No. 11 Utah holds on for 23-12 win despite Cam Rising exiting game early

SALT LAKE CITY — Everything was going Utah's way early.

Over a 30-second period in the first quarter, No. 11 Utah scored two touchdowns to take a 14-0 lead over the visiting Baylor Bears, and then Tao Johnson returned a blocked field goal 77 yards for a third touchdown of the day to give the Utes a comfortable 23-0 lead.

On defense, Utah did its part and managed to hold Baylor to negative yards until late in the second quarter.

Nothing was stopping the Utes.

But in an instant, the tone and tenor of the game changed.

As Cam Rising scrambled out of a play in an effort to extend the drive late in the first half, he was tackled out of bounds into some Baylor equipment on the sidelines and immediately grabbed his right hand.

The Utah training staff took Rising into the medical tent before the starting quarterback eventually was taken to the locker room before the break.

After the boos subsided for the refs not calling what appeared to be a late hit penalty, the energy and life inside Rice-Eccles Stadium was sucked dry. The once raucous scene was suddenly absent and was replaced by a nervous apprehension from the fan base.

As such, Utah couldn't get into a rhythm on offense and Cole Becker missed a 45-yard field goal attempt, and then safety Alaka'i Gillman was called for a targeting penalty to help Baylor into a made 44-yard field goal before the half.

Despite the ending to the first half, Utah went on to beat Baylor 23-12 and advance to 2-0 on the season. But the second half wasn't much to look at for the offense, who was held scoreless.

"Started out, I thought we're gonna win by 40," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We got up 17-0, fairly early, and we just lost our momentum. Credit Baylor, they hung in there, made some plays, kept fighting. Certainly when Cam left the game, that was a downer for us, but the world can't stop turning. When Cam exits a game, we've got to keep playing, which we did, but we've got to be productive."

Rising's injury, Whittingham said, wasn't "real serious," but his status for next week remains unknown.

"He may be back this week," Whittingham said. "We'll see."

Baylor (1-1) found more consistency in the second half on a run game that largely included quarterback Dequan Finn. The Bears finally broke through when Finn connected with Josh Cameron for a 48-yard touchdown that included several missed tackles by Utah defenders.

The Bears failed to convert on the ensuing 2-point try, but it was enough to put some pressure on a Utah defense that had held Baylor well for much of the game.

Utah failed to consistently move the ball without Rising on the field, but Whittingham said he was pleased with backup quarterback Isaac Wilson's ability to manage the game. But it was the defense, he added, who was the "reason we won the football game."

"Defense played lights out," he said.

On Baylor's first series of the day, Connor O'Toole forced a fumble on a sack attempt, which was then jumped on by linebacker Karene Reid at Baylor's 3-yard line. A few plays later, Rising connected with running back Micah Bernard on a 2-yard toss to give Utah the early 14-0 lead.

The touchdown came 30 seconds after Money Parks took a reverse 28 yards for a touchdown after a fake to Dijon Stanley that effectively pulled everyone's attention away from the play.

Utah had a rough day on special teams and missed two field goals, while also having a PAT blown up. That, Whittingham said, was a disappointment for an otherwise good day.

"Special teams was disappointing," Whittingham said. "We need to be better on special teams. Missed two very makeable field goals, we botched a PAT, had a couple touchbacks on punt. You shouldn't have a couple touchbacks all year, let alone one game. And so there's things to work on there. We've got to coach it better. We've got to coach that better and be more effective."

Related topics