Utah continued its unbeaten start to the season on Saturday night, beating Kansas 41-24 at home. Running back Wayshawn Parker led the charge with 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns, marking his second consecutive 170‑plus yard performance.
Offensive highlights
Parker broke through for a 5‑yard run early in the first quarter and later capped a 90‑yard sprint untouched for the game‑closing score with 7:13 left. His effort followed a career‑high 174 yards against Iowa State two weeks earlier.
Quarterback Devon Dampier contributed 238 passing yards and three touchdowns while adding 68 rushing yards and another score. Wide receiver Ricky Johnson posted a season‑high 104 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches.
Kansas fight back, but fall short
Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns, with receiver Cam Pickett catching eight passes for a season‑high 134 yards. The Jayhawks narrowed the gap to 27‑24 late in the third quarter on a 29‑yard pass to Nik McMillan, but could not sustain the momentum.
Defensive plays shifted the tide. Kansas forced two turnovers, including a forced fumble by David Santiago that set up a 3‑yard touchdown catch by Dylan Edwards. Later, Jalen Todd intercepted Dampier at the Kansas 36‑yard line, giving the Jayhawks a brief surge.
Key moments
- Utah opened with a 14‑0 lead after Parker’s 5‑yard run and a 12‑yard rush by Dampier.
- Kansas forced a fumble and an interception in the second quarter, tightening the score to 21‑17 at halftime.
- Dampier’s 1‑yard toss to Semi Taulanga capped a nine‑play, 75‑yard drive, restoring a comfortable lead.
The Utes averaged 10.9 yards per play on their first two drives, showcasing a nearly flawless offense. Kansas managed only 40 yards on its first six drives before the turnovers sparked a brief comeback.
Looking ahead
Utah remains undefeated at 5‑0 overall and 2‑0 in Big 12 competition. The Utes travel to Colorado next Saturday for their next matchup. Kansas, now 2‑3 overall and 0‑2 in conference play, will face Kansas State the same weekend.
Original reporting: FOX 13 KSTU (Scripps) – Salt Lake City — read the source article.
