Utah Football Unable To Earn Road Win, Falls 17-14 Against Houston

Saturday, October 26

Houston, Texas / TDECU Stadium

5 p.m.

University of Utah

Houston

Utah Football Unable To Earn Road Win, Falls 17-14 Against Houston

10/26/2024 9:13 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

HOUSTON, Texas – The University of Utah Football program's offensive struggles continued on the road tonight with the Utes falling 17-14 to Houston. Utah is now 4-4 overall this season and 1-4 in Big 12 play.

It was a quick start for the Utes in the first quarter, striking on the second play of their first drive with a 71-yard bomb from Isaac Wilson to Brant Kuithe to give Utah a quick 7-0 lead. Utah averaged 9.5 yards per play in the first quarter, only allowing 55 yards on offense from the Cougars.

Houston evened things up with 11:54 to go in the second quarter with the Utes still moving the ball well, unfortunately struggling to find the end zone after missing two field goals. Heading into halftime tied 7-7, Utah finished the first half with 218 yards of total offense compared to Houston's 99.

With 5:01 remaining in the third quarter, Utah took back the lead on a 14-yard rush from Micah Bernard after the Ute defense set things up with a turnover. Linebacker Johnathan Hall secured his first interception, returning it 24 yards to put the Utes on the Houston 22-yard line with Bernard punching it in just three plays later.

Unfortunately for the Utes, Houston would score 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter which included a game-winning field goal as time expired.

GAME LEADERS
Wilson and Brandon Rose split time at quarterback with Wilson playing in the first half and Rose finishing the game in the second. Wilson was 13-of-22 for 171 yards and a touchdown with Rose also going 7-of-15 for 45 yards.

In the receiving game, Kuithe recorded his fourth-career 100-yard receiving game, racking up 113 yards on five catches (22.6 ypc) and a touchdown. Micah Bernard also had 76 all-purpose yards in the game with 51 rushing and 25 receiving.

On defense, Lander Barton notched a career-high 12 tackles, which included 11 solo stops and a tackle for loss. Alaka'i Gilman and Karene Reid each added seven tackles with Gilman also contributing a tackle for loss.

STANDOUT STAT
Kuithe climbed up the record book with his performance against the Cougars tonight, moving into third all-time in career receiving touchdowns (21) and career receptions (179). He also has 2,364 career receiving yards, which ranks third all-time (first among tight ends) in program history.

UP NEXT
The Utes head into their second BYE week before taking on the BYU Cougars in Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 9. The game time and TV network will be announced at a later date.