Analysis: Utah’s defense dominates in blanking of USU, while offense has aspects to clean up ahead of Big 12 play

Utah breezed past in-state foe Utah State 33-0 on Saturday, as the Utes blanked an opponent for the first time since opening the 2024 season against Southern Utah with a 49-0 win.

The Utes’ defense was stout against an Aggie offense that has struggled to begin the season. Utah held Utah State to just 188 total yards, including only 58 rushing yards on the game, while the Utes’ offense gained 480 yards.

Getting a rushing attack going has been a challenge all season long for the Aggies, and the Utes made sure that trend continued on Saturday.

“Just the front seven, especially the D-line, just holding their gaps and doing their assignments and not doing too much and just doing what they’re supposed to do,” Utah linebacker Cyrus Polu said. “Just our culture showing up, just being ballhawks and running to the ball.”

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Utah was stifling, with linebackers Trey Reynolds and Johnathan Hall, defensive end Lance Holtzclaw and defensive tackle Jireh Moe overpowering Utah State’s offensive line and shutting down the run game early.

Without much semblance of a run game, it was up to senior quarterback Grady Brosterhous, who started for the second consecutive game, to lead the Aggies’ offense. But Utah pressured Brosterhous often, blitzing on 61% of his dropbacks. The Utes sacked him four times and forced nine quarterback hurries.

An inconsistent second-half offensive performance from Utah led to some short fields for the Aggie offense, but the Ute defense answered the bell time and time again to keep Utah State off the scoreboard.

In particular, the Aggies were 0 of 2 in the red zone. After a Devon Dampier fumble in the third quarter, Utah State had great field position at the Utah 28-yard-line and got as close as the eight-yard line before safety Rabbit Evans leaped for a one-handed interception in the end zone to end the drive and keep the shutout intact.

On the next drive, the Aggies found success in the passing game and had their drive extended on third and 8 from the Utah 33-yard line due to a hands to the face penalty from Jackson Bennee.

Suddenly, the Aggies were in the red zone again, and after three straight rushing plays, stared at a fourth and 1 from the Utah seven-yard line.

Holtzclaw and linebacker Elijah Elliss blew up the Aggies’ jumbo package, darting into the backfield to wrap up Javen Jacobs for a loss of one. That play helped ensure the Utes would keep the clean sheet.

“Very proud of them,” Utah head coach Morgan Scalley said. “Again, 0 for 2 in the red zone. Had the interception from Rabbit, the big fourth down stop.

“So man, (defensive coordinator Colton) Swan and that crew did a really good job getting those guys prepared.”

Reynolds led the team in tackles with 10, while Polu added 1.5 sacks. Evans, Nate Ritchie and Lucas Samsula all contributed at least half of a sack in the win.

Saturday’s defensive performance displayed what the unit could do when put in some less-than-ideal positions.

On offense, quarterback Devon Dampier turned in perhaps his best passing performance as a Ute through the first half even as the run game struggled to get into gear.

Nearly every one of Dampier’s first-half passes was on the money, including three that went for 28 or more yards. Even some of the incompletions were on target, as Utah receivers dropped two perfect balls.

“I felt very confident with the way our receivers are playing, the play calls being made, the way our offense was blocking,” Dampier said. “Just as a pass game, I feel like the game is slowing down a little bit for me mentally and I’m just able to make better decisions as I’m out there.”

Dampier and former Utah State receiver Braden Pegan’s connection was on display early and often against Pegan’s former team. Pegan was the only receiver to catch the football during Utah’s nine-play, 75-yard drive, which culminated in a 28-yard touchdown that displayed Dampier’s arm talent.

Pegan had 45 yards on the first drive alone and finished with 122 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions.

“Great to see Braden Pegan have a good game against his old team. The guy is so good at going up and getting the ball. Unbelievable hands, body control, so very pleased there,” Scalley said.

For the game, the offensive line once again excelled in pass blocking, keeping Dampier clean 74% of the afternoon and allowing just one sack.

The time in the pocket allowed Dampier to step up and make a number of impressive throws, like a 18-yard completion to Ricky Johnson, who made a tiptoe catch along the sideline thanks to a ball that was placed perfectly.

Dampier also had an impressive 36-yard pass to Creed Whittemore and a 37-yard touchdown pass to Pegan to close the half that was dropped in the middle of two Aggie defenders.

Utah’s starting quarterback only had to play three quarters, marking the third consecutive game wherein he was able to rest for the majority of the fourth quarter.

Dampier finished with 253 yards and two touchdowns through the air with a 69% completion rate and a 155.8 passer rating. Essentially Dampier’s only mistake of the game came on the ground, when he fumbled in the third quarter while trying to get a first down with his legs.

While the Utes’ passing game was largely excellent on Saturday, the same couldn’t be said about the run game. Yes, Utah ended up with 194 rushing yards, but near the midpoint of the third quarter, the Utes had just 88, 47 of those coming from the quarterbacks.

Wayshawn Parker had an unusually quiet game with only 30 yards on 10 carries, though it could have been much better. Early in the second quarter, Parker exploded for a 95-yard touchdown run that was called back due to holding on center Alex Harrison — the offensive line’s first holding penalty of the season.

Daniel Bray helped up Utah’s rushing totals in the third quarter with a speedy and shifty 63-yard run touchdown, and the Utes mostly kept the ball on the ground in the fourth quarter to add to their stats.

Still, run blocking — especially on the interior of the line — appeared to be a struggle for the majority of the game and will be an area of focus for the team this week as it prepares for its Big 12 opener against Iowa State next Saturday.

“I think there’s some ID things I think interiorly that we missed, but when you rush for 194, I think you’re doing a pretty good job,” Scalley said. “I think those numbers, too, you get a holding penalty on one of Wayshawn’s runs and that jacks that up, too.

“So there’s some really good things that we’re doing. We’ll have to look at the film and see where we’re missing stuff. I knew that there was going to be things to clean up.”

In all, Utah did score just seven points in the second half as it lost a fumble, turned the ball over on downs twice and punted once.

Offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven showed his patented creativity in the first half with a flea flicker that went for 18 yards and multiple plays that started with no quarterback or running back in the backfield until a QB was motioned over to take the snap.

The second half was mostly devoid of trickery though as McGiven went with a more vanilla approach, perhaps saving some plays for Big 12 competition. The concerning part was that the Utes struggled to score in the second half.

While Saturday’s win wasn’t as exciting as its previous two, Utah took care of business and finished nonconference play unbeaten while still having things it can improve heading into conference play.

“A bit sloppy in the second half with things, but overall happy with protecting our house three games in a row,” Scalley said. “Now conference play starts. We go on the road. Will be a big test for us against Iowa State.

“Definitely a lot on that film to look at and improve upon, but we’re 3-0 going into conference play.”