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FLA |
UTAH |
Bryson Barnes helps No. 14 Utah beat Florida 24-11 in season opener
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah gave Florida a taste of the same suffocating defense the Utes have used to recently dominate Pac-12 opponents.
Bryson Barnes threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Money Parks on Utah’s first play of the game, rushed for another score and the No. 14 Utes beat Florida 24-11 on Thursday night in the opener for both teams.
Nate Johnson split time at quarterback with Barnes for the Utes with usual starter Rising still recovering from a knee injury he suffered in the Rose Bowl.
Utah clamped down on defense in Rising’s absence, forcing a turnover and getting five sacks. The Gators converted 1 of 13 third downs and 2 of 5 fourth downs while totaling 13 yards rushing on 21 carries.
“If you had to say what was the one phase or one thing that was the biggest difference in the game, it was the way our defense played,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.
Graham Mertz threw for 333 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in his first start for the Gators. Ricky Pearsall had 92 yards on eight catches. Florida drove inside the red zone four times but totaled only 10 points on those drives.
“They just always seemed like they had one extra guy,” Mertz said.
Making his second career start, Barnes wasted no time making an impact with the scoring strike to Parks. Barnes completed his first four passes and had 150 yards passing by halftime. He finished with 159 yards.
Barnes said he learned he was starting for Utah 1 1/2 weeks before Thursday’s game. His first play touchdown gave the entire team a major energy boost.
“That’s the type of stuff you think of as kids, so it was great to go out there and actually put it on tape,” Barnes said.
Johnson also put Florida’s defense on its heels when he checked in during the second quarter. He faked a handoff to Micah Bernard and raced 27 yards to extend Utah’s lead to 14-3 midway through the second quarter.
Special teams mistakes set up both second-quarter scoring drives for the Utes. The Gators committed a fourth-down equipment infraction penalty to negate a punt and keep the Utes’ second touchdown drive alive. Then, a 21-yard Florida punt to set up a 51-yard field goal from Cole Becker.
Sione Vaki tipped an interception to himself inside the Florida 15 to set up Utah’s third touchdown. Barnes capped the 3-play drive with a 5-yard run to put the Utes up 24-3 early in the third quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Florida: Generating offensive momentum proved to be a chore for the Gators. Florida totaled only 8 yards in the second quarter, averaging 0.7 yards per play. The Gators also went 0 of 9 on third down before finally converting one early in the fourth quarter.
Utah: An imposing defense carried the Utes when their offense cooled after a hot start. Utah didn’t get a ton of production from its normally explosive running game, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. But the Utes also limited Florida to 13 yards rushing.
QUIET NIGHT
Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson, Jr. combined for 31 yards on 10 carries after averaging 120 yards rushing for the Gators last season. With their top two runners rendered ineffective, Florida routinely faced third-and-long situations over four quarters.
“We got to get production out of the two backs,” Florida coach Billy Napier said. “We got to give them an opportunity to impact the game.”
PERFECT PUNTING
Jack Bouwmeester averaged 51.8 yards on six punts, pinning three inside the 20. Bouwmeester became the first Utah punter since Tom Hackett against Colorado in 2014 to have two different punts cover 60 or more yards in the same game. He had punts of 64 yards and 61 yards in the third quarter.
“It’s a game changer for the defense,” Utes safety Cole Bishop said. “You can do so much more when they’re backed up and don’t have many options.”
POLL IMPLICATIONS
A convincing victory over an SEC opponent will likely bolster Utah’s position in the upcoming AP poll.
UP NEXT
Florida: Hosts McNeese on Sept. 9.
