The Utah Utes( 5-6 overall, 2-6 Pac-12) played the part of the rude guest Saturday at Husky Stadium then got kicked out of the party at the last second. The Utes came into the game with a nothing to lose attitude. The Utes needed one win in their last two games to become eligible.
The No. 16 ( coaches)/ 15 ( AP) ranked Washingon Huskies (9-2, 6-2) on the other hand, we’re looking to find a swagger that was lost a week earlier in a 30 to 22 loss to Stanford.
The Huskies drew first blood on their second possession of the game when Myles Gaskin scored the game first touchdown from nine yards. Husky kicker Tristan Vizcaino missed the extra point give the dogs a slim 6-0 lead in what was to be an ominous sign for the placekicker.
Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley connected with Rae Singleton on a 40-yard pass play to tie the game after successfully executing a fourth and one at the Washington 47 yard line three plays earlier. The Utes message was clear, they were willing to try anything in their upset bid for the Huskies. After the touchdown play the Utes successfully recovered their onside give which they converted into a 10-6 lead courtesy of a Matt Gay 28 yard field.
In the game, the Utes executed a fake punt on 4th and 18th an onside kick and were 3-3 on fourth down attempts.
Husky quarterback Jake Browning’s six-yard pass to Lavon Coleman gave the lead back to the Huskies and Vizcaino’s successful extra point made up for the earlier missed extra as the Huskies extended their lead to 13-10.
The game turned into a field goal contest as Vizcaino extended the Huskies lead to 16-10 with a 34-yard field goal with 1:58 left in the first half. Gay countered with a 44-yard fielder as time expired in the first half to narrow the Huskies lead to 16 -13.
The kicking game exhibition continued when the Utes took the second half kick off marched 59 yards and tied the game at 16-all with a Gay 25 yard field goal. Vizcaino missed wide left on the Huskies next offensive possession. The game turned into a touchdown exhibition when Huntley threw an 11 yard TD pass to Raelon Singleton that gave Utah the 23 to 16 lead with 1:37 left in the third.
Myles Gaskin grabbed a Browning pass on the right sideline and romped 76 yards for a TD that enabled the Huskies to tie the game at 23 all after a successful Vizcaino point after try. The Utes took a 30 to 23 when Huntley ran the ball in from 5 yards out.
The Huskies looked to continue the scoring spree but were stopped were Browning was stopped short on a 4th and eight at the Utah nine yard.
The Husky defense was able to force a Utah punt and the Huskies Myles Gaskin scored his second touchdown from two yards out. The Vizcaino converted the extra point and the game was tied with 58 seconds left. The Husky defense forced another punt and the Husky offense received the ball at their own 28-yard line with 29 seconds left in the game.
After a Gaskin run of two yards, Utah called timeout and the Husky offense used the breather to gather themselves. Browning completed two consecutive passes to Dante Pettis and Andre Baccelia that brought the ball to the Utah 21 yard line.
Brownings next pass was incomplete and with four seconds left in the game, Husky head coach Chris Petersen sent Vizcaino for the game-winner from 38 yards out that started a block party inside Husky Stadium.
Husky coach Chris Petersen is hoping the dramatic win will loosen up his team for the remainder of the season.
“These kids work hard. They practice hard, they study hard. I hope this gives them some swag back. They don’t have to play so tight. They don’t have to play perfect to come back and win. Just keep playing. November football is hard. “ Petersen said after the game.
“We knew this was going to be a hard stretch. Utah is a good team. They have some players and they’ve had some injuries. They are a dangerous team, I said it earlier this week. Between them, Stanford and WSU, that’s a tough stretch. I hope this win gives the guys a bounce in their step.”
GAME NOTES:
- Jake Browning broke the school record for passing touchdowns in the second quarter, connecting with Lavon Coleman for a 7-yard TD. He added another TD later and is up to 77 career TD’s, breaking a tie with Keith Price (75). He is also now tied with John Elway (Stanford) for 14th all-time in Pac-12 history.
- Myles Gaskin broke the school record for rushing touchdowns in the first quarter, running into the endzone for the 38th time in 38 career games.
- He added his 39th career TD and moved up the Pac-12 record books, and is tied with Steven Jackson of Oregon State and Tommy Vardell of Stanford for 17th most in Conference history. Gaskin also added to his school-record total of 43 touchdowns, five more than Bishop Sankey.
