Three Takeaways From Utah’s Win Over UCLA

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The seventh ranked Utah Utes had a dominating 49-3 win over UCLA to win their sixth straight game.

Utah has now gone 14 straight quarters at home without allowing their opponent to score a touchdown. It’s their 10th straight victory inside Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Here is the Crimson Corner’s “three point stance” from their win over UCLA:

Julian Blackmon Had Best Performance Of Season

The former cornerback turned safety had one of his best performance of the season, which says a lot. Blackmon was all over the state sheet with a game-high 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and an interception. His forced fumble was recovered by Mika Tafua, who returned it 68-yards for a touchdown. The interception came in the end zone when Dorian Thompson-Robinson chucked a deep pass and Blackmon ran in front of the receiver and caught the 50-50 ball.

HE COULD. GO. ALL. THE. WAY!
Mika Tafua with the 68 yard scoop and score and Utah's defense strikes again!#goutes #BigManTD
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/3UiOhOJTw8

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 17, 2019

Blackmon has been sensational this season with 49 tackles, 4 pass deflections, 4 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles. He also had a pick-six against BYU in the season opener.

Tyler Huntley Is An Elite QB

The senior star quarterback showed once again why he is among one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Huntley completed 14 of his 18 pass attempts for 335 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a rushing score in the win. He made many impressive throws, including some deep passes that UCLA allowed him to make when they were rushing eight guys.

Brant Kuithe.
That's the tweet. 😱#goutes #UCLAvsUTAH
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/iODWif2WNf

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 17, 2019

Utah had five drives that went 75 yards or farther and resulted in touchdowns. The first one was the first drive for Utah when Huntley scored a two-yard rushing touchdown, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive.

Here are the other four drives that went 75 yards or longer:

• 2nd quarter, Moss 4-yard TD – 10 plays, 76 yards – Utah 14, UCLA 3
• 2nd quarter, Moss 38-yard TD – 4 plays, 85 yards – Utah 28, UCLA 3
• 3rd quarter, Kuithe 69-yard TD – 3 plays, 75 yards, Utah 35, UCLA 3
• 4th quarter, Nacua 83-yard TD – 5 plays, 95 yards, Utah 42, UCLA 3

On the season, Huntley has thrown for 2,397 yards on 155-of-209 attempts, completing 74.2 percent of his passes for 13 touchdowns and one interception. After all of the action in college football on Saturday, Huntley is now second in the nation in completion percentage at 74.2 percent. Only LSU’s Joe Burrow has a higher pass completion percentage at 78.6 percent.

PUT A 🍒 ON TOP! @_SNOOP1 hits Samson Nacua for an 8⃣3⃣-yard TD!

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/XwAIJZH9Yf

— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) November 17, 2019

Utes Defense Was Fantastic In Defending Red Zone

Unlike some of the past home games, Utah dealt with UCLA getting into the red zone on offense. The Utes’ defense held their own and not only limited the Bruins to just one field goal, but the other three opportunities that the Bruins entered the red zone, Utah shut them down. UCLA was 1-of-4 in the red zone and scored just a field goal on their first drive.

Here is a snippet of my latest @kslsports recap of the #Utes absolute destruction of the Bruins…

Watch the FULL recap⬇️https://t.co/CpDNKXM34C

Check out the latest on the #Utah⬇️https://t.co/xD8ujRCGMS pic.twitter.com/ZJJiegKxzd

— Voldemort (@HemaHeimuliJr) November 18, 2019

The second time that UCLA entered the red zone was in the second quarter when Utah wide receiver Demari Simpkins fumbled the ball and the Bruins took over in Utah territory at the 28-yard line. Bruins running back Joshua Kelley ran for one yard on first down and 8 yards on second down. On third and one, UCLA committed a false start penalty. Demetric Felton ran for no gain on third and 6, forcing the Bruins to attempt a field goal. J.J. Molson missed the 42-yard attempt.

On the third red zone try, Utah turned the ball over on downs in the third quarter when punter Ben Lennon failed to reach the first down on a fake punt. UCLA had the ball at the Utes 21-yard line. Kelley racked up 12 yards on the first three downs. On first and goal, Felton ran for no gain and Kelley lost one yard on second and goal. On third and goal, quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson had the ball slip out of his hands and Terrell Burgess recovered the fumble.

We'll take that!#goutes #UCLAvsUTAH
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/RPOl6tg3u4

— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) November 17, 2019

The final time that UCLA reached the red zone was early in the fourth quarter when Utah turned the ball over on downs and the Bruins had the ball at their own 48-yard line. Thompson-Robinson found Devin Asiasi for a 26-yard gain on first down and connected with him again for 15-yards at the Utah 11-yard line. On first down once again, Thompson-Robinson completed a 7-yard pass to Mike Martinez at the Utah 4-yard line. On second and goal, John Penisini forced a fumble by Felton that was recovered by Josh Nurse.

Utah will travel to Arizona to face the Wildcats in their final road game of the regular season. The game will begin at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on FS1.

The Crimson Corner podcast is the one-stop for all things University of Utah Athletics hosted by Utah insider Trevor Allen. Ute fans will find interviews with current players, coaches, and staff alongside expert analysis of every game, story and angle coming out of the University of Utah.