Utah 23
Air Force 16
RICE-ECCLES STADIUM - “It’s a mentality,” That according to Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham after his Utah Utes team defeated the Air Force Academy in overtime 23 - 16.
A mentality that allows this Utah team to be able to make that one more play that enables them to get the win in the close games. Much like today when in overtime the Falcons had a 4th & 2 on the Utah 7.
Defensive Coordinator Kalani Sitake dialed up a “blast blitz” which gives the linebackers a running start to stack up the middle of the field. It worked as Falcons QB Connor Dietz faked the handoff and looked to pick up the 2-yards, but instead saw nothing but red jerseys.
In a game that the Utes were out gained (318 - 267), out rushed (254 - 100), and out first downed (20 - 8) the Utes still found a way to win the game. That is without mentioning after a week that ball security was emphasized, the Utes put the ball on the turf 6 times (AF recovered 2 of them).
“We need to be more productive on offense,” Whittingham said after the game addressing the obvious fault in the Utes game today.
Whittingham went on to say that some of it was execution, but some of it was scheme as well, “We got to coach better,” Whittingham said, “ I’ll start with myself.”
While following the game, much credit was given to the Air Force defense, the Utah offense looked as if it didn’t have a game plan. That was further emphasized after Eddie Wide went down with a high ankle sprain in the 2nd quarter and the Ute offense was in further disarray. And while Wide returned in the second half and possible was the other bright spot offensively, along with David Reed’s 90-yard TD catch and run, the Utes still could not move the ball.
Quarterback Terrance Cain said the Falcons did a good job of getting under the Utes passing routes. That being the case, Cain said he decided to run or throw the ball away instead of making a “mistake”. Cain however seemed to miss reads on multiple passing plays that had receivers wide open.
The “We need to be more productive on offense,” quote has never been more true at any point in the season. For the second week in a row, an offense that is designed to get 80 plays a game in, ended up with a play count in the low 50’s.
But, as was stated in the post game, the Utes are 3 - 0 in conference (6 - 1 overall). And that according to Kyle Whittingham is the “most important” thing.
