Utah CB Clark Phillips III Makes House Call With 1Q Pick-Six
Oct 1, 2022, 12:37 PM
Clark Phillips III #8 of the Utah Utes runs back an interception for a touchdown, as he is chased by Liam Ryan #63 and Max Borghi #21 of the Washington State Cougars during their game on December 19, 2020 at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Utes preseason All-American Clark Phillips III had a career quarter against Oregon State and capped it with a pick-six against Oregon State.
Clark Phillips had an interception on the first drive of the game that led to a touchdown connection between Cam Rising and Jaylen Dixon. After Oregon State scored on their next possession, Utah’s defense made them pay on the third drive. Chance Nolan threw to his wide receiver when Phillips used his speed and athleticism to jump the route and intercept the pass.
The All-Pac-12 performer took the ball 38-yards for a touchdown to give the Utes a 14-7 lead with 7:21 remaining in the opening quarter. In Phillips’ tenure with the Utes, he has recorded a pick-six in every season.
CP3 – PICK6‼️‼️‼️
📺 https://t.co/p5HixyyHid@Utah_Football | @ClarkPhillips21 | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/Ru05iUn2Gc
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) October 1, 2022
Oregon State put everyone in the Pac-12 on notice last weekend against #7 USC that they aren’t the “cute little brother” that can be picked on anymore. The Utes know this all too well, falling to the Beavers 42-31 last season at Reser Stadium. Oregon State has the pieces to give #12 Utah a good fight if they are allowed to.
This year Utah hosts OSU at Rice-Eccles Stadium, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. Yes, Oregon State has typically performed better at home, and yes, RES is a hard place to play, but the Beavers have done the work to be competitive. A lackadaisical effort from the Utes that allows OSU to get into the game could pose a problem that Utah doesn’t want to have to try and solve.
Head coach Jonathan Smith has done wonders for the Beavers since taking the job in 2018. A favorite son of Oregon State from his quarterbacking days (1998-2001) under legendary College Football Hall Of Fame coach Dennis Erickson, Smith has breathed new life into a program that was getting left behind.
As the head coach of Oregon State, Smith’s record is 19-21 and steadily improving by the year. Smith has helped to make Corvallis a hard place for visiting teams to play and the list of victims (and almost victims) has steadily grown over the years.
Utah and Oregon State can be seen on the Pac-12 Network.
