Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LOGAN — It was supposed to be an easy game. After all, a WAC team rarely beats a team from the Pac-12, especially a team projected to finish second in the south division, just behind nationally-ranked USC.
The plan was simple: travel a short distance, beat an inferior opponent and prepare for the rivalry game coming up against BYU. However, the game was anything but simple for the Utah Utes, and the Utah State Aggies didn't appear to be an inferior opponent.
The game quickly got out of hand for the Utes when the Aggies blocked a punt and Clayton Christensen recovered the ball in the end zone, putting the Aggies up 7-0 early in the first quarter.
The first-half woes only got worse for the Utes as the team struggled to execute the offense under starting quarterback Jordan Wynn, who left the game with about 2 minutes before the half because of a shoulder injury. It was a familiar scene for the Utes who lost Wynn mid-season last year to a shoulder injury to his non-throwing arm.
The X-rays performed on Wynn's shoulder were negative, but his health and future with the team is questionable.
#poll
"We did enough wrong in this game to last us a while," Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "It was a miracle we were even in it at half. The score should have been much worse than it was at halftime."
Jon Hays was called upon to lead the team, and it was obvious the team responded. Hays marched down the field completing four-of-five passes for 42 yards, which was only five yards short of Wynn's entire first half effort. The drive resulted in a field goal to keep the Utes within 10 points going into half.
While the offense was doing little to help Wynn, he didn't appear to have the composure or competitive drive to get it done. Additionally, Gary Anderson and the Aggies defense was taking it to him every down. Nevertheless, the offense appeared to rally around Hays and freshman quarterback Travis Wilson when inserted into the game.
Following the game, Whittingham stood by his decision to keep Wynn in, saying, "No, he was our guy." But Whittingham praised the efforts of Hays, saying he was proud of his effort.
"I thought Jon came in and did some good things," he said. "I was proud of Jon Hays, how he came in and competed. He's a competitor, he's feisty, he's a guy that wants to win as badly as anybody. I was proud of his efforts."
I thought Jon came in and did some good things. I was proud of Jon Hays, how he came in and competed. He's a competitor, he's feisty, he's a guy that wants to win as badly as anybody. I was proud of his efforts.
–Kyle Whittingham
The effort from Hays this year appeared to be a sharp contrast from his performance last season when called on to lead the team. Hays made accurate reads, fought for the first down and helped the Utes come back from a 13-0 deficit that felt more like an impossible task.
"It was the same plays. I just try to go through the progressions and get the ball to the playmakers," Hays said. "I'm always ready to go. We take great pride in our offense and I felt like I was ready to go."
"He came in and did his job," running back John White said. "He's a second string and he's going to carry us, just like last year. We ride and die for him, for everybody. Jon Hays is a rider and we really care for him. He's our brother. We know that he's going to get the job done, we just didn't execute as an offense."
While his performance was not perfect, Hays appeared to be a welcome alternative to an injury-prone Wynn. Hays finished the game going 12-of-26 for 154 yards and one touchdown. Travis Wilson, too, appeared to be a better alternative, completing a 28-yard pass to receiver Kenneth Scott for a touchdown early in the third quarter.
While many believe Wilson is the future of the program, Hays has earned his spot as the starting quarterback. If the injury to Wynn is not season-ending, Kyle Whittingham has a tough decision ahead of him. Does he continue to go with Wynn, who's struggled with injuries and ability to lead the team, or go with either one of his backup quarterbacks?
Nevertheless, it's likely the Jon Hays-Travis Wilson era has begun.
