Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward, left, and Utah quarterback Cameron Rising, who was a late scratch Thursday night time, converse after sport, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. Younger Kwak, Related Press
Utah operating again Ja’Quinden Jackson carries the ball throughout sport towards Washington State, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. Jackson, a former QB, would have been the Utes emergency quarterback if wanted on Thursday night time. Younger Kwak, Related Press
PULLMAN, Wash. — No. 14 Utah escaped Martin Stadium with a 21-17 victory over Washington State Thursday night time, and the Utes offense was taking part in with backups at key positions.
“A gutsy efficiency by our guys. We discovered a technique to win, which is clearly the underside line. We confirmed lots of toughness and resiliency. … (WSU is) an excellent soccer crew. They beat Wisconsin. Approach again when, I perceive that, however nonetheless it was an excellent victory at Wisconsin. — Utah coach Kyle Whittingham
“We had guys step up and carry out after they wanted to,” mentioned coach Kyle Whittingham.
Second-string quarterback Bryson Barnes began rather than injured starter Cam Rising. He accomplished 17 of 27 passes for 175 yards and a landing and rushed eight instances for 51 yards.
True freshman Jaylon Glover and Ja’Quinden Jackson — who was switched from quarterback to operating again a number of weeks in the past — mixed for 30 carries, 119 yards and two touchdowns as Tavion Thomas was sidelined.
In the meantime, tight finish Dalton Kincaid, who caught seven passes for 56 yards, was injured on a third-quarter landing.
“We’re the strolling wounded on offense proper now however no one cares,” Whittingham mentioned. “That’s why you recruit and construct depth in your 85-man roster so you'll be able to climate the storm when issues like this occur.”
The excellent news for the Utes (6-2, 4-1) is that they have a few additional days to get more healthy earlier than subsequent Saturday’s residence sport towards Arizona.
“We’re lucky that we've got a pair additional days off once more to hopefully heal up and get a few of these guys again,” Whittingham mentioned. “We’ll see what occurs.”
It’s unknown how lengthy Rising might be out and if he might be out there to play towards the Wildcats.
Rising knowledgeable Whittingham half-hour earlier than kickoff, the coach mentioned, that he wouldn't be capable of play. Rising injured his leg throughout Utah’s 43-42 victory over USC on Oct. 15. In that sport, he threw for a career-high 415 yards and was liable for 5 touchdowns.
For Thursday’s sport, with Rising standing on the sideline, true freshman Nate Johnson was Barnes’ backup. Rising was not thought-about out there even in an emergency position, in keeping with Whittingham.
Jackson was the No. 3 quarterback Thursday.
“Ja’Quinden Jackson can fill in and nonetheless has sufficient retention from when he was performed quarterback,” Whittingham mentioned.
Would Whittingham have been snug taking part in Jackson towards WSU if it had been obligatory?
“Not snug,” the coach mentioned, “however it will have been extra of an choice than placing Cam in tonight.”
Defensively, security R.J. Hubert was ejected for concentrating on early within the fourth quarter. He's scheduled to be sidelined for the primary half towards Arizona, until the Utes resolve to attraction the decision.
Total, Whittingham was pleased with the best way his crew responded regardless of being shorthanded.
“A gutsy efficiency by our guys. We discovered a technique to win, which is clearly the underside line,” he mentioned. “We confirmed lots of toughness and resiliency. … (WSU is) an excellent soccer crew. They beat Wisconsin. Approach again when, I perceive that, however nonetheless it was an excellent victory at Wisconsin. They’ve misplaced to some actually good Pac-12 groups. In no way was that opponent inferior, for my part.”
Linebacker Karene Reid defined that Thursday’s hard-fought win says so much about this crew.
“It simply reveals that we've got a next-man-up mentality. We’re going to face extra adversity,” he mentioned. “There’s going to be extra accidents down the street. It says so much concerning the character of this crew, that we’re in it for the crew.”
Utah operating again Ja’Quinden Jackson carries the ball throughout sport towards Washington State, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. Jackson, a former QB, would have been the Utes emergency quarterback if wanted on Thursday night time.
Younger Kwak, Related Press