Utah Cuts Deficit With Tavion Thomas Rushing TD
Oct 8, 2022, 2:58 PM | Updated: Oct 11, 2022, 11:19 am
Running back Tavion Thomas #9 of the Utah Utes runs upfield during the PAC-12 Football Championship Game featuring the Oregon Ducks and the Utah Utes on December 3, 2021 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – After digging themselves a hole in the first half, the Utah Utes cut the UCLA lead with a Tavion Thomas rushing touchdown.
With 3:14 remaining in the second quarter, Tavion Thomas ran in a five-yard touchdown to cut UCLA’s lead to 14-10.
It’s the first touchdown of the game for Thomas and the fifth score of the season. Through the first half, Thomas had 13 carries for 74 yards and one touchdown. Cam Rising struggled until the touchdown drive, completing just three of his seven pass attempts for 34 yards and one interception. He did run the ball well to that point in the game with four carries for 18 yards, his longest run going for 17 yards.
.@thiagoothomas9 finishes off a great drive with a run for 6! 🚂🚂@Utah_Football | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/21VrlaOgP7
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) October 8, 2022
About Utah/UCLA
UCLA may have the upper hand in the entire history of their games against Utah, but the Utes have been the ones with the strong showing recently in the series that dates back to 1933. Since then, the Utes and Bruins have met a total of 19 times with UCLA having a lead of 11-8. However, Utah has dominated the series with UCLA not winning a game since 2015, and getting absolutely drubbed in Salt Lake City last year, 44-24.
This year could be different for the Chip Kelly-led Bruins who are currently ranked No. 18 in the country after an impressive win over Washington the weekend before. Utah for their part will be coming into Pasadena ranked No. 11- their highest rank in 2022 since being No. 7 to start the season.
Coach Kelly’s time in Pasadena has been anything but smooth. After a reign of terror in Eugene between 2009 and 2012, Kelly has been a little underwhelming as a head coach since. However, the Bruins have steadily gotten better year by year since he took the job in 2018, though it’s taken longer than fans wanted.
Right now, Kelly is in the process of going from a minus in the win column to a positive, currently sitting at 23-25 as the head coach of UCLA. A win against the Utes will get Kelly that much closer and get the proverbial monkey off his back of not beating Utah since becoming the head coach of the Bruins.
Utah and UCLA can be seen on FOX.
