Utah Dominates Utah State
No. 17 Utah routs Utah State 33-0 to improve its record to 3-0.
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Key Points
1
Utah accumulated 480 total yards and averaged 6.5 yards per play, including 301 yards and 16 first downs in the first half.
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Braden Pegan produced a season-best 122 receiving yards on eight catches, while Daniel Bray ran for 82 yards and a touchdown, including a 63-yard scoring sprint in the third quarter.
3
Utah State reached the red zone in the second half, but Rabbit Evans intercepted a pass in the end zone to end the Aggies’ threat; the turnover set up Bray’s 63-yard touchdown run four plays later.
4
Utah scored on four consecutive first-half possessions and carried a 26-0 advantage into halftime, with Pegan’s 37-yard touchdown catch coming with 33 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
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Utah’s defense has allowed opponents just 2.3 yards per carry over its last two games; coach Morgan Scalley said the Utes aim to make teams one-dimensional by forcing them into longer passing situations.
No. 17 Utah demolished Utah State 33-0 on Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium, improving to 3-0 while the Aggies fell to 0-3. Utah Athletics reported that quarterback Devon Dampier threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns as the Utes accumulated 480 total yards and 6.5 yards per play. Utah's defense was suffocating, holding Utah State to just 58 rushing yards and recording four sacks in a dominant shutout performance.
This marks Utah's first shutout of Utah State since 2006 and the Utes' first blank performance against an FBS opponent since 2019. According to CBS Sports, head coach Morgan Scalley extended his opening record to 4-0 at Utah, matching the feat of Jim Fassel in 1985. The victory gives Utah a commanding 16-win edge in the teams' last 17 meetings.
Dampier and Pegan Torch Utah State in First Half
Utah scored on four straight first-half possessions and led 26-0 at intermission. The Times Union noted that Braden Pegan caught two touchdown passes, including a 37-yard score with 33 seconds left in the second quarter. The Utes racked up 301 yards and 16 first downs in the opening half alone, overwhelming a defense that managed only 10 rushing yards in the first quarter.
Pegan finished with a season-high 122 receiving yards on eight catches against his former team. Dampier completed 22 of 32 passes and added 34 rushing yards, commanding the offense with precision and poise throughout the matchup.
Bray's 63-Yard Sprint Ices the Rivalry Game
Running back Daniel Bray delivered the backbreaker in the third quarter. Utah State had just driven into the red zone, threatening to break the shutout, but safety Rabbit Evans intercepted a pass in the end zone to end the drive. Utah Athletics reported that four plays later, Bray burst free for a 63-yard touchdown run that put the game entirely out of reach.
Bray carried the ball three times for 82 yards and one touchdown on the afternoon. That touchdown run exemplified Utah's explosive offensive depth and the complete dominance the Utes established over their in-state rival.
Utah's Suffocating Defense Holds State Scoreless
Utah's defense held Utah State to just 163 total yards and forced a three-turnover swing. The Utes recorded four sacks, limited the Aggies to 58 rushing yards, and allowed only 2.3 yards per carry over their last two games. Head coach Morgan Scalley said his team aims to make opponents one-dimensional by forcing them into longer passing situations where Utah's secondary can take over.
This shutout performance capped an undefeated non-conference home slate for Utah, which defeated Idaho, Arkansas, and Utah State without yielding an offensive touchdown. The defense's dominance has become a cornerstone of the Utes' early-season success.
Utah State's Struggles Continue Under Mendenhall
Utah State fell to 0-3 under head coach Bronco Mendenhall, unable to mount any sustained offensive pressure against the Utes' defense. The Utah Statesman reported that the Aggies managed only 10 rushing yards in the first quarter and never found rhythm throughout the afternoon. A costly red-zone end zone interception in the second half squashed their best scoring opportunity of the game.
The Aggies' offensive struggles extended to a revoked 94-yard touchdown run earlier in the contest due to a penalty. Utah State has now lost 16 of the last 17 meetings in the rivalry, a striking reversal of competitive balance that mirrors the program's current trajectory under new leadership.
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