Williams leads No. 23 Utah by Arizona
The Sports Xchange
Sep 23, 2017
Senior quarterback Troy Williams replaced injured starter Tyler Huntley and helped lead No. 23 Utah to a 30-24 win over Arizona at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., on Friday night.
Williams replaced an injured Huntley midway through the first half to help keep Utah (4-0) ahead throughout the game. Huntley had gone 8 for 9 passing before suffering the injury. Williams finished 9 for 18 for 131 passing yards.
Arizona (1-3) had some success on the ground against the country's second-best run defense, getting 200 yards. Utah had given up 49.3 yards per game on the ground.
Arizona looked out of it until Shawn Poindexter recovered an onside kick with 2:42 left in the game. But on the next play, quarterback Brandon Dawkins fumbled the ball away with 2:33 left.
The Wildcats were their own worst enemy in the second half.
Overall, Dawkins had three interceptions and Arizona added two fumbles for the game.
With 9:48 left in the game, Arizona running back Nick Wilson dropped a pass after being wide open and that would have put Arizona in a great position to score and keep it close. Two plays later, Josh Pollack's 47-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
That came after Dawkins threw his second interception of the game, hitting defensive back Javelin Guidry in the hands for an easy 14-yard return to give Utah a 27-17 lead.
Arizona closed the gap from 20-10 when running back J.J. Taylor scored on a seven-yard run with 4:38 left in the third quarter.
Utah put a little distance on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when Matt Gay hit a 37-yard field goal with 4:58 left in the game for a 30-17 edge.
Arizona came right back on its next drive when Tony Ellison scored on 30-yard touchdown pass from Dawkins.
Utah scored on two of its first four possessions and took a 13-10 halftime lead.
Utah scored first with 10:35 remaining in the opening quarter by going 73 yards. Huntley threw an 8-yard pass to Samson Nacua to help give Utah a 7-0 lead.
Arizona followed with a 32-yard field goal by Pollack to make it 10-3.
After a failed possession, Utah scored on a Matt Gay 41-yard field goal with 28 seconds left in the first.
Williams replaced Huntley at quarterback with 8:45 left in the second quarter.
He came in and completed a 40-yard pass to Darren Carrington II on his first play. Huntley remained out of the game for the remainder of the half.
Arizona averted a semi-disaster when Wilson apparently hit Siasoi Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown, but after further review Wilson was ruled out of bounds on the catch.
Utah followed Wilson's overturned catch with a 26-yard field goal to make 13-3 with 5:39 left. The drive started on Arizona's 1-yard line.
NOTES: Utah S Marquise Blair was ejected with 5:16 left in the third quarter after he was penalized for targeting on a run by Arizona QB Brandon Dawkins. He will be suspended for the first half of the next game. ... Utah DL Kylie Fitts was taken off the field late in the first half with an undisclosed injury. ... Arizona played without LB DeAndre Miller (foot). Also, WR Cam Denson (foot) was listed as unavailable for the first time this season for the Wildcats.
Sep 23, 2017
Senior quarterback Troy Williams replaced injured starter Tyler Huntley and helped lead No. 23 Utah to a 30-24 win over Arizona at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., on Friday night.
Williams replaced an injured Huntley midway through the first half to help keep Utah (4-0) ahead throughout the game. Huntley had gone 8 for 9 passing before suffering the injury. Williams finished 9 for 18 for 131 passing yards.
Arizona (1-3) had some success on the ground against the country's second-best run defense, getting 200 yards. Utah had given up 49.3 yards per game on the ground.
Arizona looked out of it until Shawn Poindexter recovered an onside kick with 2:42 left in the game. But on the next play, quarterback Brandon Dawkins fumbled the ball away with 2:33 left.
The Wildcats were their own worst enemy in the second half.
Overall, Dawkins had three interceptions and Arizona added two fumbles for the game.
With 9:48 left in the game, Arizona running back Nick Wilson dropped a pass after being wide open and that would have put Arizona in a great position to score and keep it close. Two plays later, Josh Pollack's 47-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
That came after Dawkins threw his second interception of the game, hitting defensive back Javelin Guidry in the hands for an easy 14-yard return to give Utah a 27-17 lead.
Arizona closed the gap from 20-10 when running back J.J. Taylor scored on a seven-yard run with 4:38 left in the third quarter.
Utah put a little distance on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when Matt Gay hit a 37-yard field goal with 4:58 left in the game for a 30-17 edge.
Arizona came right back on its next drive when Tony Ellison scored on 30-yard touchdown pass from Dawkins.
Utah scored on two of its first four possessions and took a 13-10 halftime lead.
Utah scored first with 10:35 remaining in the opening quarter by going 73 yards. Huntley threw an 8-yard pass to Samson Nacua to help give Utah a 7-0 lead.
Arizona followed with a 32-yard field goal by Pollack to make it 10-3.
After a failed possession, Utah scored on a Matt Gay 41-yard field goal with 28 seconds left in the first.
Williams replaced Huntley at quarterback with 8:45 left in the second quarter.
He came in and completed a 40-yard pass to Darren Carrington II on his first play. Huntley remained out of the game for the remainder of the half.
Arizona averted a semi-disaster when Wilson apparently hit Siasoi Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown, but after further review Wilson was ruled out of bounds on the catch.
Utah followed Wilson's overturned catch with a 26-yard field goal to make 13-3 with 5:39 left. The drive started on Arizona's 1-yard line.
NOTES: Utah S Marquise Blair was ejected with 5:16 left in the third quarter after he was penalized for targeting on a run by Arizona QB Brandon Dawkins. He will be suspended for the first half of the next game. ... Utah DL Kylie Fitts was taken off the field late in the first half with an undisclosed injury. ... Arizona played without LB DeAndre Miller (foot). Also, WR Cam Denson (foot) was listed as unavailable for the first time this season for the Wildcats.
