Utah’s accurate throw game displays greater productivity in victory over Northern Illinois

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s second game of the season featured more passing — make that passing yardage — than the opener. In Saturday’s 35-17 win over Northern Illinois, the 13th-ranked Utes wound up with 214 yards in the air.

Although the final tally wasn’t all that spectacular, it more than doubled Utah’s 106-yard aerial attack against BYU.

“The defense was not dropping eight,” Huntley said. “So we just saw a chance to throw the ball.”

After Utah’s 30-12 win last week in Provo, the Utes ranked 119th nationally in passing offense. Although Huntley was quite accurate against the Cougars — completing 13 of 16 throws — the net result was just 106 yards.

Huntley got off to a similar start against NIU. This time, though, the 13-of-16 passing equated to 200 yards before the fourth quarter began.

“We knew coming into this game they were going to stack the box. So it was easy for Tyler to connect with our receivers. That’s all we did. We just executed.” — Utah wide receiver Demari Simpkins

Two throws later, with 12:49 left to play, Utah scored its first receiving touchdown of the season when Huntley teamed with Jaylen Dixon on a 14-yard pass. The TD toss and PAT that followed extended the Utes’ lead to the final margin of 35-17 and gave them eight first downs via a pass.

“I think that’s good. Last week they were dropping a lot of guys back and not letting us get those passes downfield,” Dixon said. “So we had chances to really pass the ball down the field and that’s what we did.”

Dixon led the Utes with four receptions for 46 yards. Six others made catches. Bryan Thompson, Derrick Vickers, Britain Covey and Demari Simpkins each had two, while Brant Kuithe and Hunter Thedford grabbed one apiece.

“We knew coming into this game they were going to stack the box,” Simpkins said. “So it was easy for Tyler to connect with our receivers. That’s all we did. We just executed.”

Huntley’s accuracy has been remarkable thus far. In two games, he’s completed 27 of 35 passes (77.1%).

“It’s been nice,” Dixon said. “He’s just getting better with each game of the season and that’s the main goal, to just get better.”

Speaking of better, running back Zack Moss noted that an effective throw game makes his job easier in the long run.

“If you can pass the ball, the running lanes will be there,” he said. “The goal every week is for the run game to help the pass game and vice versa.”

In improving to 2-0 for the seventh consecutive season, the Utes netted 407 yards of total offense. Moss finished with 80 of Utah’s 193 yards on the ground.    

The Utes wound up running the ball 37 times and passing it 19. The split against BYU was 48 runs and 16 passes.

Huntley said that offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig has high expectations for the senior.

“He asked a lot of me and that puts more pressure on me to execute every play,” Huntley said. “I do not have a chill play in the offense, I need to get us in a better spot to execute.”

The difference this season, he added, includes more maturity.

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“I want to take every play one at a time and put our offense in a great position,” Huntley said.

Utah averaged 7.3 yards per play. Northern Illinois checked in at 5.4 yards per play.

“Whatever the defense is giving you will dictate your offense. This week, there was very few drop-eight situations and it was a much different scheme. So that let us throw the ball a little more,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. ‘We had good production. I think we were a little over 400 yards, which was about 200 passing and close to 200 rushing, so that is good — not great, but good. We can get better.”

Utah’s offense has yet to turn the ball over this season and Huntley hasn’t been sacked once. Whittingham said the latter is a credit to his presence in the pocket and his ability to get out of trouble.

“The offensive line has done a nice job protecting him,” Whittingham continued. “He has made great decisions.”

Utah’s offensive line was without starting center Orlando Umana and co-starter at right guard Johnny Maea on Saturday. The duo were sidelined with undisclosed injuries.

The Utes juggled things around a bit and started Paul Toala at center, Nick Ford at right guard and Simi Moala at right tackle. Darrin Paulo and Braeden Daniels remained at left tackle and left guard, respectively.

“The offensive line is playing well. Coach Jim Harding is a great coach,” Huntley said. “He puts them in positions during practice so that during the game it is easier for them.”

Huntley, in turn, also performed well. He posted his 12th career 200-yard passing game and is now the 10th-leading passer in team history with 4,579 career yards. On the ground, Huntley had a 16-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. It was his 12th career rushing score. He averaged 12.7 yards on three carries against NIU.