Defense Beats The Bears, Utah Football Wins 23-12

Saturday, September 7

Salt Lake City, Utah

1:30 p.m.

University of Utah

2-0 , 0-0

Baylor

1-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Baylor

Utah

Defense Beats The Bears, Utah Football Wins 23-12

9/7/2024 6:21 PM | Football

Box Score Postgame Notes Postgame Quotes Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

SALT LAKE CITY – Holding its opponent to just 223 yards of total offense, the University of Utah Football team beat the Baylor Bears, 23-12, inside Rice-Eccles Stadium with a gritty performance to improve to 2-0 this season.

The Utes scored 23 straight points to start the game with all facets of the game getting involved. Two offensive touchdowns along with a field goal and a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown gave Utah a solid lead heading into halftime.

Things slowed down for the Utes in the second half after producing 197 yards in the first, only recording 95 in the second with just 27 yards through the air. It would be Utah's defense that would continue to propel the Utes to victory though, holding the Bears to just 41 yards in the fourth quarter.

Overall, Utah finished the game with 292 yards of total offense (122 pass, 170 rush), keeping the Bears at bay with 223 yards of total offense (115 pass, 108 rush). The Utah defense also held Baylor to 2.7 yards per rush and 3.7 yards per play, finishing the game with 3.0 sacks and 8.0 TFL.

GAME LEADERS
Quarterback Cameron Rising finished the game 8-of-14 passing for 92 yards and two touchdowns, adding 21 yards rushing before leaving the game with an injury. In his absence, Isaac Wilson went 4-of-9 passing for 30 yards with zero interceptions.

On the ground, senior Micah Bernard notched his third-career 100-yard rushing game, racking up 118 yards on 19 carries (6.2), also grabbing two catches for five yards and a touchdown. Parks was also a standout for the Utes against the Bears, recording three catches for 80 yards (26.7 ypc) with a 28-yard touchdown catch.

On defense, safety Nate Ritchie notched a career-high nine stops (1.0 TFL) with Tao Johnson (S), Sione Fotu (LB) and Connor O'Toole (DE) all setting or tying their career highs with seven tackles each. O'Toole added a career-high 2.0 sacks with defensive end Van Fillinger adding five tackles (1.0 sack, 2.0 TFL) and a blocked field goal.

STAT OF THE GAME
Utah stopped Baylor on its first eight third-down conversion attempts. The Bears didn't convert on a third down until the third quarter on their ninth total attempt.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Utah is now 120-37 when playing in Rice-Eccles Stadium (since 1998) and is 92-26 at home during the Kyle Whittingham era. The Utes have won 33 of their last 35 home games.
Today's game marked the 85^th consecutive sellout of Rice-Eccles Stadium, dating back to the 2010 season opener vs. Pitt. The attendance figure of 52,827 ranks fifth all-time in the facility.
Utah's 17 points in the first quarter were the most since Oct. 12, 2019 at Oregon State (21).
Tight end Brant Kuithe reeled in a five-yard catch in the third quarter; it is Kuithe's 34th straight game appeared with a reception which leads all tight ends in FBS.
On O'Toole's strip-sack, linebacker Karene Reid came up with the fumble recovery; it was Reid's first recovery since the Oregon game in 2022.
Defensive end Van Fillinger came up with 2.0 TFL, including a sack, among Fillinger's five total tackles. It is his first career back-to-back 2.0 TFL performances.

UP NEXT
Utah will round out its non-conference slate with a trip to Logan, Utah, when they take on the Utah State Aggies on Saturday, Sept. 14. The game is set for a 2:30 p.m. MT kick on CBS Sports Network.

FOLLOW UTAH FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Follow along with behind the scenes content and coverage throughout the season on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.