SALT LAKE CITY, UT─Number seventh ranked Utah ended UCLA’s three-game winning streak on Saturday, November 16, demolishing the visiting Bruins by a score of 49-3, effectively wrapping up the PAC-12 South title in the process.
Utah improves to (9-1 overall, 6-1 PAC-12) on the season. The Utes have defeated the UCLA Bruins four straight times. It was a record-setting night; Running Back Zack Moss moved into second place in Utah history for all-purpose yards with 127 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley threw for a season-high 335 yards, going 14 of 18 with two TDs. This offensive explosion amounted to 536 yards. The Bruins had absolutely no answers to the efficiency of the Utah machine.
Despite the fact that the game was not competitive, the Bruins kept the game close until the final minutes of the first half. UCLA opened the game with a long drive culminating with a JJ Molson 43-yard field goal, making it 3-0. It was all downhill from there for the Bruins. Utah scored a touchdown on four consecutive possessions in the second quarter alone.
After a pair of Utah touchdowns, capped off by a two-yard run by Huntley, the Bruins found themselves deep in Utah territory before the game got out of hand.
Bruins QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson rolled back on a crucial third down when the ball squirted out of his right hand, Mike Tafua scooped up the loose ball for Utah and returned it 68 yards to the house.
UCLA falls to (4-6 overall, 4-3 PAC-12) on the season. The Utes are the number one defense in the PAC-12 for a reason. The held the Bruins to 3.7 yards per play, forcing four turnovers, while sacking UCLA QB DTR five times. Even UCLA Running Back Josh Kelley was stonewalled at every turn.
UCLA must win their final two games in 2019 in order to be eligible for a bowl game. It begins with the Crosstown Rivalry, next Saturday against their arch rival, the USC Trojans at the Coliseum. UCLA defeated USC, 34-27 last year at the Rose Bowl, ending a three-game skid over the Trojans. Utah plays at Arizona next Saturday.
