The Deseret News is providing live coverage of Saturday’s game between Utah and Colorado. Check back for updates throughout the game.
Final score
Utah 53, Colorado 7
This one was over quickly, as Utah dominated visiting Colorado in a late Saturday night matchup.
Byrd Ficklin ran for 151 yards and a touchdown while also passing for 140 yards and two more scores as the Utes rolled offensively, to the tune of 587 yards of total offense.
Utah ended up with 422 rushing yards.
Ficklin, who was making his first start of his college career with Devon Dampier not 100% healthy, led Utah on eight scoring drives before exiting the game after three quarters, giving way to Isaac Wilson.
Colorado, meanwhile, was harassed by the Utah defense all night, particularly in the first half.
The Buffaloes had minus-18 total yards in the opening two quarters, including minus-41 rushing yards. Kaidon Salter finished the first half with minus-44 rushing yards and was sacked five times before halftime.
Colorado ended up with 140 total yards of offense.
That allowed Utah to go into cruise control early in the contest, while getting a chance to see what Ficklin could do.
Fourth quarter
Utah 53, Colorado 7
3:12 — Tack on one more score for the home team.
Nate Johnson ran 56 yards for Utah’s fourth rushing touchdown of the night. Utah 53, Colorado 7.
9:03 — Colorado is finally on the board, scoring on a 1-yard Ryan Staub touchdown run. Utah 46, Colorado 7.
The Buffaloes drove 59 yards in nine plays for the score.
Third quarter
Utah 46, Colorado 0
1:42 — The Utes tacked on three more points with a 45-yard Dillon Curtis field goal, his third field goal of the night. Utah 46, Colorado 0.
The Utes drove the ball 27 yards in eight plays for their latest score.
Halftime
Utah 43, Colorado 0
That was decidedly one-sided.
The Utes go into halftime with an overwhelming advantage on the scoreboard and on the stat sheet after scoring five touchdowns, two field goals and a safety.
Utah had 398 yards of total offense in the first half, with Byrd Ficklin running for 163 yards and a touchdown while also throwing for 113 yards and two more scores.
Colorado, meanwhile, had minus-18 yards of total offense in the first half. The Utes blitzed Kaidon Salter constantly and ended up with five first-half sacks, leaving the Buffaloes with minus-41 rushing yards in the opening two quarters.
Second quarter
Utah 43, Colorado 0
0:00 — The Utes tacked on a 23-yard field goal from Dillon Curtis on the final play of the drive, as they capitalized on a blocked punt that gave Utah the ball inside the 10 with 30 seconds until halftime. Utah 43, Colorado 0.
2:08 — Utah capitalized on a shanked punt to score quickly on a short field, as Byrd Ficklin threw a 20-yard touchdown strike to Larry Simmons. Utah 40, Colorado 0.
The two-play drive started at the Colorado 21 after a 14-yard punt from the Buffaloes.
3:42 — Utah continued to pour it on, this time scoring on a NaQuari Rogers 2-yard touchdown run. Utah 33, Colorado 0.
This time, the Utes held the ball for over seven minutes while driving 60 yards in 16 plays.
Utah has 365 yards of total offense to 10 for the Buffaloes.
12:50 — Utah scored this time through the air, as Byrd Ficklin found JJ Buchanan for a 22-yard touchdown pass. Utah 26, Colorado 0.
The Utes moved the ball 72 yards in just four plays on their latest scoring drive. Ficklin accounted for all 72 yards on the drive, including 22 on the ground and 50 through the air.
14:29 — Utah’s defense accounted for two points as Kaidon Salter, under heavy pressure in his own end zone, threw an errant pass nowhere near a Colorado player and was called for intentional grounding. That penalty resulted in a safety. Utah 19, Colorado 0.
First quarter
Utah 17, Colorado 0
2:53 — Utah is running away with this one, literally.
Wayshawn Parker made it a one-play scoring drive, juking a defender before bursting for a 58-yard touchdown run. Utah 17, Colorado 0.
The Utes currently have 177 yards of total offense, compared to minus-3 for Colorado.
4:51 — The Utes made it a double-digit lead, after successfully converting on a fake punt.
Dillon Curtis nailed a 53-yard field goal which was pushed back 5 yards by a false start. Utah 10, Colorado 0.
Earlier in the drive, Orion Phillips flipped a short pass to Dallen Bentley on fourth down, and the fake punt turned into a 25-yard gain and a first down.
14:23 — Byrd Ficklin knows how to show off for his first college start.
Ficklin got the start at QB for Utah and after fellow freshman Daniel Bray broke off a 12-yard run, Ficklin weaved his way through the Colorado defense before pulling away for a 63-yard touchdown run. Utah 7, Colorado 0.
How to watch the game
The game between Utah and Colorado will be televised on ESPN and will be live streamed on Watch ESPN. The game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. MDT.
Pregame prep
Here are a few stories to get you ready for the rivalry game between the Utes and Buffaloes.