Micah Bernard (2) of the Utah Utes runs the ball for a primary down whereas taking part in the San Diego State Aztecs in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information
Now that No. 13 Utah has concluded the nonconference portion of its schedule, the Utes are setting their sights on Pac-12 play.
After thumping San Diego State 35-7 over the weekend, Utah visits Arizona State Saturday (8:30 p.m. MDT, ESPN2).
“It offers us some momentum now going into convention play,” stated coach Kyle Whittingham. “We’ve bought a street journey subsequent week to Tempe, and away we go. It’s convention play from right here on out. That’s why we’re right here — to attempt to win the Pac-12.”
The Solar Devils fell 30-21 at residence to Jap Michigan final Saturday. On Sunday afternoon, ASU fired coach Herm Edwards.
The Utes enter convention play just a little shorthanded within the operating backs room as Chris Curry suffered a season-ending damage final Saturday.
“Sadly, it appears to be like like Chris Curry is gone for the season. It breaks my coronary heart. He’s an amazing child and an amazing teammate. All he does is figure laborious and doesn’t complain,” Whittingham stated. “He’s an amazing chief for us. We’ll miss his management. Thankfully, he does have one other 12 months so we’ll get him again subsequent 12 months. That’s the massive downer from the sport.”
Curry rushed 12 occasions for 81 yards and a landing this season.
In the meantime, cornerback Clark Phillips III suffered a third-quarter damage and didn't return.
“All we are able to say is we don’t really feel it’s severe however you by no means know the way lengthy it would take earlier than we get him again,” Whittingham stated about Phillips. “Hopefully this subsequent week.”
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate was sidelined towards SDSU as a result of damage. The Utes are hoping to have him again within the lineup at ASU as effectively.
Even with out Diabate, Utah’s protection was dominant. The Utes held the Aztecs, who entered the day averaging 275 speeding yards per recreation, to 113 yards on the bottom and 173 yards of whole offense.
Whittingham praised freshman linebacker Lander Barton, who recorded 4 tackles and a quarterback hurry towards SDSU.
“Lander Barton’s a stud. He’s the way forward for Utah soccer. He’s one of many future stars. He’s bought all of it,” Whittingham stated. “He simply must proceed to get expertise and get used to the pace of the Division I recreation. He’s a extremely good participant.”
Utah made SDSU’s offense one-dimensional and it stuffed the run.
The Utes have taken large steps ahead defensively the previous couple of weeks after having struggles in a season-opening loss at Florida.
Linebacker Karene Reid, who recorded a second-half interception towards SDSU, is happy with the progress the protection has proven the previous two weeks towards Southern Utah and SDSU.
“We actually wanted that. The primary two weeks, particularly the entrance seven, we have been looking for our identification as a protection,” Reid stated. “To play a staff that likes to run the ball and takes delight in operating the ball, and for us to stalemate them like that, it’s large so far as momentum going into convention play.”
Security Cole Bishop stated the protection’s confidence is constructing.
“After Florida, we had lots of missed tackles and that’s one thing that we’re actually centered on,” he stated. “I don’t suppose we had too many (Saturday) and final week we didn’t have many in any respect.”
Whittingham is happy with the defensive efficiency over the previous two weeks.
“We’ve actually gotten seasoned, I suppose you may say, within the entrance seven. The primary recreation was abysmal. It was horrible. That simply wasn’t who we're,” he stated. “However then we settled in. Final week, you noticed it present up. This week, towards an FBS opponent, they have been very stout up entrance. They did a pleasant job gap-control-wise.”
The Utes have allowed simply two touchdowns of their final two video games.
However Bishop is aware of his staff nonetheless has room for enchancment.
“We have to get higher and higher each week and we’re going to maintain constructing on that,” he stated. “We’ve been bettering each week however we nonetheless have loads to work on going into convention play.”
No. 13 Utah (2-1) at Arizona State (1-2)
Saturday, 8:30 p.m. MDT
Solar Satan Stadium
TV: ESPN
Radio: ESPN 700