Estimated read time: 2-3 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 Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information.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.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah hosted the Arizona State Sun Devils and made a strong first impression, but turnovers quickly became the theme for Utah and it was not in their favor.
Utah's defense stuffed ASU's run game early and forced the Sun Devils to punt and Utah took advantage. John White had a 30-yard TD run to quickly put the Utes up 7- 0.
The U defense still looked sharp, but they let penalties keep ASU drives alive.
"Utah defense shoots themselves in foot with that penalty leading to ASU TD," tweeted Kevin Graham.
"Just like last week, a stupid penalty by Utah keeps a drive alive. ASU makes them pay. Tied at 7. Big momentum killer for the Utes," tweeted KSL Sports Beat reporter Jeremiah Jensen.
ASU rode that momentum into the half leading 10- 7. And Jeremiah Jensen didn't think that was a good omen.
"Just like last week the Utes trail 10-7 at the half. Just like last week stupid penalties and turnovers killing them," tweeted Jensen.
Utes came out at half and scored quick, but it would be all ASU after that. The Sun Devils moved up and down the field and forced turnover after turnover on defense. ASU quickly regained the lead, the momentum and controlled the game from there out.
"Utah fans, your team needs to play better in the second half and protect the football. That's AQ conference-level analysis," tweeted ESPN Pac-12 Blog.
Quarterback Jon Hays started in place of the injured Jordan Wynn and many thought his performance, while full of mistakes, looked pretty solid.
"Let me be the first to say it. Jon Hays looks more comfortable and confident in the pocket that Wynn has all year," tweeted Ben Bagley.
Despite some solid plays the Utes kept giving up the ball and ASU took advantage and wore out the U's defense. ASU kneeled to end the game and secure the 35- 14 victory. The Utes started solid, but the good start may have caused the U and Patrick Kinahan get a little ahead of themselves.
"Utes dominating," tweeted Kinahan early in the game. "Washington was a fluke."
Well, the game turned out to look a little too much like last week as the Utes watched the second half run away from them as they turned the ball over five times. Utes need to protect the football and play 60-minutes if they hope to break a two game skid in Pittsburgh next Saturday.
