Cam Rising replaces Charlie Brewer, but Utah football falls in San Diego state in triple OT

He throws for 153 yards and three touchdowns after coming on in the third quarter.

Carson, California • Kyle Whittingham had seen enough.

After the middle of the third quarter on Saturday night, the University of Utah offense did nothing. The Utes were trailing San Diego State by two points, so Whittingham gave Cam Rising a proverbial pat on the shoulder.

Rising was told he was coming as a replacement for Charlie Brewer, so with about 45 seconds left in a media timeout, the fourth-year student threw three balls, then went over there to try and save the day.

There are strong arguments to be made that Rising will not be released again. His 153 yards and three touchdowns were scored 19 for 32, dropping from 5:24 in the third quarter, but those exploits ultimately failed to save the Utes, who were sloppy for three quarters as they fell to the Aztecs, 33-31, in triple overtime at Dignity Health Sports Park.

“We needed a spark,” said Whittingham. “We have a great quarterback at Cam Rising, who is number 2, and why not give him a chance? He worked hard in training, as hard as anyone else. He prepared himself the right way and I had no doubts in my mind that he was ready to play because he is the kind of kid he is. Considering the circumstances, he deserved this opportunity.

Much of that opportunity came about as Brewer presided over orders that ended in seven punters, plus a crushing interception from Tayler Hawkins on a pass that Brewer mis-telegraphed. Hawkins got it back to the Utah 7-yard line, Greg Bell threw the ball on the next play for his second touchdown in 42 seconds, and the Aztecs, who beat Arizona last week, took a 24-10 lead with 10:42 left in the third quarter.

Rising devised a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the second ending with a 4-yard pass to Theo Howard in the back end of the end zone with 16 seconds left. Connor O’Toole’s two-point conversion capture sent a seemingly wasted evening to overtime.

“It was an amazing feeling to fight the situation we were in and get out of that hole,” said Rising. “It was a great feeling, but we have to finish.”

The teams traded touchdown passes, then traded missed field goals, and finally, the light of day has come for San Diego State.

With new college football overtime rules dictating that teams must make a two-point conversion from third overtime, San Diego State converted their try, but Rising’s pass to O’Toole was weak. and escaped him after he was initially ruled a catch. Replays showed the ball hit the turf and O’Toole was out of control, ending the night, and Utah’s out-of-conference slate with the Pac-12 game opening next Saturday against Washington State at Rice-Eccles Stadium (12:30 p.m., Pac-12 networks).

Whittingham has not named his starting quarterback, but has indicated that a decision will be made before the team returns to training on Monday.

“I saw his maturity in that offense for three years and as a leader,” said Devin Lloyd after registering a high of 13 tackles from linebacker. “He’s always been a player, he’s been a ball player since he came here. He just made it obvious.

Rising’s emergence coincided with Britain Covey’s most productive game of the still young season. The junior red shirt catcher had eight catches for 46 yards and a touchdown. Six of those eight catches were from Rising, while his 80-yard punt return touchdown woke up a crowd that included a large contingent from Utah.

Covey finished with 203 versatile yards, including 132 on six punt returns.