No. 16 Utah continues surge, rolls to victory over Colorado
Rising throws three TD passes, defense steps up
SALT LAKE CITY — Losing a couple of early-season games was far from the most difficult thing Utah had to overcome to get back to the Pac-12 title game.
“We’ve taken probably the hardest thing that can happen and turned it into something beautiful,” wide receiver Britain Covey said after Senior Day victory against Colorado on Friday.
Cameron Rising threw three touchdown passes, Tavion Thomas ran for 142 yards and a score, and No. 16 Utah beat the Buffaloes 28-13.
Within the past year, the Utes lost star running back Ty Jordan and cornerback Aaron Lowe to shooting deaths. Utah honored them with a TJ-AL logo on their helmets.
“There’s always been a reverence whenever we’ve talked about them,” Covey said, “but we’re getting to the point now where we just celebrate them and honor what they represent. It’s more than two guys now; it’s the entire team, the whole university.”
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said his team “didn’t have the look in our eyes that we had last week,” and his players admitted it was difficult to focus since they already clinched the Pac-12 South. But they didn’t want to let their fallen teammates down. The Utes believe they are a team of destiny.
“I know they are out there with us,” said linebacker Devin Lloyd, who had nine tackles and a sack in what could be his last home game before declaring for the NFL draft. “They are the reason why we have been as successful as we have been.”
Utah (9-3, 8-1 Pac-12) rallied from a 1-2 start to win eight of their past nine games on their way to their third Pac-12 championship
Colorado cornerback Christian Gonzalez tackles Utah wide receiver Britain Covey after a catch in the Utes’ victory Friday at Rice-eccles Stadium.
appearance in four seasons.
The Utes rushed for 265 yards and held Colorado (4-8, 3-6 Pac-12) to 148 yards of offense.
“In this day and age, that is not easy to do,” Whittingham said. “Great job by our defense. … They were active; they flew around.”
Rising scrambled and found Covey on an improvised forward pitch for a 13-yard touchdown with 6:45 left in the third quarter to cap the scoring.
Thomas proved tough to tackle on any play but especially when he powered through the first level and into the secondary to extend his school record to 18 rushing touchdowns.
Rising was 14 of 23 for 179 yards passing. T.J. Pledger added 103 yards on the ground.
Colorado quarterback Brendon Lewis was harassed all game and finished with 84 yards passing, going 9-for-23 and absorbing four sacks.
The week after the Utes clinched the Pac12 South against Oregon and ended the Ducks’ playoff hopes, Utah looked less than focused at the start against Colorado.