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SALT LAKE CITY — In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak formed Apple Computer, and "Happy Days" was the No. 1 show on television. It was also the last time the University of Utah football program got a win over Arizona State.
While much has changed in more than 35 years, including the Apple computer I'm using to write this article, Arizona State's dominance over Utah's football program hasn't. Since Utah's 31-28 win as Western Athletic Conference opponents, the Sun Devils have gotten a victory in the last 10 games played, including a 20-19 win last season in Salt Lake City.
Now, with the stakes arguably the highest they've ever been for the program, Utah stands on the brink of controlling the Pac-12 South Division and a coveted spot in the Pac-12 championship game or losing once again to the Sun Devils and likely needed momentum in a remaining difficult schedule.
Utah came close last season, taking a 19-7 lead before squandering the opportunity and allowing a fourth-quarter comeback. The game was also where quarterback Travis Wilson sustained a concussion and a pre-existing head issue was later discovered, sidelining the starter for the remainder of the season.
“Last year they fought back and pulled out an impressive win for them. For us, it’s not so much what they’ve been doing, it’s just about us not being able to fight and get that extra inch and finish the game in the fourth quarter,” safety Brian Blechen, who missed last season as a result of an injury, said. “With the way this season has gone so far, we’ve had a lot of experience at having to win those fourth-quarter battles, and I think that’s going to prepare us going into this game to be ready for anything.”
I'm never satisfied. We got to a bowl game and we want more. We're not going to be complacent. We're still in attack mode and we want everything that we need for this season. We've got a lot of games left and a lot of games that we can win. As long as there are wins to be had, that's what we're after.
–Westlee Tonga, tight end
The Utes will face a talented quarterback in senior Taylor Kelly, who was instrumental in Arizona State making a comeback last season against Utah. Kelly has battled through some injuries this season but appears to be the starting quarterback coming into Saturday’s game. But even with backup junior quarterback Mike Bercovici, the Sun Devils are more than capable of picking apart Utah’s defense.
“Both quarterbacks are very good. There’s really not a marked difference,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Whichever guy plays, they run essentially the same type of offense. They both have good numbers and they’re both quality quarterbacks. Whichever one is in there doesn’t really affect our approach.”
In four games this season, Kelly has thrown eight touchdowns and one interception, averaging 8.7 yards per completion and 201.3 yards per game. Kelly also has 175 rushing yards this season, averaging 5.15 yards per carry. Bercovici has 10 touchdowns and two interceptions and is averaging 8.1 yards per completion and 188.9 yards per game. Bercovici doesn’t run the ball as much and is only averaging 1.25 yards per carry.
Sun Devils receiver Jaelen Strong is both quarterbacks’ best target this season and is an athlete Whittingham calls “one of the best receivers in the country.” Strong has caught for 744 yards and seven touchdowns this season, including a late-game Hail Mary catch against USC. He is averaging 14.31 yards per catch and 106.3 yards per game.
Related:
Dres Anderson to miss remainder of season
Senior wide receiver Dres Anderson will miss the remainder of the 2014 season as a result of a knee injury, according to the University of Utah athletics department.Utah has shown it can be vulnerable on defense in the passing game and is an area Arizona State will likely exploit, particularly if safety Tevin Carter is again absent as a result of an injury that’s been plaguing him all season. The Utes can rely on Eric Rowe, Marcus Williams and Andre Godfrey to fill in at safety, but they’ve see a dropoff in production with Carter out.
Utah’s defense has allowed on average 264.7 receiving yards per game. At home, Utah has given up the most in the air, particularly because of Connor Halliday’s 417 yards, and is averaging 280.5 yards per game. Utah has been slightly better on the road, allowing 243.7 yards per game, which is a sign of hope for Utah as it looks to improve to 4-0 on the road.
Although it would be easy for Utah to get complacent as a result of becoming bowl eligible — the No. 1 goal entering the 2014 season — Whittingham and his players affirmed there would be no shift in mindset in the remaining five games of the regular season.
“One of our mantras is never be satisfied, and I don’t sense that at all (with the players), that they’re in any way, shape or form thinking they’ve arrived and accomplished what they’ve set out to accomplish,” Whittingham said. “It’s one of our goals, for sure, to become bowl eligible. But I would be shocked if (the players) fall into that mode, and that’s something I don’t foresee happening. And with the schedule, the challenges every single week — one after another — you’d have to be a guy that’s pretty shortsighted to put yourself in that type of situation because there are so many challenges ahead.”
“I’m never satisfied. We got to a bowl game and we want more. We’re not going to be complacent. We’re still in attack mode and we want everything that we need for this season,” senior tight end Westlee Tonga said. “We’ve got a lot of games left and a lot of games that we can win. As long as there are wins to be had, that’s what we’re after.”
