We refused to quit, just kept fighting the entire 60 minutes and made play after play after play at the end. I'm very proud of our guys. – Utah coach Kyle Whittingham
SALT LAKE CITY — Last year’s Pac-12 South co-champions put on quite a show Friday night in the cold and rain at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
However, when all was said and done, 24th-ranked Utah avenged last year’s pivotal loss to USC with a thrilling 31-27 victory.
The setback in 2015 wound up costing the Utes a tiebreaker and a chance to play in the Pac-12 championship game. This year, the outcome lifted the Utes to a 4-0 record and a 1-0 start to conference play.
"We refused to quit, just kept fighting the entire 60 minutes and made play after play after play at the end," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "I'm very proud of our guys."
It took a late drive consisting of 15 plays and nearly 5½ minutes to finish it off. Utah scored the game-winning points on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Troy Williams to Tim Patrick with just 16 seconds left on the clock.
"These are the ones you dream about as a little kid," said offensive lineman Isaac Asiata. "It was a great team win."
Play of the game! #goutes #clutch https://t.co/T44G7gV8uZ
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) September 24, 2016
The decisive score, which dropped USC to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the Pac-12, proved to be the final blow in a game featuring 922 yards of total offense and 52 first downs.
Williams wound up completing 21-of-34 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns, leading an offense that converted on all four fourth-down situations it faced — including two on the final drive. Patrick finished with 100 yards receiving and Zack Moss topped Utah’s ground game with 90 yards rushing.
Despite forcing and recovering three USC fumbles in the first half, Utah trailed 17-10 at the intermission. The Trojans racked up 267 yards of total offense, including 102 by running back Justin Davis.
The Utes, who netted 200 yards over the first two quarters, jumped out to a 7-0 lead after getting their first takeaway — off a forced fumble by safety Chase Hansen and a recovery by Hunter Dimick on the game’s opening drive. They drove 59 yards on 12 plays, scoring on a 10-yard run by Troy Williams with 7:19 remaining in the first quarter.
Utah’s advantage was short-lived, however.
USC pulled even seconds later when Adoree’ Jackson returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown.
The momentum shift continued when the Trojans recovered a fumble on the drive that followed. Linebacker Cameron Smith jarred the ball away from Moss and Jackson scooped it up on the USC 31.
A reversal came four plays later when the Utes took the ball back when linebacker Sunia Tauteoli stripped the ball from USC quarterback Sam Darnold. Safety Marcus Williams picked it up on the Utah 15-yard line.
This time, however, the Utes failed to capitalize on the miscue and wound up punting.
Utah’s defense, though, managed to give the offense another opportunity a few minutes later. That’s when defensive tackle Pasoni Tasini caused USC to fumble for the third down and Hansen pounced on it. The Utes capped a 10-play, 39-yard drive with a 36-yard field goal by Andy Phillips.
Leading 10-7 with 6:39 left to play in the first half, Utah gave up a 50-yard run by Davis as the Trojans quickly moved into scoring position. Less than two minutes after gaining possession, they scored on a 14-yard run by Davis to pull ahead.
USC managed to put more points on the board with 35 seconds to go in the half. A 32-yard field goal by Matt Boermeester concluded a fast-paced 12-play drive that took less than two minutes to complete.
The Trojans extended their lead to 24-10 early in the third quarter when Darnold run 8 yards for a touchdown. It followed the second consecutive Utah drive that ended with a punt.
The Utes put an end to it when they regained possession. They marched downfield on 10 plays to cut the 24-10 deficit in half. The final play, though, didn’t go as planned. Running back Armand Shyne fumbled at the goal line and Asiata fell on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.
USC regained some breathing room early in the fourth quarter when Boermeester made a 43-yard field goal.
Trailing 27-17, Utah responded with a touchdown drive that ended with a 10-yard scoring strike from Williams to Raelon Singleton. The Utes kept the drive alive when Moss picked up the needed distance on a fourth-and-2 situation from the 13-yard line.
The TD that helped get the momentum back with Utah. Troy Williams found Raelon Singleton in the end zone to get the Utes within three. pic.twitter.com/lXR7bt3794
— Carra McManamon (@curramac22) September 24, 2016
After closing the gap to 27-24, Utah managed to get the ball back following a punt with 5:37 remaining. The Utes then embarked on their game-winning drive.
The #Utes defense came up big in the 4th quarter. #USCvsUTAH pic.twitter.com/auqUKOYuYh
— Carra McManamon (@curramac22) September 24, 2016
"Nobody panicked," Whittingham said. "We just did our thing."
Utah returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 1, at California.
Email: dirk@deseretnews.com
Twitter: @DirkFacer