Carey runs for 204 yards; Arizona tops Utah 34-24


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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Utah Utes pulled out all the stops, but it wasn't enough to keep their nine-year bowl streak alive.

"We didn't do the things we need to do to win the game. We took some chances," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham after his team tried a fake punt, a fake field goal, two flea flickers and three fourth-down attempts. Too many failed.

Arizona 34, Utah 24
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"I was trying to get away from Star (Lotulelei), and they kept lining him up on different sides so I just ran away from him." -Arizona running back Ka'Deem CareyGame Day Content

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Ka'Deem Carey rushed for 204 yards and Arizona scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats defeated Utah 34-24 Saturday night and guaranteed the Utes their first losing season since 2002.

Utah (4-7, 2-6 Pac-12) took a 24-17 lead on Travis Wilson's 36-yard touchdown pass to DeVonte Christopher late in the third quarter, but the Wildcats answered with touchdowns 3 minutes apart early in the fourth.

"It's tough to swallow," Christopher said. "To not make it to a bowl game is pretty bizarre. We have experienced a lot of winning in this program, with the (2009) Sugar Bowl and all. There was definitely a lot of weight on us as seniors. It's pretty disappointing."

Daniel Jenkins tied it on a 2-yard TD run, and Matt Scott tossed an 18-yard scoring pass to Austin Hill with 11:07 left.

John Bonano's second field goal of the night, a 24-yarder, sealed the win for Arizona (7-4, 4-4) with 1:15 remaining.

"It's tough to see the seniors not come away with a win in their last game at Rice-Eccles Stadium, but they played hard. Everyone played hard but we didn't capitalize on some opportunities," Whittingham said.

Wilson passed for a career-high 311 yards and two touchdowns, but also fumbled.

Utah scored on a fake field goal but saw the game turn in the fourth quarter on a failed fake punt.

"It was there. The throw was just behind our guy. When he had to adjust to catch the ball, it allowed the defender to catch up," Whittingham said.

"That tackle on the fake punt was the play of the game. If we didn't catch him, then he may still be running," Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said.

John White had 112 yards rushing for the Utes to set the school-record for 100-yard games at 13.

Scott was back after missing last week because of a concussion. He started slowly, but he ran for a touchdown and tossed the game-winner to Hill.

Scott finished 12 of 27 for 160 yards.

Arizona did most of its damage on the ground against the Pac-12's third-ranked defense, rolling up 320 yards rushing.

"Their running back is a heck of a player ... and we didn't do well enough," Utah defensive end Trevor Reilly said.

Carey averaged 7.8 yards a carry and scored Arizona's first touchdown.

"I can't remember the last time an individual rushed for 200 yards on us, but he did. He's a talent," Whittingham said.

Jenkins scored the third with 13:55 remaining.

He was stopped on third and 1 at the 4, but a hands-to-the face penalty against Star Lotulelei gave Arizona a first down at the 2. A missed tackle by Nate Fakahafua allowed Jenkins to bounce outside and score on the next play.

Arizona's much-maligned defense then held, forcing a punt. But Utah's coaches called for the fake.

Punter Sean Sellwood completed the pass to Mike Honeycutt on fourth and 6, but Honeycutt was stopped four yards stopped of the first down by Kylan Butler, giving Arizona the ball at the Utah 41.

Scott connected with Hill four plays later.

The teams combined for 929 yards of offense. While Utah held a 10-minute advantage in time of possession, mistakes hurt the Utes.

Last week, Carey rushed for five touchdowns and 366 yards to shatter school and conference rushing records.

He found it tougher against the Utes, but he still had 110 yards on 14 carries at halftime.

The Utes hoped their final home game for 25 seniors would provide the inspiration they needed to beat Arizona.

But the Wildcats scored two touchdowns less than 90 seconds apart in the second quarter to take a 17-7 lead.

Carey's 1-yard run capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive and gave the Wildcats a 10-7 lead.

Wilson fumbled on Utah's next play from scrimmage as the ball slipped out of his hand as he dropped back to pass.

Five plays later, Scott practically walked into the end zone from 10 yards out. Utah had only 10 men on the field on the play as safety Brian Blechen was force to leave because of a problem with his helmet.

Utah answered with a nine-play, 70-yard drive, with Wilson's 34-yard TD pass to Jake Murphy pulling the Utes within 17-14.

Coleman Petersen tied it at 17-all midway through the third on a 24-yard field goal.

Both teams blew scoring opportunities.

Utah's first two drives ended on failed fourth-down conversions, the second on fourth and 1 at the Arizona 4 as White was tackled for a 1-yard loss, six plays after Carey fumbled at his own 28-yard-line.

Arizona was driving late in the second quarter and had a first and goal at the Utah 7, but Scott fumbled the handoff, and Nate Fakahafua recovered with 33 seconds left in the half.

Going against the Pac-12's worst pass defense, Wilson had more yards passing in the first quarter (62) than he had in the entire game against Washington (55).

He also was much sharper, completing 11 of 15 passes for 133 in the first half and 28 of 40 overall.

Utah got on the board on a fake field goal. Holder Sellwood flipped the ball to place-kicker Coleman Petersen, who picked up a key block from Jake Murphy to get around right end for a 7-3 lead with 12:10 left in the second quarter.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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