Final: UW Huskies 24, Utah Utes 21
4:30 p.m. | Husky Stadium | Seattle
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Final: UW 24, Utah 21
FINAL
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
Huskies 2️⃣4️⃣
Utes 2️⃣1️⃣https://t.co/4Juj7R3Wzi
UW completes comeback
This could be a season-defining win for the Huskies, who fell behind 21-0 at halftime and scored 24 unanswered after intermission. Jimmy Lake found a way to turn things around.
— Larry Stone (@StoneLarry) November 29, 2020
Cade Otton catches the go-ahead touchdown for UW
Wow. What a drive by the Huskies, and what a comeback.
— Larry Stone (@StoneLarry) November 29, 2020
OTTON FOR THE LEAD
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
21-point deficit GONE
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
🏈 Morris ➡ Otton for 16 yards
📍 12 plays, 88 yards
⏰ 3:55
4Q | Huskies 24, Utah 21https://t.co/4Juj7R3Wzi
Two sacks from ZTF gives UW the ball back
Zion Tupuola-Fetui is on fire. Two consecutive sacks of Utah quarterback Jake Brantley gives him three on the day and seven in three games this season.
ZTF won’t stop making plays for the Huskies 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8Q5esIqlMT
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
Dylan Morris and the Huskies are getting the ball back at their own 12-yard line down 4 with 4:31 remaining in this one.
Dylan Morris throws another interception
UW quarterback Dylan Morris threw his second interception of the game on a tipped ball at the Utah 42 after he underthrew receiver Ty Jones. Utah's Vonte Davis returned the interception to the Washington 40, but a block in the back penalty sets Utah back to the 50-yard line.
Here’s how open Jones was. pic.twitter.com/LvypIt7kvZ
— Dick Fain (@dickfain) November 29, 2020
Comeback history not favorable for Huskies
Washington has only rallied from a deficit of 21 points or more to win 4 times in school history. So if they pull this off, it will be a extremely rare feat.
— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) November 29, 2020
Gordon forces fumble as ZTF recovers for UW
Kyler Gordon, out here making plays.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Third-quarter analysis from Mike Vorel
The Huskies needed a big third quarter to make this a game.
They got it.
After trailing 21-0 at halftime, UW answered with 17 unanswered points. Quarterback Dylan Morris completed 5 of 7 passes for 109 yards and a 21-yard touchdown strike to junior tight end Cade Otton. Junior nickelback Elijah Molden intercepted a Jake Bentley pass and returned it 24 yards to the Utah 27. The Huskies’ standout players made plays when they needed to.
But to win this game, they’ll have to stop the run. Utah running back Ty Jordan ripped off a 35-yard run late in the third quarter. A few more of those, and this one will be over.
End of third: Utah 21, UW 17
END OF THIRD
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
Utes 2️⃣1️⃣
Huskies 1️⃣7️⃣https://t.co/4Juj7R3Wzi
Huskies pull within 4 after another third-quarter TD
The strike to Otton 💥 pic.twitter.com/eaFWWmAzVI
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
Last 5 UW-Utah games, winner/margin:
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) November 29, 2020
UW +7
UW +3
UW +14
UW +7
Utah +5
UW settles for FG after Molden's INT
Huskies settle for a FG after Molden's INT.
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
🏈 Peyton Henry from 26 yards
📍 7 plays, 19 yards
⏰ 2:41
3Q | Utes 21, Huskies 10https://t.co/4Juj7R3Wzi
Elijah Molden comes up with big INT
Elijah Molden will take that, and we've got ourselves a game.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Huskies strike early to open second half
That's the touchdown UW needed. Now it needs a few more.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Pleasant punching it in 👊 pic.twitter.com/orRMmoVYzZ
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
Halftime analysis from Mike Vorel
Remember the first half against Arizona, where everything went right? Where the offense protected the ball and converted on third down and the defense was stifling? Where the Huskies led 24-0 at halftime?
Yeah, this was the opposite.
In the first 30 minutes against Utah, everything got ugly. Redshirt freshman quarterback Dylan Morris threw the first two interceptions of his young career (and nearly another). The Huskies went 0-5 on third down, after converting 52% of them in their first two games. Peyton Henry missed his third field goal of the season. And without senior outside linebacker Ryan Bowman, UW surrendered 134 rushing yards, 5.6 yards per carry and a pair of rushing scores.
Ugly. Ugly. Ugly.
Halftime stats
First half stats:
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
(burn after reading) pic.twitter.com/ZEclNccU7g
Halftime: Utah 21, UW 0
HALFTIME
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
Utes 2️⃣1️⃣
Huskies 0️⃣https://t.co/4Juj7R3Wzi
Well, that was a half all right.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Utah scores again for 21-point lead before halftime
😬
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
🏈 Bentley ➡ Bryan Thompson for 13 yards
📍 8 plays, 78 yards
⏰ 3:09
2Q | Utes 21, Huskies 0https://t.co/4Juj7R3Wzi
Remember the first half against Arizona? This is the opposite.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Peyton Henry misses 40-yard field goal
Peyton Henry misses a 40-yard field goal attempt. He's 3-6 on the season. Yikes.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
UW converts another fourth down
UW is 5-5 on fourth down this season.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Utah takes a two-score lead on the Huskies
https://twitter.com/SeaTimesSports/status/1332861218768359425
The absence of Ryan Bowman is being felt, big-time.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Utah's offense thus far: 19 carries, 103 yards, two TD.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
UW goes three-and-out again as Dylan Morris almost throws another INT
Dylan Morris nearly throws another bad interception. UW's offense is all out of sorts.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
UW converted on 52% of its third downs in the first two games. The Huskies are 0-3 tonight.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
That may prove to be an important stop for UW. Not sure this offense is designed to erase double-digit deficits.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
UW loses another outside linebacker, as Ryan Bowman misses Utah game
Washington can’t afford to keep losing outside linebackers.
