SALT LAKE CITY — Quarterback Devon Dampier scored four total touchdowns and the defense generated four interceptions as third-ranked Utah erased a halftime deficit to defeat rival BYU 28-20 on Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The victory keeps Utah unblemished at 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the Big 12, extending the nation’s longest active winning streak to 15 games. The setback dealt a severe blow to the College Football Playoff hopes of BYU, ranked seventh by the Associated Press and ninth in the playoff committee rankings, as the Cougars dropped to 7-2 overall and 4-2 in league play.
Early Ute Blitz and Cougar Rally
Utah exploded out of the gate, needing just 75 seconds to strike first on an opening drive that culminated in a 22-yard touchdown scramble by Dampier. Minutes later, Dampier connected with wide receiver Braden Pegan on a 46-yard scoring strike over the middle, pushing the Utes ahead 14-0 less than five minutes into the game. The rapid start marked the eighth time in nine games that Utah found the end zone on its opening drive this fall.
BYU responded by taking command for the remainder of the first half. After converting two field goals, Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier hit Legend Glasker for a 75-yard touchdown pass to pull within a single point. A Pegan fumble at midfield then gifted BYU possession, setting up a four-yard touchdown run by running back LJ Martin. The score gave BYU a 20-14 lead that held into the locker room, aided when a second Utah turnover deep in its own territory was neutralized by a James Chenault Jr. interception near the goal line.
Martin was appearing in his first game since sustaining an ankle injury against TCU on Oct. 3, but the Utes held him to 19 rushing yards on seven carries, the AP reported.
Second-Half Lockdown Secures Rivalry Win
Trailing at the break, the Utes clamped down defensively and shut out the Cougars over the final two quarters. Lance Holtzclaw sparked the turnaround with an interception early in the third quarter. While a missed 29-yard field goal briefly stalled Utah’s momentum, Dampier ignited the offense by lofting a 14-yard fade to Pegan for a touchdown to regain a 21-20 advantage late in the third quarter.
Dampier extended the margin in the fourth quarter, capping an extended drive with a three-yard touchdown plunge. The senior signal-caller completed 14 of 26 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns, according to Fox News, while adding either 87 rushing yards according to Fox News or 89 rushing yards according to the AP. Dampier even caught a 29-yard pass on a trick play from wideout Creed Whittemore.
“This is a game of momentum, and when you don’t have it, you got to go steal it,” Utah head coach Morgan Scalley said, according to the AP. “You can’t cower. You can’t play the ‘woe is me’ game. No one cares. You got to go attack.”
BYU threatened to answer on consecutive fourth-quarter possessions, but Bachmeier threw two late interceptions in the end zone. Linebacker Trey Reynolds jumped a slant route at the goal line to stop one threat, and safety Nate Ritchie secured an interception on a desperate heave with under a minute left to seal the victory. Bachmeier finished 21 of 35 for 272 yards, but his four picks matched his total from the prior eight games combined.
“They made some really good plays on the ball,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said, according to the AP. “I told the team our goals are still there. We just need some more help now.”
Utah next turns its focus toward maintaining its perfect record against No. 22 Arizona next Saturday, while BYU attempts to recover in a home matchup against Baylor.
