Highlights, key plays, photos from No. 12 Utah’s season-opening blowout win over Southern Utah

The Deseret News is providing live coverage of Thursday’s game between Utah and Southern Utah. Check back for updates throughout the game.

Final score

Utah 49, Southern Utah 0

No. 12 Utah welcomed the return of quarterback Cam Rising and tight end Brant Kuithe, and the duo came up big in a blowout victory over Southern Utah in the season opener for both schools Thursday night.

Even though he only played just under one half, Rising completed 10 of 15 passes for 254 yards and a career-high five touchdowns in leading the Utes to touchdowns on each of his five possessions. He had a QB rating of 318.9.

Kuithe caught three of those touchdown passes — all in a 28-point second quarter — and finished with four catches for 69 yards.

That second quarter set the tone as Utah ran over and through the T’Birds, outgaining SUU with 513 total yards to 150.

Dijon Stanley added 150 receiving yards — including touchdown catches of 64 and 79 yards — and 34 rushing yards for an explosive Utah offense.

Smith Snowden had four solo tackles and two tackles for loss to lead a balanced effort defensively for the Utes.

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Fourth quarter

Utah 49, Southern Utah 0

11:05 — Isaac Wilson’s first touchdown was a memorable one.

The true freshman threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Caleb Lohner — that was also the first catch for the former college basketball player at Baylor and BYU. Utah 49, Southern Utah 0.

Utah started the drive at SUU’s 20 following a shanked punt, and the Utes capitalized on one play.

Third quarter

Utah 42, Southern Utah 0

4:23 — Mike Mitchell’s first touchdown as a Ute gave Isaac Wilson his first scoring drive as a Ute.

Mitchell outran the defender to the corner on a 4-yard touchdown run, the first score of the second half for Utah. Utah 42, Southern Utah 0.

Wilson kept the drive alive with a 19-yard fourth-down pass to Daidren Zipperer that moved the Utes to the SUU 20.

10:32 — The first turnover Utah forced of the season comes courtesy of Elijah Davis, who intercepted a pass to end a promising SUU drive.

Davis returned the ball 13 yards to the Utah 43 to put the Utes in solid field position.

Halftime

Utah 35, Southern Utah 0

What a first game back for Cam Rising, and his night is already over.

He threw for a career-high five touchdowns and 254 yards on 10 completions in the first half before exiting in the final minute of the half.

Utah has outgained SUU 339 yards to 84 in a completely dominant effort.

True freshman Isaac Wilson came on in the half’s final 30 seconds in replacing Rising, and while he struggled and took a sack and threw an interception, the second half should give him more opportunities to show what he can do.

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Second quarter

Utah 35, Southern Utah 0

1:08 — Make that a career-high five touchdown passes for Cam Rising before halftime in the season opener.

This time, for the third time this half, a big thank you goes out to Brant Kuithe, who took a pass inside the 5, fought through a pair of tackle attempts, then spun over another defender and fought past another defender to score on an 11-yard pass. Utah 35, Southern Utah 0.

The Utes’ fifth drive was kept alive by a pass interference on SUU on a fourth-and-12 inside the T’Bird 40.

Rising has thrown for 254 yards and five touchdowns, while adding 25 rushing yards — no, he’s not sliding, much to the chagrin of fans and coaches nervous of another injury.

Kuithe, meanwhile, has four catches for 69 yards and three touchdowns.

9:16 — Another wheel route, another LONG touchdown for the scorching Utah offense.

Again, Dijon Stanley took a pass from Cam Rising to the house, this one from 79 yards on the first play of the Utes’ fourth drive. Utah 28, Southern Utah 0.

That’s four touchdown passes for Rising — and 229 passing yards. He now has 50 touchdown passes in his career, fourth in Utah history.

Will he sit before halftime?

11:27 — The rout is on, as Cam Rising and Brant Kuithe connect — again — for a touchdown.

This time, Kuithe snuck up the middle unnoticed and Rising hit him for an easy 18-yard touchdown pass. Utah 21, Southern Utah 0.

The Utes moved the ball 48 yards in three plays after starting the drive on a short field following a short SUU punt.

14:48 — That’s how you get Cam Rising and Brant Kuithe their first connection in almost two years — with a touchdown.

Utah ran play action on third-and-1 and Rising hit an open Kuithe over the middle for a touchdown, giving Utah the two-score lead. Utah 14, Southern Utah 0.

Rising — who already is over 100 passing yards on the night — passed Alex Smith for career touchdown passes at Utah with the score, and now has 48.

First quarter

Utah 7, Southern Utah 0

0:00 — Utah is on the march again on its second drive, after SUU failed on fourth down in Utes territory.

The Utes had 128 yards of total offense in the first quarter, including 92 passing yards and 36 on the ground.

The T’Birds, meanwhile, had 60 — 21 through the air and 39 on the ground.

8:46 — The first score of the year for Utah comes on a 64-yard touchdown pass from Cam Rising to Dijon Stanley, his first TD as a Ute. Utah 7, Southern Utah 0.

Rising hit the wide-open Stanley on the wheel route and the running back did the rest to give Utah the lead on its opening possession.

Rising completed 3 of 5 passes for 75 yards and ran 11 yards on a keeper during the drive.

How to watch the game

Utah’s season opener against Southern Utah will be the first time Utes fans experience the Big 12′s broadcast deal that includes streaming games on ESPN+.

The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and requires a subscription.

Pregame prep

Here are a few stories to get you ready for Utah’s game against Southern Utah.