POSTGAME BLOG: (23) Utah 38, San Diego State 34

Final
Score: (23) Utah 38, San Diego State 34
Usually when you give up 528 passing yards it doesn't bode well on the scoreboard, especially for a team that had just lost their previous two games. For the Utes, they were able to produce enough offense of their own to defeat San Diego State 38-34 in an offensive shootout.

Ryan Lindley threw for 528 yards for the Aztecs, but threw three critical interceptions that cost the Aztecs a chance for the win.

Utah trailed 27-10 in the second quarter before the offense came alive and broke out of their 10 quarter offensive slump. Utah put up 21 points in the second cut the Aztec lead to 27-24 at the half.

Jordan Wynn, who had struggled over the past two games, threw a season best 21 of 33 for 360 and two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Trailing 38-34 with just over a minute left in the game, Ryan Lindley's pass was intercepted by Utah safety Brian Blechen to seal the victory for the Utes.

The Utes now shift their attention to the rivalry game against BYU. And although the Utes won, many questions remain around this team, especially on the defensive side of the football.

Time Remaining: 1:32 Fourth Quarter
Score: (23) Utah 38, San Diego State 34

Utes were able to run some time off the clock, but get stopped on third down on the SDSU 46 yard line and will be forced to punt. San Diego State ball on their own 15, down four points.

Freshman safety Brian Blechen just saved the Utes! After the Aztecs easily moved down to the Utah 38 yard line, Blechen picks off a Lindley pass in the end zone and the Utes can kneel the ball and run out the clock.

Time Remaining: 6:04 Fourth Quarter
Score: (23) Utah 38, San Diego State 34

Linebacker Chaz Walker just made an incredible interception to stop an Aztec drive and give the Utes the ball back with a four point lead. Utah ball on their own 12 yard line.

Time Remaining: 10:21 Fourth Quarter
Score: (23) Utah 38, San Diego State 34

Utah answers with a MUCH needed touchdown drive, converting on 4th and short inside the SDSU 5 yard line. Matt Asiata got the Utes deep into San Diego State territory, taking a 2nd down run 42 yards down to the Aztec 12. Asiata finishes the drive with a 1 yard TD run. SDSU leads 34-31, 13:18 4th QTR.

Utah's defense comes up with a big-time stop - and then the special teams comes up with a blocked punt. Utah ball on the SDSU 3 yard line. It took the Utes 4 plays, but Eddie Wide takes a pitch right and scores on 4th and goal from the 1. Utah has the lead for the first time today, 38-34.

Time Remaining: 4:55 Third Quarter
Score: San Diego State 34, (23) Utah 24

Utah converts a 4th and one near midfield, but are stopped on their next series and will have to punt.

The Utes come up with a defensive three and out and will regain possession on their own 21 yard line.

Time Remaining: 11:12 Third Quarter
Score: San Diego State 34, (23) Utah 24

Utah starts the 2nd half on offense, down 3. Jordan Wynn gets the Utes down to the Aztec 35 yard line, but the Utes cannot convert a third and 8. SDSU will take over on their own 10 yard line after Joe Phillips' punt.

Utah's defense? Nonexistent. San Diego State completes a hail mary of their own, as Lindley lobs it up, the ball gets tipped up and Vincent Brown takes it 90 yards to the house. 34-24 SDSU.

Halftime
Score: San Diego State 27, (23) Utah 24

In an offensive shootout, San Diego State leads the Utah Utes 27-24 at the half. Both teams combined for 712 total yards.

The Utes fell behind early as the Aztecs took the opening possession 74 yards, scoring first on a 10 yard pass from Ryan Lindley to Vincent Brown. San Diego State built a 27-10 lead before the Utes were able to rally, scoring 14 straight points to close out the half.

Time Remaining: 0:00 Second Quarter
Score: San Diego State 27, (23) Utah 24

Utah finally forces a turnover as Brandon Burton intercepts a Ryan Lindley pass that was tipped. The Utes will have it on their own 15 yard line.

Miracle! Miracle! Jordan Wynn throws up a hail mary from 47 yards out and it is tipped up in the air but and Kendrick Moeai catches it in the end zone. Incredible play, and the Utes are right back in this game. 27-24 SDSU leads at the half.

