Game 3: Utah Utes @ San Jose State Spartans
The Utes rolled into CEFCU Stadium coming off an emotional victory, hoping to avoid a trap game against a weaker San Jose State team.
Quick Recap:
The first quarter was a low-key, as each team only managed a field goal or two. Five minutes into the 2nd quarter, the Spartans scored the game’s first TD on a 1-yard pass. SJSU went up 10-6, and that would prove to be their last score until 3 minutes left in the game.
The Utes went on a tear, having both the offense and defense wake up simultaneously. The defense wound up with 10 sacks and 3 forced turnovers. The offense also found balance with touchdown runs from Troy McCormick, Zack Moss and Armand Shyne, and a touchdown pass from Williams to Tim Patrick.
The Utes proved to be too much in the end, but the Spartans closed out Utah’s non-conference schedule by providing a wake-up call and showed that they had to be more mentally ready right from kickoff.
Result: Utah triumphs 34-17 (3-0)
What it meant:
Just like against SUU, the Utes handled their business. The defense took a bit to get going (a trend this season) but after the first quarter and a half, they got going and shut down everything the Spartans wanted to do.
The running back by committee approach couldn’t have worked better, as McCormick, Moss and Shyne all found the endzone. All showing potential, each player showed a different skill set that could be helpful in the long run.
The Utes moved up to #24 in the AP Poll after this game, entering the rankings for the first time all season.