Utah rushed for 422 yards and held Colorado without a point until the fourth quarter in a 53–7 win Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes led 43–0 at halftime and scored on nine of their first 13 drives while Colorado finished with three first downs and 43 total yards through three quarters.
Utah true freshman quarterback Byrd Ficklin started and scored on a 63-yard keeper in the opening series, helping the Utes build a 17–0 first-quarter lead. Colorado opened with a three-and-out, and its offense was held to minus-18 total yards in the first half with five sacks allowed and seven three-and-outs. Utah reached 260 rushing yards before halftime and added a blocked punt that set up a late field goal to make it 43–0 at the break.
Colorado opened the third quarter with its longest drive of the game, crossing midfield for the second time, but quarterback Kaidon Salter was stopped on a fourth-down sneak. Utah maintained starters into the third quarter and added a 45-yard field goal for a 46–0 lead at 1:35.
Colorado switched to backup quarterback Ryan Staub in the fourth quarter. Staub led a red-zone drive against Utah’s reserve defense and scored on a quarterback sneak to make it 46-7. Utah answered immediately. Two plays into the next series, Nate Johnson took a direct snap 56 yards for a touchdown to reach 400 team rushing yards and re-establish a 46-point margin.
Utah later substituted third-string quarterback Isaac Wilson, who entered after a 49-yard run by Wayshawn Parker set up a 59-yard field-goal try that was short. Through three quarters, Utah led in total yardage.
Colorado went three-and-out on six of its first 11 drives and finished with three first downs, averaging four plays per possession. Utah scored on nine of its first 13 drives, including points derived from a blocked punt, a shanked punt and a safety on intentional grounding in the end zone.
Utah improved to 6-2 (3-2 Big 12). Colorado fell to 3-5 (1-4 Big 12) and left Salt Lake City with its least productive offensive outing under Deion Sanders and renewed concerns. The Buffaloes will face The University of Arizona at home next week; Utah will play the Cincinnati Bearcats.
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