[2024] Historic Win: Utah drops Arizona State 34-3

[SageBow]

Tempe, AZ

The Utes left Tempe with a historic 34-3 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils. Utah's star running back Troy Young led the way with 24 carries for 172 yards and 3 touchdowns, while quarterback Alcides Holden went 13 of 21 for 152 yards and 1 TD through the air, and added 97 rushing yards. 

After a defensive start to the game, Young broke the deadlock with a 5 yard touchdown run near the end of the first quarter. After a missed 65 yard field goal by Arizona State's Teez Callaspo, Holden found wide receiver Kevin Muno for a 23 yard strike in the end zone to stretch the lead to 14-0. Jen-Ho Milton, the Sun Devil's signal caller, would throw an interception to Utah's defensive end Myles Hungalu, but 4 plays later Holden would find his pass picked off by CB Derek Grant. Callaspo would send the ball through the uprights with a 22 yarder at the end of the 2nd quarter to bring the halftime score to 14-3. 

After a relatively uneventful start to the second half, Milton threw his second interception to linebacker Rich Anderson, and at the end of the third quarter Young picked up his second touchdown of the day with a 52 yard sprint to the end zone. The scoring wouldn't stop there as in the 4th quarter, after a masterful drive by the Utes, running back Joe Lopez plunged his way in for a 2 yard score on a creative option pitch. Arizona State had a desperation drive, but after finding a last ditch heave fall to the ground on 4th down, the Utes got the ball back and 3 plays later Young brought the ball into the end zone on a 1 yard dive to seal the game.

Celebrations erupted and various statistical notes came and continue to come out for this game. After 3 straight seasons of going 2-10, the Utes are currently 3-5 marking this their best ever season under head coach @SageBow. This is also Utah's first ranked win, with the Sun Devils coming into the week as the #17 team in the nation, and first away win since 2022. 

"Great day for the team," said Young to reporters after the day. "Really feels like this program is turning things around. Happy to have been part of it, we've been grinding for years now and this is only the beginning. I take my role as a team captain seriously, and there's so many guys here and we've just hit our first goal for the season. Now we're going to try and finish strong and put ourselves in a spot for a bowl game."

The Utes are now 3-5 and will host 2-7 Arizona at home at Rice-Eccles Stadium next Saturday Night.