Field Level Media
Nov 16, 2019
Tyler Huntley passed for two touchdowns and rushed for a third, Zack Moss ran for two scores, and No. 7-ranked Utah routed visiting UCLA, 49-3, Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.
The Utes (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12 Conference) surrendered a field goal on UCLA's game-opening possession. They proceeded to score the game's next 49 points, beginning on the next drive when Huntley ran for a 2-yard touchdown.
UCLA (4-6, 4-3) moved the ball into Utah territory for a third time in the early going, following the initial 43-yard J.J. Molson field goal and a 42-yard miss. Trailing 14-3 after a 4-yard Moss touchdown rush, the Bruins had an opportunity to pull back within single digits.
However, UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson coughed up a fumble that Utah's Mika Tafua returned 68 yards for a touchdown. The scoring swing kicked off the blowout in earnest.
Utah forced two more turnovers on the night with interceptions by Julian Blackmon and Pita Tonga.
Moss, meanwhile, gained 38 of his 127 rushing yards on his second end-zone run just before halftime. The Utes continued the deluge on the first play of the second half when Huntley threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Brant Kuithe.
Huntley tacked on another 83 yards with his second touchdown pass, hooking up with Samson Nacua. Huntley went 14-of-18 for 335 yards. Kuithe accounted for 132 of them on five catches.
Joshua Kelley rushed for 78 yards for UCLA. Thompson-Robinson went 20-of-36 passing for 219 yards.
Devonta'e Henry-Cole capped the night's scoring with a 27-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The 46-point romp made a statement for Utah, which sits within striking distance of the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings.
The loss eliminates UCLA from contention for the Pac-12 South divisional title. Utah advances to the Dec. 6 conference championship game if it wins out in games against Arizona and Colorado, or with one win and a USC loss.
--Field Level Media