Makai Cope (11) and Brant Kuithe (80) of the Utah Utes soar after scoring a landing in opposition to the San Diego State Aztecs in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information
Utah improved to 2-1 with a dominant 35-7 win over San Diego State on Saturday evening.
Listed here are three takeaways from the Utes’ win at Rice-Eccles Stadium:
Cameron Rising will get the huge receivers extra concerned
By way of the primary two video games of the season, Utah struggled to get its huge receivers concerned. With it being a speaking level in press conferences main as much as Saturday’s sport, Utah quarterback Cameron Rising and the Utes have been in a position to get the huge receivers touches — and touchdowns — in opposition to SDSU.
Whereas tight finish Brant Kuithe once more led the Utes with 64 receiving yards, Devaughn Vele had three catches for 38 yards and two landing and Solomon Enis had three catches for 35 yards and a landing.
Although he principally focused the tight ends in a tough first quarter passing-wise, Rising discovered connections with Utah’s huge receivers within the second quarter and past.
Rising was 10 for 12 within the second quarter, an unlimited enchancment from going 4 for 12 for under 24 yards within the first interval.
Enis caught a 13-yard landing cross and Vele caught a 15-yard landing cross.
Vele and Enis mixed for 70 yards within the second quarter and have been focused a mixed seven instances.
The involvement of the huge receivers pressured SDSU to pay them extra consideration, leading to a large open landing cross to Kuithe.
Utah’s protection turns in an amazing efficiency
Make that two nice outings in a row for the Utah protection.
With the caveat that SDSU was taking part in its third-string freshman quarterback after beginning QB Braxton Burmesiter was poked within the eye and left the sport within the second quarter, you actually can’t play higher than Utah’s protection performed on Saturday.
Utah held the Aztecs to 173 complete yards and simply 60 passing yards and SDSU didn't cross the 50-yard line till late within the third quarter.
By way of three quarters, Utah held the Aztecs to simply 109 yards of complete offense and solely 5 first downs.
SDSU had solely 27 passing yards by three quarters.
The Aztecs’ lone rating of the sport got here late within the fourth quarter in opposition to Utah’s backups on a brief area after a muffed punt by Utah, however the sport was effectively out of attain by that time.
Cole Bishop was in every single place, main the Utes with 9 tackles and a cross breakup, and Karene Reid had an interception and assisted on a sack.
Utah begins sluggish for the second sport in a row
Utah put a goose egg on the board within the first quarter in opposition to SDSU, beginning sluggish at house once more. On the finish of the primary quarter, the Utes had 89 complete yards and didn't get within the purple zone. Utah had simply 50 yards of dashing offense and 39 passing yards because the offense struggled to get going early on.
Utah’s protection gave the offense loads of alternatives, holding SDSU scoreless and to simply 35 yards of complete offense, permitting just one first down, however the Utes’ offense couldn't take benefit.
Nothing was working for the Utes, on the bottom or by the air, to begin the sport. The Aztecs’ defensive position received to Rising within the first quarter and stuffed the Utes’ operating sport.
Rising was searching for the tight ends all through the primary quarter, however was off course on his passes.
It was the second sluggish begin in a row for Utah, which solely scored seven factors within the first quarter in opposition to SUU.