Utah: At Baylor on Sept. 9.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
G. Mertz
15 QB 333 PaYds, PaTD, INT, -29 RuYds |
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B. Barnes
16 QB 159 PaYds, PaTD, 11 RuYds, RuTD |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 17 | 11 |
Rushing | 1 | 6 |
Passing | 15 | 5 |
Penalty | 1 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 1-13 | 3-13 |
4th Down Conv | 2-5 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 346 | 270 |
Total Plays | 65 | 53 |
Avg Gain | 5.3 | 5.1 |
Net Yards Rushing | 13 | 105 |
Rush Attempts | 21 | 30 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0.6 | 3.5 |
Yards Passing | 333 | 165 |
Comp. - Att. | 31-44 | 15-23 |
Yards Per Pass | 5.8 | 7.2 |
Penalties - Yards | 9-50 | 5-37 |
Touchdowns | 1 | 3 |
Rushing TDs | 0 | 2 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 1 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 1-0 | 1-0 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 4-45.0 | 6-51.8 |
Return Yards | 5 | 7 |
Punts - Returns | 2-5 | 3-5 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
G. Mertz
15 QB
|
G. Mertz | 31/44 | 333 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
T. Etienne
7 RB
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T. Etienne | 7 | 25 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Wilson III
3 WR
|
E. Wilson III | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Johnson Jr.
2 RB
|
M. Johnson Jr. | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Webb
20 RB
|
T. Webb | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Mertz
15 QB
|
G. Mertz | 8 | -29 | 0 | 11 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
R. Pearsall
1 WR
|
R. Pearsall | 13 | 8 | 92 | 0 | 38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Burke
88 WR
|
M. Burke | 3 | 2 | 61 | 0 | 37 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Odom
87 TE
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J. Odom | 4 | 4 | 46 | 0 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Douglas
4 WR
|
C. Douglas | 6 | 4 | 42 | 1 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Johnson Jr.
2 RB
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M. Johnson Jr. | 5 | 3 | 41 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Wilson III
3 WR
|
E. Wilson III | 2 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Etienne
7 RB
|
T. Etienne | 4 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Jackson
22 WR
|
K. Jackson | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Livingston
86 TE
|
T. Livingston | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
H. Hansen
89 TE
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H. Hansen | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Zanders
18 TE
|
D. Zanders | 2 | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
S. James
6 LB
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S. James | 9-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Castell
14 S
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J. Castell | 5-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Marshall Jr.
3 CB
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J. Marshall Jr. | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Nunnery
34 LB
|
M. Nunnery | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Sapp
94 DL
|
T. Sapp | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Lyons
95 DL
|
J. Lyons | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Searcy
19 LB
|
T. Searcy | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Mitchell
20 LB
|
T. Mitchell | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Moten
16 S
|
R. Moten | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Banks
88 DL
|
C. Banks | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jackson
2 CB
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J. Jackson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Perkins
27 S
|
J. Perkins | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Williams
17 LB
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S. Williams | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Collins
11 LB
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K. Collins | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Mitchell
10 S
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M. Mitchell | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
A. Mihalek
49 K
|
A. Mihalek | 1/2 | 32 | 0/0 | 3 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. Crawshaw
26 P
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J. Crawshaw | 4 | 45.0 | 1 | 57 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Etienne
7 RB
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T. Etienne | 2 | 23.5 | 28 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
E. Wilson III 3 WR
|
E. Wilson III | 1 | -1.0 | -1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Pearsall 1 WR
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R. Pearsall | 1 | 6.0 | 6 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
B. Barnes
16 QB
|
B. Barnes | 12/18 | 159 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Johnson
13 QB
|
N. Johnson | 3/4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Vele
17 WR
|
D. Vele | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Bernard
2 RB
|
M. Bernard | 7 | 45 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Johnson
13 QB
|
N. Johnson | 6 | 45 | 1 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jackson
3 RB
|
J. Jackson | 5 | 15 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Barnes
16 QB
|
B. Barnes | 3 | 11 | 1 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Glover
1 RB
|
J. Glover | 4 | 6 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Matthews
0 WR
|
M. Matthews | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Parks
10 WR
|
M. Parks | 1 | -9 | 0 | -9 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Parks
10 WR
|
M. Parks | 2 | 1 | 70 | 1 | 70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Matthews
0 WR
|
M. Matthews | 4 | 4 | 34 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Suguturaga
47 TE
|
M. Suguturaga | 2 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Yassmin
87 TE
|
T. Yassmin | 4 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Vele
17 WR
|
D. Vele | 3 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Pittman
5 WR
|
M. Pittman | 3 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Bernard
2 RB
|
M. Bernard | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Simmons
18 WR
|
E. Simmons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |