Utah held off BYU 28-20 on Saturday, preserving its 9‑0 record and strengthening its position in the Big 12 race, a result that resonates with Provo residents who follow the Cougars closely.
According to Fox 13, senior quarterback Devon Dampier accounted for four touchdowns—two passing and two rushing—while amassing 266 yards of total offense. He threw two touchdown passes to receiver Braden Pegan and added a 22‑yard run and a 3‑yard scramble in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
BYU sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier threw for 272 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted four times, including two in the fourth‑quarter end zone. Fox 13 noted that Bachmeier rushed for 59 yards, but his turnovers proved decisive.
Utah trailed 20‑14 at halftime, but the Utes forced three turnovers in the second half and shut out the Cougars after the break. Defensive back Trey Reynolds intercepted Bachmeier with 4:39 remaining, and Nate Ritchie recorded a second interception in the end zone in the final seconds, according to the same source.
Coach Morgan Scalley praised Dampier, saying, “All I know is I love him. He’s a competitor. He’s a warrior. He wins us football games.” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake lamented the turnovers, calling them “an incredible amount of turnovers that we had” and emphasizing that such a performance does not win the rivalry.
The game also featured a rare moment for Dampier: he caught a 29‑yard pass from teammate Creed Whittemore, his second career reception and first at Utah, as reported by Fox 13.
Statistically, Utah’s defense limited BYU to just 111 yards in the second half, averaging 4.0 yards per play, while the Utes’ offense continued its dominant start to games, outscoring opponents 103‑9 in the first quarter through nine games—the nation’s best first‑quarter point differential.
Beyond the win, the result has conference implications. Fox 13 explained that Utah’s victory extends its FBS‑leading winning streak to 15 games and keeps the Utes on track to clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game and a potential College Football Playoff berth. BYU, now 7‑2 overall and 4‑2 in the league, falls two games behind Utah and will need additional help to stay in the title hunt.
What’s next: Utah travels to Arizona on Saturday, while BYU hosts Baylor the same day. Both teams will look to build on Saturday’s outcomes as the Big 12 regular season approaches its climax.
Sources: fox13now.com, fox13now.com, fox13now.com