Time Remaining: 4:22 Second Quarter
Score: San Diego State 27, (23) Utah 17

While the offense finally broke through and scored a touchdown for the Utes, the defense is still back in South Bend. Ryan Lindley continues to pick apart Utah's secondary. Lindley drives the Aztecs 86 yards, capping off the drive with a 14 yard TD strike to Gavin Escobar. 27-10 SDSU rolling all over the Utes, 5:28 2nd QTR.

Utah's offense answers in just over a minute, driving 68 yards in just 3 plays. Eddie Wide with two rushes, one for 39 yards and the other a touchdown run of 16 yards. 27-17 SDSU, 4:22 2nd QTR.

Time Remaining: 11:47 Second Quarter
Score: San Diego State 20, (23) Utah 10

Someone has something out against the Utes at the Mountain West Conference offices. A blatant pass interference on a Shaky Smithson throw to Eddie Wide is not called (SDSU defender didn't even turn his head as he hit Wide before the ball got there), when on the previous drive great pass coverage by the Utes is penalized. 5 penalties for the Utes for 50 yards, only 2-9 for SDSU. Utah is forced to punt and SDSU will have the ball, already up 11. This could get out of hand fast.

Utah has no answers for the Aztec passing attack, and after SDSU moves deep into Utah territory, freshman running back Ronnie Hillman scores from 11 yards out. 20-3 SDSU.

Utah fans can breathe a small sigh of relief as Jordan Wynn finally breaks through the rust and connects with Luke Matthews for a 57 yard touchdown strike, cutting the Aztec lead to 10. 20-10 SDSU, 11:47 2nd QTR.

Time Remaining: 0:49 First Quarter
Score: San Diego State 14, (23) Utah 3

Weaknesses have been exposed and everybody is throwing on the Utes and having incredible success doing it. The Aztecs drive 98 yards and scoring on another Vincent Brown touchdown catch, this time from 11 yards out. 14-3 SDSU, 0:49 1st QTR.

Time Remaining: 6:49 First Quarter
Score: San Diego State 7, (23) Utah 3

Utah's defense forces a much needed three and out - Utah will take over on their own 23 yard line.

After a great Jordan Wynn to Jereme Brooks completion for 44 yards, another penalty backs the Utes up and they have to punt from the Aztec 38 yard line. That's 4 penalties for 35 yards already. The bright spot is that Joe Phillips' punt is downed at the 2 yard line. It appears the Utes have replaced Sean Sellwood with place-kicker Joe Phillips for punting after another punt was blocked last week at Notre Dame.

Time Remaining: 9:17 First Quarter
Score: San Diego State 7, (23) Utah 3

Heavy rain falling in San Diego - on and off showers are expected throughout the game. The rain will have an affect on the game.

Utah won the coin toss and will defer to the second half, so Nick Marsh will kick off to the Aztecs.

Utah's secondary picks up right where it has left off the past two games - giving up 74 yards on the Aztecs first possession. Ryan Lindley connects with Vincent Brown in the endzone and the Aztecs score in only 1:59. 7-0 SDSU. Terrible defense.

Utah shoots themselves in the foot with a block in the back that negates a great kickoff return by Reggie Dunn. Utes backed up on their own 19 yard line. And on the next play, a 14 yard pass play to Shaky Smithson is being reviewed AFTER the next play (an Eddie Wide run) was completed. Jordan Wynn takes the team over, connecting with Eddie Wide for 22 yards and then Reggie Dunn for 42 down the left sideline. But guess what? The Utes shoot themselves in the foot once again, committing offensive pass interference that puts them in a 1st and 25 situation. They can't convert, and settle for a Joe Phillips' 32 yard field goal. 7-3 SDSU, 9:17 1st QTR.

Pregame Blog

With their dreams of another undefeated season and a BCS Bowl berth down the drain, No. 23 Utah looks as though it has taken its collective foot off the gas.

The Utes will be looking to recover from back-to-back loses for the first time since 2007 when they visit San Diego State on Saturday.

Utah (8-2, 5-1 MWC) was up to No. 5 in the BCS standings and had an outside shot at the National Championship game and at the least an at-large BCS Bowl berth before hosting TCU on November 6 and getting crushed, 47-7. Their championship hopes gone, the Utes limped into South Bend and got blasted again, 28-3, by a Notre Dame team that was starting a second-string quarterback and had no business beating a top-ranked opponent.

