The Utah Uttes, No. 15, fall to the Sun Devils 38-20, Arizona, while quarterback Tyler Huntley is injured



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AP

In Arizona State, 43-year-old Jalen Harvey is holding on to receiver Utah receiver Samson Nacua in the first period at a college football game on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Tempe, Arizona. (AP Photo / Rick Scuteri)

TEMPE, Arizona – Utah suffered a few setbacks Saturday in the state of Arizona. Utes, ranked 15th, lost control of the Pac-12 South driver's seat after a 38-20 loss to the Sun Devils. Along the way, quarterback Tyler Huntley will likely be out for the rest of the season due to an injury to the shoulder.

"For the first time in a long time, we were beaten on the line of scrimmage. Their offensive line has pushed our line of defense. This does not usually happen. That hardly ever happens, "said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, who also lamented about three turnovers in attack. "It was really our loss. After four weeks playing very well in all three phases, we did not play particularly well in any phase this afternoon. "

And just like that, Utah's four-game winning streak is broken and the Utes (6-3, 4-3) will need some help to get into the Pac-12 Championship game for the first time. ASU (5-4, 3-3) can claim the crown of the South Division by winning wins over UCLA, Oregon and Arizona. Utah ends conference against Oregon and Colorado.

"There are many different things that can happen," said Whittingham. "But one thing that can not happen is that we let it go to next week."

The Utes face the Ducks Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. They will probably do it without Huntley. ESPN 700AM reported that the junior had a fractured left clavicle.

"It looks like he's probably finished for the season and Jason Shelley is our quarterback," Whittingham said. "And we will most certainly know tomorrow, but we are told that it is probably something that will last or that will last the rest of the season."

AP

Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) in first half at an NCAA college football match against Arizona State on Saturday, November 3, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. (AP Photo / Rick Scuteri)

Huntley completed 7 of 15 passes for an 88-yard pass with two interceptions and one touchdown before being injured. He also had 42 yards rushing.

Shelley was 4 for 11 assists and 59 yards. The first year of the red shirt was intercepted.

Utah's efforts to kick the ball were matched by running back Zack Moss, who ran 128 yards and reached the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season.

The Utes, however, never really got on track.

The ASU scored at the first take of the match with 75 yards on 11 games. Having helped Utah goaltender Philip Afi'a to safety, the Sun Devils took the lead and finally crossed the goal line on a six-yard run of Eno Benjamin. Brandon Ruiz added the PAT to make it 7-0 for ASU.

The first drive in Utah was not so good, not at all. The end was brutal when Huntley was intercepted by attacking halfback Aashari Crosswell near the end zone. The rookie brought the ball back to 47 yards and the ASU followed with another successful offensive set. It ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Manny Wilkins to N'Keal Harry.

Behind 14-0, the Utes fought back with a sustained attack consisting of 10 instant shots and 75 meters. Moss finished with a 1-meter touchdown at the last minute of the first quarter.

Utah's recovery resumed early in the second when Matt Gay added a 40-yard effort to reduce the deficit to 14-10.

That's how it was until Huntley and Samson Nacua teamed up for 5 yards with a time of 2:15 to play in the half. The Utes traveled 80 yards in 11 games to take the lead.

Momentum, however, quickly changed sides. ASU responded with his third touchdown of the game a little more than a minute later. A 23-yard touchdown from Wilkins to Harry allowed the Sun Devils to return to the top.

Harry had six catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. The ASU held a 271-217 advantage in total offense after two quarters.

When the game resumed, the situation became defensive. The third quarter started with an exchange of interceptions. The USS hit first with linebacker Merlin Robertson who pushed Huntley close to midfield. Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson intercepted Wilkins.

Then come the blows on both sides. The Utes added a 31-yard goal from Gay after that. Along the way, they ran into difficulties. Huntley was injured. Jason Shelley made passes for Brant Kuithe and Britain Covey before Moss added up 38 yards on the ground to kick off.

Once the fourth quarter began, however, the Sun Devils again went on the offensive. They added 17 unanswered points to their 21-20 advantage and easily moved away.

The explosion began with a 61-yard touch pass from Wilkins to Harry. Ruiz added a 21-yard touchdown just over four minutes later and Benjamin scored 44 yards for one point before the end of the game.

All hopes of rallying Utah into the far right were also complicated by a punt return by Covey and Shelley being intercepted by defensive back Kobe Williams.


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Things just did not work for Utes. In addition to the final score, they failed on several fronts: total offense (536-325), first tries (25-17) and ball possession time (36: 35-23: 25).

"We lost the game and they made more games than us, and we did not come to play today," Johnson said.

Wilkins completed 19 of 24 passes for 285 yards. Harry scored the attack with nine catches for 161 yards and three touchdowns. Benjamin rushed for a record 175 yards and two scores.

"We kept our goal," said Herm Edwards, ASU coach. "Congratulations should be addressed to coaches and players. They really prepared to play this week. "

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