterback Travis Wilson helped initiate a game-winning drive in the final seconds as the Utes pulled off the comeback.