The most disappointing aspect of the last two games has been the play of the offense, which entered the TCU game averaging 45.3 points. The Utes managed just 199 yards against the Horned Frogs and were held to 265 by the Fighting Irish. The Utes had not gone without a touchdown before last weekend since September 2007, which is also the last time they dropped back-to-back games.

Even the special teams have suffered recently, as Utah had a punt blocked and fumbled away a kickoff return at Notre Dame.

The Utes' only score in South Bend came on their first possession when Joe Phillips kicked a 46-yard field goal after Utah had taken control at their own 49-yard line. Quarterback Jordan Wynn went 24-of-39 passing for 194 yards and an interception and had the wind knocked out of him on a particularly hard hit in the fourth quarter.

Heading into what will become the Pac-12 next season, the Utes could have used a strong finish and a BCS berth to shake off critics of their program but will now have to scramble to be invited to any prominent Bowl.

Game 11 Notes
No. 23 Utah (8-2, 5-1 MWC) at
San Diego State (7-3, 4-2 MWC)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010
Time: 7:00 p.m. PT (8:00 MT)
Site: Qualcomm Stadium (54,000/Natural Grass)
TV: The Mtn.
Radio: ESPN 700
Series Record: Utah leads 16-12-1
Last Meeting:2009 - Utah 38, San Diego State 7
Kickoff Weather: Showers; Temps: lower 60s

The Aztecs (7-3, 4-2 MWC) are no pushovers, having just given TCU all it could handle in a 40-35 loss in Texas. They led that game 14-0 in the first quarter and rallied from three scores down in the fourth but came up just short, failing to get the defensive stop they needed in the final five minutes to give Ryan Lindley and the offense a chance.

It was not the first time this season that San Diego State has given a ranked opponent a scare, having come within a field goal of beating Missouri, 27-24, back in September. That time the defense again let the team down, allowing the Tigers to complete a 68-yard scoring play with under two minutes left.

They insist that moral victories are not something in which the team is taking pride, and a win over Utah would give the Aztecs a shot at second place behind TCU in the Mountain West.

The Utes have won the last four meetings between the schools, including a 38-7 triumph at home last season.

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Keys to the Game for Utah

• Ground attack - Offensively, the Utes need to go back to basics and do what they did well for the first 8 games of the season - run the ball, especially against an aggressive San Diego State defense.
• Special teams importance - Utah has been extremely up and down on special teams this season, going from having a couple of 70-yard plus punt returns to having punts blocked and fumble after fumble. The Utes need excellent play from their special teams unit to create momentum for an offense that is struggling (some would argue nonexistent).

MY PREDICTION: Utah 45, San Diego State 28. Let me know what you think. Email me your predictions/questions rojackson@ksl.com

Utah Miscellaneous Stats

• The Utes are trying to avoid their first three-game losing streak since 2005. In what was Kyle Whittingham's first season coaching the Utes, they lost to North Carolina, Colorado State and San Diego State.
• This is the final road game for the Utes as members of the Mountain West Conference
• Sophomore QB Jordan Wynn returns to the site of his best game as a Ute. Last year as a true freshman, Wynn was named the Poinsettia Bowl Offensive MVP after leading Utah to a 37-27 victory over California in Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 23. Wynn, a native of nearby Oceanside, Calif., passed for a career-high 338 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Let's hope the hometown feel good vibes continue for Wynn.
• Utah needs one win to secure its fourth-consecutive nine-win season in Kyle Whittingham's six-year tenure as head coach.

San Diego State Miscellaneous Stats

• San Diego State has the top two wide receivers in the MWC - Vincent Brown averages 92.3 yards per game and DeMarco Sampson is at 89.3.
• The Aztecs already have their biggest victory total since the 1998 season
• Running back Ronnie Hillman needs 332 yards in his final three games to surpass Marshall Faulk for the most rushing yards by a San Diego State freshman
• Quarterback Ryan Lindley leads the MWC in passing yards per game at 268.8.
• Senior outside linebacker Miles Burris ranks in the top 20 nationally in three defensive categories - No. 7 with four forced fumbles, No. 16 with 15 tackles for losses and No. 19 with eight sacks.

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