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Utah Scores 28 In Second Half For 38-21 Win At No. 21 Colorado

by Utah Athletics
Dec 12, 2020

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BOULDER, Utah – The University of Utah Football team scored 28 unanswered points in the second half against the No. 21 Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, coming back to claim a decisive 38-21 victory on the road. The Utes improved to 2-2 overall this season.

The Utes and Buffaloes battled in cold conditions on a partially snow-covered field with Utah recording a season-high 432 yards on total offense, holding Colorado to 377, including just 110 on the ground after averaging 245 prior to the game. The 23-degree temperature at kickoff was the seventh-coldest for a game in Boulder.

It didn't take long for Utah to get on the board, starting the game with a 40-yard kick return from Britain Covey to put the Utes on the Utah 40-yard line to start. The Utes then marched down field for a six-play, 60-yard drive that included a 17-yard rush from Ty Jordan to the Colorado 10, ending with a seven-yard receiving score from Solomon Enis to give Utah a 7-0 lead with 12:03 on the clock.

After holding Colorado scoreless in the second quarter, they were able to tie the game early in the second on a 21-yard passing touchdown. The 11-play, 90-yard drive, which included 71 passing yards, took 3:33 off the clock to make it 7-7 with 12:46 remaining in the quarter.

Colorado was able to take a 14-7 lead on a special teams play with 1:30 left on the clock in the first half after the Utes were still unable to find the end zone in the second quarter. The Buffaloes returned an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown, the first punt return touchdown against the Utes since Washington had a 58-yard return in 2016.

The Utes were able to sneak in a field goal to end the half with Jadon Redding knocking in a 42-yard field goal to cut the Colorado lead to 14-10. The field goal was set up thanks to a key forced fumble from Nephi Sewell that was recovered by JaTravis Broughton on the Colorado 40-yard line with the Utes getting in field goal range two plays later.

Colorado wasted no time in extending its lead in the second half, scoring on its first offensive play of the third quarter. The Buffaloes scored on a 61-yard receiving touchdown with 14:39 on the clock to take a 21-10 lead after taking just 11 seconds off the clock.

It was close to a minute after that Utah's scoring streak began, starting with a quick 18-yard touchdown from Ty Jordan with 13:14 on the clock. The Ute offense was then able to capitalize on a three-and-out by the Buffaloes with a 20-yard receiving touchdown from Britain Covey on the next drive to officially take the 24-21 lead with 6:23 to go in the third.

Redding came up clutch for the Utes once again with 9:19 remaining in the game, recording a career-long 43-yard field goal to put the Utes up by six. It was with 4:43 on the clock that the Utes sealed the victory as Jordan broke free for a 66-yard rushing touchdown with Dalton Kincaid catching the two-point conversion to make it 35-21.

Redding put the exclamation point on the game with a 38-yard field goal with 2:24 remaining in the game to make it 38-35.  

GAME LEADERS
Quarterback Jake Bentley finished the game with a season-high 20 completions (20-32-1) for a season-best 240 yards and two touchdowns, adding 11 carries for 31 yards.

Bentley linked up with Covey a career-high nine times for the junior with Covey recording 76 yards and a touchdown to go along with his 210 all-purpose yards (76 rec, 2 rush, 88 KR, 44 PR). On the ground, Jordan notched 17 carries for 147 rushing yards (8.6 ypc) with two rushing touchdowns.

Utah's defense continued to produce for the Utes in turnovers gained, finishing the game with an interception from Nephi Sewell and two fumble recoveries from Nate Ritchie and JaTravis Broughton.  

Sewell led the Utes with a career-high 11 tackles, his second double-digit tackle outing this year, also forcing a fumble with Devin Lloyd contributing nine tackles (1.0 TFL).

TALKING ABOUT THE GAME: HEAD COACH KYLE WHITTINGHAM
"I am proud of this team and the way they hung in there, fighting their way out of a tough spot. They went into halftime down 14-10 and promptly gave up a touchdown right out of the gate in the second half, but they never flinched. They hung in there, the offense got clicking and scored 28 points in the second half."

STANDOUT STAT
Utah's offense put together season highs throughout the game, including in yards (432), passing yards (240), total plays (72) and time of possession (36:11). Utah had strong control of the clock in the second half, holding a time of possession advantage of 18:42 to 11:18, including a third-quarter advantage of 11:05 to Colorado's 3:55.

NOTABLE

  • Senior quarterback Jake Bentley recorded a season-high in completions (20), yards (240) and touchdowns (2). He has 21 career 200-yard passing games (20 at South Carolina) and 17 career games where he has thrown for two-or-more touchdowns (16 at South Carolina).
  • Freshman running back Ty Jordan recorded 17 carries for 147 yards (8.6 ypc) with a career-high two touchdowns against Colorado. The last Utah true freshman to have back-to-back 100 rushing yard games was Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala in 1995 (three in a row; final three games of the season).
  • Junior wide receiver Britain Covey finished the game with a team-high 210 all-purpose yards for his second straight game with 100+ all-purpose yards. He recorded a career-high nine receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown along with one rush for two yards, three kickoff returns for 88 yards and three punt returns for 44 yards.
  • It is the most all-purpose yards the junior has racked up since his 217 against USC in 2015 as a freshman (129 rec, 45 KR, 43 PR).
  • Junior Solomon Enis finished the game with three receptions for 34 yards and one touchdown. His seven-yard touchdown in the opening drive of the game was his first touchdown of the season and the second of his career, also scoring against USC as a freshman in 2018.

UP NEXT
The Utes are scheduled to play against a Pac-12 opponent on Saturday, Dec. 19 with the opponent, time and TV selection announced at a later date.

 

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