We’re ready to get back to work Monday. Things were already serious, but things just got 10 times more serious. So we’re ready to crank it up and show what Utah is about. – Utah LB Gionni Paul
FRESNO, Calif. — Some good, some bad. That’s how Utah coach Kyle Whittingham described Saturday’s 45-24 victory at Fresno State.
The positives included touchdowns by the offense, defense and special teams. Devontae Booker headlined the effort with 156 yards rushing and two scores. The other touchdowns came on a 98-yard kickoff return by Cory Butler-Byrd, a 77-yard punt return by Britain Covey, a 37-yard fumble recovery by Stevie Tu’ikolovatu and a 5-yard scoring strike from Kendal Thompson to Harrison Handley. Kicker Andy Phillips contributed a 33-yard field goal and six PATs.
On the negative, Whittingham didn’t like how the defense finished the game, or the fumble on the opening kickoff, or the lack of chunk yards and explosive plays in the throw game. He’d also like to see more of a perimeter run threat.
The bottom line, though, was pleasing to him. Utah completed its nonconference slate with wins over Michigan, Utah State and now Fresno State.
Whittingham said the sweep was obviously what the Utes desired.
“Now it’s Pac-12 the rest of the way. We’ve got a tough trip to Eugene and Autzen Stadium next week, and we’ve got to be ready,” Whittingham said. “We’ve got to play better than we have in the previous three games.”
The Utes are eager to move into the conference portion of the schedule.
“We’re ready to get back to work Monday. Things were already serious, but things just got 10 times more serious,” said linebacker Gionni Paul. “So we’re ready to crank it up and show what Utah is about.”
Paul noted that the touchdowns by the offense, defense and special teams at Fresno State indicate the team is coming together as a whole.
“That’s a great feeling going into Pac-12 play,” he said.
Thompson, who started in place of injured starter Travis Wilson and completed 19 of 25 passes for 159 yards, said the Utes are right where they want to be heading into Saturday’s game at Oregon (6:45 p.m., Fox).
“We’ve got some things to clean up going into conference play,” Thompson explained. “But the main stat is the win-loss column.”
Utah was rewarded for its 3-0 start by moving up in the national rankings. The Utes are No. 17 in the coaches poll and No. 18 in The Associated Press Top 25.
“I’m ready for Pac-12 play now and getting ready for that to start,” Booker said. “So it’s going to be exciting.”
Besides the trip to Oregon, this year’s conference slate for the Utes includes games at USC, Washington and Arizona. The home slate features visits by California, Arizona State, Oregon State, UCLA and Colorado.
“We’ll get ourselves ready,” Tu’ikolovatu said. “I feel we’re ready, but we can prepare ourselves more.”
EXTRA POINTS: Utah converted on 13 of 19 third-down situations and all three fourth-down opportunities . . . The Utes didn’t give up a sack . . . Linebacker Jared Norris led the Utes with 10 tackles. He also had two pass breakups, sharing team-high honors with defensive end Kylie Fitts . . . Defensive end Jason Fanaika topped Utah with two quarterback hurries . . . Fitts recorded the lone sack, forcing a fumble on the play . . . Tu’ikolovatu and Christian Drews had fumble recoveries.
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