Stanford Cardinal vs Utah Utes Match Player Stats On Oct 07, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 8, 2017

SALT LAKE CITY -- Bryce Love rushed for 152 yards -- including a 68-yard touchdown run in fourth quarter -- on 20 carries to lead Stanford to a 23-20 win over No. 20 Utah on Saturday night.

The Cardinal (4-2, 3-1 Pac-12) beat the Utes for the first time since Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011.

Stanford quarterback Keller Chryst returned to the lineup for the first time since getting injured against UCLA. Chryst alternated with K.J. Costello under center with great success. The two quarterbacks combined for 188 yards on 13-of-24 passing and 42 yards on six carries.

Troy Williams, filling in for injured starter Tyler Huntley, made his first start of the season at quarterback for Utah. Williams finished with 238 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions on 20-of-39 passing.

Zack Moss rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries for Utah. The Utes (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) finished with 382 total yards while Stanford gained 384 yards.

Utah and Stanford traded field goals in the third quarter. Jet Toner hit a 29-yarder after a fumbled snap by punter Mitch Wishnowsky gave the Cardinal at the Ute 15-yard line. The Utes answered on a 30-yard field goal from Matt Gay to narrow Stanford's lead to 16-13 late in the quarter.

Then Love gave the Cardinal some breathing room early in the fourth quarter. He found a gap in the line and broke loose for a 68-yard gallop that gave Stanford a 23-13 lead with 12:02 remaining.

Utah's efforts to answer on the following drive came up short. The Utes marched down to the Stanford 25 on the strength of a 24-yard catch-and-run from Darren Carrington. Quenton Meeks kept Utah from moving any further when he picked off a tipped pass at the Cardinal 16 two plays later.

Justin Reid picked off another pass from Williams on the first play of Utah's subsequent drive to help keep the Utes at arm's length down the stretch.

The Utes closed the gap on Carrington's 18-yard touchdown grab with 44 seconds left. Stanford recovered a subsequent onside kick to run out the clock.

Stanford took a 3-0 lead on a 21-yard field goal from Jet Toner to cap its opening drive. Kaden Smith set up the scoring play after breaking tackles and taking a catch 54 yards to the Utah 12. The Cardinal would have scored on a 12-yard run from Love, but it was called back on a penalty.

Utah answered quickly. Moss plowed into the end zone on a 2-yard run to give the Utes a 7-3 lead after opening the drive with two big runs.

The Utes had a chance to add to their lead on their ensuing drive, but Matt Gay missed a 50-yard field-goal attempt.

Stanford took a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter on Chryst's 7-yard keeper. Love set up the touchdown when he ripped off a 39-yard run to to the Utah 7. The junior managed just 8 yards on his first nine carries before that play.

Utah tied it on a 30-yard field goal from Gay. Toner answered with a 46-yarder to put the Cardinal up 13-10 just before halftime.

NOTES: Stanford RB Bryce Love entered the game as the nation's leading rusher with 1,088 yards. Love averaged 11.1 yards per carry in his first five games. ... Utah QB Troy Williams made his first start of the season in place of injured sophomore Tyler Huntley. Williams started at quarterback in all 13 games for the Utes in 2016. ... Stanford QB Keller Chryst started the game after sitting out the Cardinal's 34-24 win over Arizona State with an injury. The Cardinal alternated between Chryst and backup QB K.J. Costello throughout the first half. ... Utah K Matt Gay made 14 straight field-goal attempts before missing for the first time this season in the first quarter.