Stanford, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Travis Wilson’s 3-yard touchdown pass to
Kenneth Scott in the second overtime lifted No. 25 Utah to a 20-17 win over
Stanford on Saturday.
Wilson had a rushing touchdown in the second quarter that tied the score at
7-7, where it remained at the end of regulation.
He found Kaelin Clay wide open behind cornerback Terrence Alexander for a 25-
yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime to give Utah a lead for the
first time.
Stanford came back with a play fake that set up Kevin Hogan’s 14-yard pass to
Austin Hooper on the left side to tie the score — the Cardinal’s first points
since they scored on the game’s opening drive.
Jordan Williamson’s 51-yard field goal in the second overtime gave Stanford a
17-14 lead after Hogan’s overthrown pass was nearly picked off by Dominique
Hatfield, whose feet were just out of bounds on the left sideline.
But Utah picked up a first down on Wilson’s 10-yard pass to Westlee Tonga and
won the game three plays later when Scott slid between two defenders for his
catch in the end zone.
Wilson passed for 177 yards and Devontae Booker rushed for 58 as Utah (7-3,
4-3 Pac-12) snapped a two-game losing streak.
Hogan threw for 104 yards, Christian McCaffrey rushed for 77 and Lee Ward
scored on a 3-yard catch but the Cardinal (5-5, 3-4) have lost back-to-back
games for the first time in more than five years.
The two-time reigning conference champions played their last home game and
need a win at either California next week or UCLA on Nov. 28 to become bowl
eligible.
Stanford had a couple of chances to win late in regulation.
Ty Montgomery’s 20-yard gain on a screen pass helped the Cardinal move to the
Utah 34-yard line in a nearly nine-minute drive, but they opted to punt rather
than try a long field goal with 1:50 remaining in regulation.
After the Utes went three-and-out, Stanford receiver Michael Rector had his
hands on a deep third-down pass near the Utah 20 but Eric Rowe got a hand in
to break up the play.
Earlier, Hogan’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Ward came at the end of Stanford’s
first drive and capped a seven-play, 70-yard drive. The lead stood until tight
end Austin Hooper’s fumble led to Wilson’s 2-yard touchdown for Utah with 6:02
left in the first half, tying the score.
Game Notes
Utah had four sacks to increase its FBS-best total to 47 for the season …
Stanford, coming off 45-16 loss to Oregon on Nov. 1, has dropped consecutive
games since falling to Oregon State and Arizona on Oct. 10 and 17, 2009 …
Utah took a 4-3 lead in the series and remained unbeaten in three games at
Stanford. It was the first time the teams played at Stanford since a 17-10
Utah win in 1996 … The Utes face Arizona next week, then finish the regular
season at Colorado on Nov. 29.
