Utah emphatically breaks 4 game losing streak, beats UCLA 48-17

The Utah Utes (5-4, 2-4 Pac-12) ended their four game losing streak with an emphatic 48-17 win over the UCLA Bruins (4-5, 2-4 Pac-12).

It took the Utah offense a little while to get going, but they dominated in the second half. Utah got on the board first after a muffed punt by UCLA led to a Zack Moss touchdown run. UCLA would drive and get a field goal. Darren Carrington II made a spectacular touchdown catch to get the Utes up 14-3. This would be the first of five-straight scoring drives for the Utes. UCLA would answer with a touchdown to take the score to 14-10. Right before halftime, Utah would add three more on a 25-yard Matt Gay field goal to lead 17-10 at halftime.

Utah really got cooking in the second half. On the first play of the second half, Huntley found a wide open Troy McCormick for a 75-yard touchdown. UCLA would manage only one first down in the third quarter. Utah would score again on a 20-yard Zack Moss touchdown run. McCormick caught his second touchdown pass of the game on the next Utah drive to give the Utes a 38-10 lead. UCLA would get one stop in the third quarter, but Utah would again score early in the fourth quarter. Gay would give Utah a 41-10 on a 50-yard field goal. The scoring would end for the Utes after Tyler Huntley hit Cody Ippolito for a 2 yard TD pass.

It was a breakout game for the Utes on offense, as they piled up 506 total yards, with 234 coming through the air and 272 on the ground. Moss had 153 yards on 23 carries while Huntley had 93 on the ground himself. McCormick led the Utes through the air with 88 yards and 2 touchdowns, on his loan two catches. The Utes were also 7-of-14 on 3rd down on offense, a massive improvement, while they held UCLA to 3-of-12.

It was a much needed win for the Utes, and to win in the fashion they did puts them on a good path going into three final, tough games of the season.