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Today: April 09, 2025

Still without Cam Rising, No. 11 Utah rides defense to 14-7 win over No. 22 UCLA

UCLA Utah Football
September 23, 2023

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) โ€” Quarterback Cam Rising is still out, but Utahโ€™s defense is taking up the slack in a big way.

Karene Reid returned an interception for a touchdown and Landen King had a TD catch for No. 11 Utah, which used a stifling defensive performance to beat No. 22 UCLA 14-7 with Rising still sidelined on Saturday.

There was speculation all week about whether Rising, who tore an ACL in last seasonโ€™s Rose Bowl, would be ready to return. He practiced without limits each day and warmed up in pads and full uniform before reappearing just before kickoff in a T-shirt.

Still without Cam Rising, No. 11 Utah rides defense to 14-7 win over No. 22 UCLA
UCLA Utah Football

And then a suffocating defense carried the day for the Utes (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12).

โ€œWhat adjective is better than great? Thatโ€™s what our defensive effort was,โ€ said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, a longtime defensive coordinator who is known to adore low-scoring games. โ€œTremendous performance by so many defensive players.โ€

After splitting practice reps with Rising, Nate Johnson looked sharp early in his second career start, but Utahโ€™s offense was limited in the second half by UCLAโ€™s defense and some conservative play-calling. All six of the Utes' second-half drives ended in punts.

โ€œWe kept shooting ourselves in the foot on some of those drives. We have a lot to clean up,โ€ Johnson said.

Still without Cam Rising, No. 11 Utah rides defense to 14-7 win over No. 22 UCLA
UCLA Utah Football

Fortunately for Utah, the defense seems capable of fixing any mess. The Utes allowed only one offensive touchdown for the fourth straight week.

Johnson was 9 of 17 for 117 yards as Utah rushed the ball 48 times. Jaylon Glover had 25 carries for 86 yards.

Freshman Dante Moore, who was under pressure all game, found Josiah Norwood for a 17-yard touchdown with 3:39 to play to help the Bruins (3-1, 0-1) avoid their first shutout in 12 years.

After forcing a three-and-out, the Bruins had one last chance. But Jonah Elliss was in on two consecutive sacks and then Sione Vaki clinched the win with another sack on fourth-and-14 with 1:49 remaining. Elliss finished with 3 1/2 of Utah's seven sacks, and the Utes had 11 tackles for loss.

Still without Cam Rising, No. 11 Utah rides defense to 14-7 win over No. 22 UCLA
UCLA Utah Football

Moore, the highest-ranked quarterback recruit in recent UCLA history, was poised and effective in the Bruinsโ€™ first three wins against lesser opponents. Not so against Utah.

โ€œWe recognize our edge rushers are going to get there and us in the middle just need to push the pocket so weโ€™re all collapsing it together,โ€ defensive tackle Keanu Tanavasa said. โ€œBecoming a suffocating defense is really the goal.โ€

On his first attempt, Moore telegraphed a pass to the left. Reid stepped in the passing lane to grab an interception and raced 21 yards for a touchdown.

โ€œIt was huge. It gave us momentum quickly in the game and so we were able to get them on their heels. Then we just kept our foot on the gas pedal,โ€ Reid said.

Still without Cam Rising, No. 11 Utah rides defense to 14-7 win over No. 22 UCLA
UCLA Utah Football

Moore, who was 15 of 35 for 234 yards, finally connected on consecutive pass plays of 17 and 41 yards in the third quarter but then fumbled on an option play when he was hit by Lander Barton. Tao Johnson recovered at the Utah 8-yard line.

โ€œThat is a great defense. It was a great atmosphere. Everything was going in their favor. They had so many ways to stop our offense,โ€ Moore said.

The Utes havenโ€™t let a freshman quarterback beat them at Rice-Eccles Stadium since Justin Herbert of Oregon in 2016.

Kain Medrano forced Utahโ€™s first lost fumble of the year after Johnson had scampered 11 yards in the first quarter. The Utes ended up fumbling three times.

Still without Cam Rising, No. 11 Utah rides defense to 14-7 win over No. 22 UCLA
UCLA Utah Football

โ€œOur guys on defense answered the bell. We have to do a better job on offense,โ€ UCLA coach Chip Kelly said.

Just before halftime, Johnson threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to King to make it 14-0.

STUFF THE RUN

โ€œChip Kelly is a run-first guy and has always wanted to establish the run in every game,โ€ Whittingham said.

Still without Cam Rising, No. 11 Utah rides defense to 14-7 win over No. 22 UCLA
UCLA Utah Football

The Utes didnโ€™t let them ever get going on the ground.

The Bruins, who came in with the best rushing attack in the conference averaging 270 yards, finished with 9 total yards rushing on 32 attempts.

โ€œWe played an exceptional gap control defense ... and used multiple fronts with some run blitzes that were very effective,โ€ Whittingham said.

In his familiar understated style, Kelly said, โ€œWe have to run the ball better than that to win football games and we know that.โ€

Still without Cam Rising, No. 11 Utah rides defense to 14-7 win over No. 22 UCLA
UCLA Utah Football

THE TAKEAWAY

UCLA: The Bruins somehow had a chance to tie the game on their final drive but again failed to protect the quarterback. UCLA's inability to run the ball and the early pick-6 loomed large throughout the game as the Bruins stymied Utahโ€™s one-dimensional offense.

Utah: The Utes missed Rising tremendously as the Bruins packed the box against the run. The outcome didnโ€™t ever seem in doubt but Utah needs a more reliable offense. Utahโ€™s biggest issue might be an injury list with 15 regular players โ€” now including primary running back Jaโ€™Quinden Jackson, who left the game in the first half.

UP NEXT

UCLA: After a bye, hosts No. 21 Washington State on Oct. 7.

Utah: Visits No. 14 Oregon State on Friday.

___

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll

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