Devon Dampier passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns and added 78 on the ground to help No. 24 Utah roll to a 45-14 victory over No. 17 Cincinnati in Big 12 play on Saturday night at Salt Lake City.
Utah (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) entered Saturday night fourth in the country with 267.1 rushing yards per game, with only Navy, Air Force, and Army averaging more. The Utes matched their average with 267 against the Bearcats.
Wayshawn Parker rushed for 104 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown for a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter. The Utes never trailed again as their inside-zone running and a quick passing game proved too much for a Bearcats’ defense that struggled to tackle in space and stop the run.
Ryan Davis had eight receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown for Utah. Mana Carvalho returned a punt for a touchdown.
Cincinnati (7-2, 5-1) struggled to generate serious momentum on offense. Brendan Sorsby was held in check and was wildly inaccurate throughout the night. Sorsby completed just 11 of 33 attempts for just 221 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Sorsby was visibly frustrated on the sideline during the fourth quarter and the game effectively out of reach. He came off the field after the Bearcats elected to punt on fourth-and-13, concluding a rough night.
A bright moment for Sorsby was connecting with wide receiver Cyrus Allen for an 88-yard touchdown early in the third quarter. It cut the Bearcats’ deficit to 24-14, and safety Christian Harrison gave the Bearcats even more momentum with an interception on the Bearcats’ ensuing defensive possession.
Cincinnati, though, couldn’t take advantage, having to punt on its next offensive possession. Utah scored a touchdown on Dampier’s 11-yard pass to Creed Whittemore to lead by 17 with 2:26 to go in the third quarter.
Carvalho’s 75-yard punt return for a touchdown put the game out of reach at 38-14 with 1:36 left in third.
Utah’s Bird Ficklin added a 2-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter to cement the victory.
Dampier completed 16 of 31 passes and threw one interception.
Allen had 113 yards on just two receptions.
Both teams have byes next weekend.
–Field Level Media
