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No. 21 Utah beats Oregon State 19-14

Posted at 5:36 PM, Oct 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-16 16:36:44-04

CORVALLIS, Ore. — The University of Utah Utes improved to 6-1 on the season and became bowl eligible Saturday after a 19-14 win over Oregon State.

After potentially five running backs were sitting out for Utah Saturday as they traveled to Oregon State, a retired Joe Williams got the call. Williams, a senior who retired from the team in early September, scored the Utes’ first touchdown.

The five-yard run put Utah up 7-0 over the Beavers in the first quarter.

Later in the quarter, Utah went for it on 4th-and-1 in the red zone, but Quarterback Troy Williams fumbled then recovered short of the first down. The Beavers took over on downs, but just a few plays later Utah scored on a safety.

Utah turned the resulting drive into an Andy Phillips field goal, which would end up being the only points scored in the second quarter and sent Utah into the locker room at halftime up 12-0.

Oregon State ended Utah’s streak of unanswered points in the third quarter as Artavis Pierce scored on an 18-yard run to make it 12-7. Oregon State went on to miss two field goals, one from 51 yards and the other from 27 yards.

Late in the fourth Utah punted the ball back to the Beavers, but a fumble on the next drive gave the Utes excellent field position and set up another touchdown, a quarterback keep from Troy Williams, to make it 19-7. Oregon State answered back, however, moving the ball down field to make it 19-14 with just 1:40 left to play.

The onside kick attempt failed to go 10 yards, giving Utah’s offense the ball back. That drive came down to a 4th-and-1 with 42 seconds left, and Oregon State stalled a rush attempt to give their offense one more shot at victory.

The Beaver’s offense failed to get any traction, though, and Utah came away with the W.

Joe Williams finished the game with 34 carries for 179 yards, 49 of which on a single play, and showing no signs he had been out of practice for a month.

Utah plays next on Saturday, October 22, when they will travel to Pasadena to face the UCLA Bruins. That game is scheduled for 2 p.m.