LAS VEGAS — As a lot of people expected, Brian Johnson played against UNLV Saturday night.
The junior quarterback had been out since the first half of the season-opening Oregon State game, which he left with a separated shoulder. After rehabilitating for three weeks, he was cleared to play Saturday.
However, he wasn't able to pull out a victory for the Utes, who were whitewashed 27-0 at the Silver Bowl.
Johnson made his first appearance at the start of the third quarter to replace an ineffective Tommy Grady. He immediately led the Utes down to scoring territory, mostly on handoffs to Darrell Mack and a couple of UNLV penalties.
The Utes had first and five at the 5-yard line but couldn't score.
First Johnson picked up two yards on a rollout. and then Mack was tripped up in the backfield for a loss. A 5-yard pass to freshman Jereme Brooks took the Utes to the 1-yard line, but on fourth down Johnson collided with Mack as he started to roll out to the right and fell down for a loss.
The Utes still had a chance early in the fourth quarter with the ball in UNLV territory. On second down, a snap went way over Johnson's head, and as he chased down the ball he tried to fall on it, only to see it squirt loose.
It was one of four turnovers Saturday night for the Utes — an interception and three fumbles.
Johnson finished with 12 of 19 completions for 78 yards. Grady played the first half and completed eight of 17 passes for 83 yards; he returned late in the game and finished 11 of 21 for 117 yards, and an interception in the final seconds.
Bradon Godfrey was the leading receiver with six catches for 62 yards, while Mack had five for 25 yards and Derrek Richards four for 31 yards.
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