Game balls for Utah’s win over Arizona State

Offense - Zack Moss

It certainly wasn’t the Zack Moss game that we’ve come to expect, but it was a record-setting one for the senior running back. Moss entered the game just 55 yards away from becoming the all-time rushing leader in Utah program history and left with his name in the record books. To break the record in the way that Moss did, on a 34-yard touchdown run, is something out of a movie. Moss could’ve broken the record on a 9-yard run on second-and-6 in Utah’s own territory, or on a first-down draw play. But to break the rushing record on a run for the game-clinching touchdown over a ranked conference rival is something special.

Moss got off to a slow start as it was obvious from the opening kickoff that ASU was hell-bent on preventing Moss from breaking the record against their defense. But eventually, Moss and the Utah offense settled in. The senior finished the day with 25 attempts for 99 yards - one yard shy of his 15th 100-yard game which also would have set a new Utah record - two touchdowns and one rushing record.

Defense - Bradlee Anae

The Utah defense as a whole had a phenomenal performance against ASU and QB Jaydon Daniels, and Bradlee Anae was the star of it all. Anae made himself some money after his performance against the Sun Devils and the senior defensive end showed out for NFL scouts. On a defensive line that is as talented as Utah’s, it can sometimes be difficult to stand out and make a huge impact when everyone else along the front is having strong performances as well.

But that is exactly what Anae did. The defensive end tallied three sacks on a day when it seemed as if Daniels had barely a second to get the ball away before a Utah lineman came rushing in. Anae could find himself in the record books alongside Moss soon as the senior now has 23 career sacks for the Utes, which currently ranks 7th all-time.

Special Teams - Ben Lennon

It was a close, hard-fought game for the majority of the 60 minutes on Saturday, which means the battle for field position was key for the Utes. Punter Ben Lennon is no Mitch Wishnowski, but he had a solid enough day to keep the Utes out of trouble.

5 punts for 199 yards - good for 39.8 yards per punt - in windy and rainy weather is an impressive performance. Coach Whittingham would obviously like the see that average yards per punt go up and the punt attempts go down, but you’ve got to take what you can get in those kinds of weather conditions.