And yet, senior starter Ryan Bowman — a 6-foot, 280-pound Bellevue product — did not dress or play in Saturday’s home game against Utah. First-year UW head coach Jimmy Lake said this month that he won’t comment publicly on injuries or COVID-19 issues within his team.
Whatever the reason may be, Bowman’s absence could be catastrophic for UW’s concerningly thinning front seven. The Huskies are already missing a pair of would-be starters at outside linebacker — Joe Tryon (who declared for the 2021 NFL draft) and Laiatu Latu (who has been sidelined for all three games with an apparent injury).
End of first: Utah 7, UW 0
END OF FIRST
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
Utes 7️⃣
Huskies 0️⃣https://t.co/4Juj7R3Wzi
UW goes three-and-out on second possession
UW goes three-and-out. Not a good start on either side.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
By the way, UW wide receiver Marquis Spiker is not in pads for tonight's game. He's watching on the sideline.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Utah takes advantage of UW's turnover
Bentley has never rushed for more than 47 yards in a game. He's got 20 rushing yards and a rush TD through two drives.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Utah takes advantage of UW's first turnover of the season.
— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) November 29, 2020
🏈 Jake Bentley 💨 for 7 yards
📍 9 plays, 48 yards
⏰ 5:40
1Q | Utes 7, Huskies 0https://t.co/4Juj7R3Wzi
Tuli Letuligasenoa was in the game on fourth down.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
We're getting Jacob Bandes on this drive.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Dylan Morris throws first interception of the season
Dylan Morris' first turnover of the season is a real ugly interception on third-and-7. Will be interesting to see how he responds.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Puka, Pleasant involved early in UW's opening drive
Heck of a physical run by Kamari Pleasant.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Early Puka involvement
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
TE Devin Culp also started the game after not playing the last two weeks.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Kamari Pleasant is UW's starting running back, if that matters.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Zion Tupuola-Fetui comes up with another takeaway on Utah's first drive
Another strip-sack for ZTF, his third of the year. Incredible.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
DAWGS BALL‼️ DAWGS BALL‼️
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) November 29, 2020
@ZTF58 @jackson_sirmon
📺 https://t.co/groxGm6hQG#PurpleReign x #BowDown pic.twitter.com/XF3d1YHjsZ
UW's front four starters: ZTF, Tuitele, Taimani, Bronson.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
UW wins the toss and defers.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Elijah Molden is UW's captain tonight.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Where a once fine mullet was laid to rest. pic.twitter.com/KxRE9yurG7
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
As the national anthem was sung inside Husky Stadium, a pair of people waved large crimson flags from a small boat in Union Bay. I looked closer with my binoculars.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
They're Cougs flags.
The Apple Cup lives.
UW's listed starters were ZTF (OLB), Taki Taimani, Faatui Tuitele and Josiah Bronson (OLB). Also interesting.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Samson Nacua missing the Nacua Bowl?
I might be missing him, but I don't see WR Samson Nacua warming up for Utah. Would be a bummer if a Nacua misses the Nacua Bowl for two consecutive seasons.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
Don't be surprised if freshman OLB Sav'ell Smalls makes his first career start today, is what I'm saying.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
I stand corrected: UW redshirt sophomore DT Tuli Letuligasenoa is dressed and going through warmups. A promising sign. He's missed UW's first two games.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 29, 2020
UW DB Elijah Molden, who was shaken up late in last weekend's win over Arizona, is warming up and appears to be full-go, as expected.
— Mike Vorel (@mikevorel) November 28, 2020
What to watch for when Washington hosts Utah
Washington wants you to think this is a different offense — bigger and more physical under first-year coordinator John Donovan. And maybe that’s true. But now’s the time to prove it. Through two games, the Huskies are averaging 250 rushing yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry — which ranks 10th and 21st nationally, respectively. They have a massive offensive line and four relentlessly fresh running backs. But don’t forget, in the 33-28 home defeat last season against Utah, UW managed just 53 rushing yards and 2.4 yards per carry. The Huskies were the less physical team, especially down the stretch. Of course, Dylan Morris will have to do his part. But we’ll see if a bigger, more physical UW offense can bully the Utes.
Read about more keys to the game here.
Pour one out for the canceled Apple Cup
Pour one out for the Apple Cup.
No, really. Let’s all do it. Doesn’t matter what you’re drinking — coffee, tea, an appropriate apple cider, a cup of ice-cold water or something a bit stronger. Tip the glass and make a toast. Let’s salute the 113th rivalry game the state of Washington never got.
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