KSL Sports Live Blog: SDCCU Holiday Bowl

Dec 31, 2018, 4:36 PM | Updated: 8:00 pm

(Twitter, Dirk Facer)

KSL Sports

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The 2018 Holiday Bowl between the Utah Utes and Northwestern Wildcats is set to kick off from SDCCU Stadium. Both teams received the bowl bid after falling in their respective conference championship games.

Utah lost to Washington 10-3 in the Pac-12 Championship Game and comes into the Holiday Bowl with a 9-4 record.

Northwestern lost to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game and sits at an 8-5 record prior to the bowl game.

KSL Sports is updating the game.

7:58

Northwestern picks off Shelley again. Wildcats have the ball at the end of the third quarter. That’s five turnovers in the game for Utah.

7:54

The Wildcats score their 28th straight point with an 8-yard touchdown by Riley Lees. After the PAT, Northwestern leads 31-20 with 1:40 left in the third quarter.

It’s getting ugly at the Holiday Bowl. Northwestern has now taken a 31-20 lead with 1:40 to go in the 3Q.

— Dirk Facer (@DirkFacer) January 1, 2019

7:41

Northwestern takes the lead on a 20-yard touchdown by Clayton Thorson to Trey Klock. The Wildcats lead 24-20.

The #B1GCats in the 3rd quarter pic.twitter.com/MiC5REqWvA

— SDCCU Holiday Bowl (@HolidayBowl) January 1, 2019

7:36

Another Utah turnover, this time it’s Jaylen Dixon who drops the ball. After hauling in a pass, the ball is poked out and grabbed by Northwestern.

7:30

Northwestern’s Joe Gaziano picks up a fumble by Jason Shelley and takes it all the way to the house for a 82-yard touchdown. Utah’s lead is reduced to 20-17.

New life 😤#B1GCats | #HolidayBowl pic.twitter.com/bAPx2dVCXL

— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) January 1, 2019

7:15

An interception by Shelley quickly leads to a Northwestern touchdown two plays later. Utah still leads 20-10 with 13:13 left in the third quarter.

Annnnnnnnd that’s how you start a second half.

TOUCHDOWN #B1GCATS.

Thorson hits Lees in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/EWW6RzBuvK

— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) January 1, 2019

6:44

Halftime break. Utah leads 20-3 at the break.

6:41

Matt Gay chips in a 20-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to give Utah a 20-3 lead.

Another one for @MGtweetymonster.

Utah 20 | NW 3 pic.twitter.com/dO3paAMjrU

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) January 1, 2019

6:26

Marquise Blair picks off Northwestern QB Clayton Thorson to give Utah the ball on the Wildcats’ 35-yard line with 2:29 remaining in the first half.

Marquise Blair with the pick!@Utah_Football intercepts Clayton Thorson and we’re going back the other way. pic.twitter.com/ehv3vZgJTL

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 1, 2019

6:19

Utah responds with a field goal of its own to put the lead back at 14. Utes lead 17-3 with less than four minutes to go in the half.

.@MGtweetymonster puts the Utes up 17-3 with his FG! pic.twitter.com/aTfDK3CL67

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) January 1, 2019

6:09

Northwestern moves the ball all the way to the Utah 2-yard line but settles for a field goal. Utes still lead 14-3.

5:54

Jaylen Dixon fumbles after catching a 6-yard pass from Jason Shelley. Northwestern takes over at the Utah 42-yard line.

5:48

The first quarter comes to an end with Utah up 14-0.

The Utes are outgaining Northwestern in yardage, 141-63 at this point.

5:44

Utah scores again, this time on a 4-yard pass from Shelley to Jake Jackson. Utes led 14-0 with 1:40 remaining in the first.

TOUCHDOWN JAKE JACKSON!#SidelineCelebration pic.twitter.com/feiUYb6khk

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) January 1, 2019

5:28

Utah reaches the end zone on a 27-yard pass from Jason Shelley to Jaylen Dixon. The Utes lead 7-0 with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter.

JAYLEN DIXON TOUCHDOWN!#SidelineCelebration @jdixon__25 pic.twitter.com/M6YuAk19co

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) January 1, 2019

5:06

Utah kicker Matt Gay boots the opening kickoff into the end zone for no return. The 2018 Holiday Bowl is underway.

5:00

With kickoff approaching, Deseret News columnist Brad Rock speculates that the Ute faithful have significantly out-shown the Northwestern contingent.

I’m guessing Utah fans outnumber NW fans 2-1 or 3-1.

— Brad Rock (@therockmonster) December 31, 2018

4:35

Sitting on the sidelines in sweats while their teammates warm up in uniform, it appears that Utah junior quarterback Tyler Huntley and senior linebacker Chase Hansen will not play in the game.