Moss: Returning Utes know the recipe for success

Utah Utes running back Zack Moss (2) is held up by Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Moro Ojomo (98) during the second half of the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News

Utah’s season ends with a disappointing loss to Texas in the Alamo Bowl

SAN ANTONIO — Pee Wee Herman never had it this bad. His quest to find a basement in the Alamo ended with the realization that he was mired on the ground floor. That’s what happened in the movie “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,” anyhow.

The 11th-ranked Utah Utes can probably relate after Tuesday’s 38-10 loss to Texas in the Alamo Bowl. They were pretty much sequestered in the lopsided setback.

“I just felt like they was just playing a little bit harder than us,” said Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley. “They stopped us on key downs, third downs, fourth down, and that’s what happened.”

There were plenty of lingering questions, though, as a season with the third-most wins in team history came to a crashing halt against a Texas team that had a 7-5 record. Earlier in the month, Utah dropped a 37-15 decision to Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game. The Utes (11-3) had won eight consecutive games before the poor showings.

“For whatever reason, we were never able to get in a rhythm offensively the last two ball games and we weren’t doing anything, really, as well defensively as we have done all year long: tackling, covering, playing the run, gap control,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “Just for whatever reason, the last two games of the season, we were not ourselves.”

Against Texas, Utah trailed 10-0 at halftime and 24-3 after three quarters. The Utes didn’t put up much resistance. Whittingham said the Longhorns were prepared. They played hard and were coached well.

“I don’t know if angry is the right word but they certainly played with a purpose,” Whittingham said. “And I didn’t think we came out there and you know, sleep-walked. We didn’t play as well as they did.”

Texas wound up with 433 yards of total offense. Junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger led the way by passing for three touchdowns and running for another. Utah’s top-ranked rushing defense gave up 231 yards on the ground. The Utes were limited to 254 yards on offense.

“It was a very disappointing ending to a very good season,” Whittingham said.

Utah bid farewell to a highly productive senior class that includes consensus All-American Bradlee Anae, Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year Zack Moss, as well as national honorees Julian Blackmon, Leki Fotu and Tyler Huntley.

In addition, All-American cornerback Jaylon Johnson has declared for the NFL Draft and all-conference seniors Francis Bernard, Darrin Paulo and John Penisini are graduating — as are veterans Terrell Burgess, Tareke Lewis, Josh Nurse, Demari Simpkins and Derrick Vickers.

Despite the mass departures, Moss expressed confidence in Utah’s future. The Utes climbed as high as No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings.

“Those guys know the blueprint, you know, from the years and the work that we put in over the years. They know what it takes to be here,” he said. “You know, going to back-to-back championship games. Being South champions back-to-back years, they know the recipe.”

Moss noted it was different when the senior arrived four years ago.

“We didn’t know that recipe. We had to learn and work through that,” he said. “But now they, you know, have something they can work on. So I mean, I’m going to be excited to continue to watch the guys work.”

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