Striker Moss helps Utah to climb to the top of the top 14, Stanford

The reality is settled for Stanford. He can not run the ball – with Bryce Love or, as was the case Saturday night against Utah, without him.

This was not the only reason why Cardinal No. 14 had been upset 40-21, but it is a pattern that continues and is frustrating. They only had 42 yards on the floor, while the Utes had 222 yards.

The loss put an end to Stanford's 11-game winning home streak and dealt a severe blow to the Cardinal (4-2, 2-1, Pac-12) in hopes of becoming the North Division champion.

"It's up to me to make sure this football team plays our best football," said head coach David Shaw. "Usually we are now (mid-season) and we are not."

Stanford wore black uniforms Saturday night. Previously, he had won eight out of nine in black. This time the color reflected the cardinal's mood.

Zack Moss had 160 yards and two touchdowns, Jaylon Johnson had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown and Matt Gay had four goals with the Utes remaining undefeated at Stanford Stadium four times. Quarterback Tyler Huntley scored 17 of 21 passes for 199 yards.

His most important pass came midway through the fourth quarter. After eliminating linebacker Gabe Reid in the background, he launched a 57-yard touchdown pass to Samson Nacua. Huntley had a jagged year; In fact, it was his first pass in the 16th quarter. The Utes were 37-21, and they were on their way.

"Few guys can do that," Shaw said.

For his part, Stanford Costello's K.J. made three turnovers, including two interceptions of red zones in the second quarter.

Attempting to hit JJ Arcega-Whiteside in the end zone, he kicked the ball, allowing Johnson to get it back and score the goal. In the next series, Costello tried to get a pass while he was fired. He attacked Huati Pututau directly and led another touchdown that gave the Utes a shocking 21-0 lead.

"These two rooms were rough; I know he would like to get them back, "Shaw said about Costello. "He continues to grow and learn. He's not here yet.

Costello was clearly angry with himself. "We are proud to protect football, mainly in the end zone," he said.

Shaw said he understood that Saturday morning, Love could not play. "If we had played in a few days, he would probably have been ready to play," he said.

He stated that the left ankle injury that Love had suffered in Notre Dame was "not a problem in the long run". He added that he was expecting Love to be "eager to escape" against Arizona State on October 18, after a week off.

Redshirt Trevor Speights, a sophomore, had 56 yards in 17 runs, including a touchdown, on his first start at college.

Kaden Smith said, "I would not want to impose ourselves (lack of Love) as the reason for our loss."

One thing is clear: no matter how anemic the game is, do not expect Stanford to open an Air Shaw attack.

"Some people will write that we should change what we do, that we should just throw the ball all over the yard," Shaw said. "These people do not know me. These people do not understand this program. These people do not understand what needs to be done to get where we are and how many games we have won in the philosophy we have. It is a philosophy that has proven itself if we are going to execute.

With Stanford late 21-0, 27-7 and 37-21, Costello had to pass. He did it for 381 yards, completing 26 assists for 41 assists. He dropped a 26-yard touchdown pass on rookie Michael Wilson, giving Stanford a fleeting glimpse of hope towards the end of the third quarter.

"We do not want to drop KJ 60 times per game and make him vulnerable to further success," Smith said. "So we really need to run this game and open up more games. holes. "

Smith had 120 rushing yards in eight attempts, a career-high, and two other receivers also reached 100 yards. Arcega-Whiteside captured eight for 103 and Trent Irwin seven for 100. It was not enough.

Briefly: Stanford's safety, Frank Buncom, was initially targeted after a big hit on the wide receiver Siaosi Mariner, but the penalty was canceled after a replay. … It was Stanford's worst home defeat since a 42-16 defeat against the state of Washington in 2016. … Linebacker Bobby Okereke led Stanford with 12 career tackles.

Tom FitzGerald is an editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @tomgfitzgerald