Utah Utes defensive end Maxs Tupai (92) sacks California Golden Bears quarterback Robby Rowell (15) during the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News
Utes continue humming along following 35-0 whitewashing of Cal Bears on Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s defense did it again.
The 12th-ranked Utes put together another dominant performance, recording their first-ever Pac-12 shutout in a 35-0 win over California at Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday night.
It came in the program’s 88th game in the conference.
“I guess it’s about time,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “But nice job by our defense.”
Whittingham went on to praise “an outstanding plan” by defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley and his staff. He added that it also boils down to players making plays and executing.
Utah held California to 83 yards of total offense and just six first downs. The Utes stopped the Bears on third down nine times and recorded three sacks. They’ve given up only 23 points over consecutive victories against Washington State, Oregon State, Arizona State and now Cal.
“I think it’s just the way we prepare during the week, just at practice,” said senior defensive tackle Leki Fotu. “There’s nothing new about our scheme or anything — just the way we practice during the week before the game.”
Fotu acknowledged his belief that defense wins championships as Utah improved to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Pac-12 play. The Utes are tied for the South Division lead with USC heading into Saturday’s game at Washington.
They do so on a roll, especially on defense.
“Just credit our coaches again. I feel I’m beating a dead horse because I feel like every week I’ve been saying ‘Man, our coaches are like putting us in great position.’ But they really have,” said senior safety Julian Blackmon. “It just proves that they give us a game plan and we execute it. These last three weeks have been great for us and we’re just going to try to go up because we’ve got Washington this week. So we’re ready.”
The Utes head to Seattle on the heels of a strong defensive showing that included seven tackles for loss, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. Cal quarterback Spencer Brasch completed 7 of 19 passes for 47 yards. His longest completion was nine yards. He was sacked twice and backup Robby Rowell was taken down once.
“It’s a pretty solid scheme. They were blitzing us in certain ways and we were just trying to pick them up,” Brasch said. “They had great coverage. Their secondary is nice and their front is phenomenal. They just beat us up and down the field.”
Utah shut down Cal throughout the contest. The Utes built a 28-0 halftime lead while holding the Bears to just 53 yards of total offense (33 rushing, 20 passing) and three first downs. Brasch completed just three of 10 throws over the first two quarters.
In blanking the Bears, the Utes became the first team since Washington in 1991 to shut out three consecutive Pac-12 (then Pac-10) opponents in the opening half.
“You’ve got to credit that to the defense in terms of the front line, the ‘backers and the secondary,” Blackmon said. “We don’t have a weak link, honestly, and it’s starting to show. We’re excited for the season to keep on going.”
Utah entered Saturday’s game as the Pac-12 leaders in fewest first downs allowed, rushing defense, scoring defense, third-down conversion defense and total defense. The Utes lowered their numbers in each category against Cal.
Senior cornerback Terrell Burgess led Utah with six tackles. Fotu, nickel back Josh Nurse and defensive end Maxs Tupai had the sacks. Nurse notched the forced fumble and Blackmon was credited with a pass breakup. Seven Utes made stops behind the line of scrimmage.
“Coach Scalley is a very, very, very smart man. So I think he just knows exactly what’s coming before it comes and he puts us in the right positions,” Burgess said. “I think we’ve got to give credit to him and just credit to everybody working hard throughout the week and I think that’s the big thing.”
Utah limited Cal to just 43 plays in the game, and have now held seven of their eight opponents this season to under 100 yards on the ground. The Bears advanced past mid-field only once. Things were especially lopsided in the second quarter. Utah outscored Cal 21-0 while holding big advantages in yards (220-9) and time of possession (11:56 to 3:04).
“When you can stop the ball like they do, it puts us in a really good position to go out there and play lights out. I don’t think they had 45 snaps,” said senior running back Zack Moss, who led the offense with 115 yards rushing and 89 yards receiving. “So when you can do something like that with the amount of talent and depth we have at each position on that side of the ball, it’s going to work in our favor.”
The Utes netted 473 yards of offense. Tyler Huntley and Jason Shelley combined to complete 15 of 22 passes for 242 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
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