Game Balls for Utah’s win over Arizona

Offense - Brant Kuithe

Brant Kuithe had the game of his life against the Arizona Wildcats. If Kuithe had a two-touchdown performance regardless, it would have been worthy of earning a game ball. But for him to record two touchdowns on the ground from the tight end position is something we never see as football fans. There’s no question that this game belonged to Brant Kuithe.

You could point towards the fact that Zack Moss ran for a season-high 203 yards and continued to break every rushing record in the book, but in week 12 we have come expect that from the star of this Utes team. Kuithe’s two rushing touchdowns are the most by a non-RB or QB since Shaky Smithson did it against TCU in 2009.

Kuithe’s two touchdown runs are also evidence of an offense that can make plays across the board and has no shortage of players that can be relied on any week, making this one of the most dangerous offenses that have ever come through Utah.

Defense - Bradlee Anae

Again, this Utah defense is so good that it makes it difficult to choose just one player to give the game ball to each week. Is it Francis Bernard with a team-leading eight tackles and a tackle for a loss, Bradlee Anae with seven solo tackles or is it Terrell Burgess who was flying around field all game long?

In the end it was Anae’s seven tackles, all of which were solo tackles, along with his one sack that gave him the edge. Anae is just two sacks away from passing Hunter Dimick as the leader all-time in career sacks for the Utes, and his 11.0 sacks are good for eighth all-time in a single season with at least two more games to go.

Special Teams - Demari Simpkins

Finally, a non-kicker makes an impact on the game for the Utes. Simpkins looked like he may have had the play of the year for the special teams before being tripped up on a punt return in the second half. The Utes’ haven’t had many big plays on special teams, so maybe that is why Simpkins’ 40-yard punt return stands out this season, but it helped to set up the Utes inside the Arizona 20-yard line, scoring four plays later to go up 35-0.