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Three Takeaways From Utah’s 49-25 Win Over Cincinnati
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- Three Takeaways From Utah’s 49-25 Win Over Cincinnati
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Utah Utes improved to 8-0 on Saturday with a dominant 49-25 win over Cincinnati, moving to 5-0 in Big 12 play and remaining undefeated under Morgan Scalley.
Coming off an emotional win over Houston, Utah faced a Cincinnati team that had just knocked off No. 8 Texas Tech the week before. The Bearcats had momentum coming into the game, but Utah made sure that didn't last long.
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The Utes put together one of their best first halves of the season, scoring 42 points before halftime and taking complete control of the game.
Here are my three biggest takeaways from Utah's win over Cincinnati.
First-Half Dominance
Utah's first-half performance against Cincinnati was arguably the most complete half of football we've seen from the Utes this season.
The Utes went into halftime with a 42-6 lead, scoring touchdowns on all four of their offensive possessions while adding two defensive touchdowns.
Utah finished the first half with 328 yards of total offense, including 193 rushing yards. The offense averaged an incredible 9.4 yards per play and 10.2 yards per rushing attempt.
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What impressed me the most was how easily Utah moved the ball. The Utes put together touchdown drives of 78, 75, 80 and 90 yards. Cincinnati simply couldn't find a way to get Utah's offense off the field.
Defensively, Utah was just as impressive. The Utes forced turnovers, made plays when they needed to and held Cincinnati to just six points.
The second half wasn't nearly as clean, and there are certainly things Utah will need to improve on. But the first 30 minutes showed exactly how dominant this team can be when everything is clicking.
Utah's Defense Continues to Make Game-Changing Plays
Utah's defense has been one of the biggest reasons for its success this season, and Saturday was another example of just how dangerous this group can be.
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The Utes scored two defensive touchdowns in the first half, starting with Rabbit Evans recovering a fumble and returning it 51 yards for a touchdown.
Later in the second quarter, Elijah Davis intercepted Cincinnati quarterback JC French IV and returned it 39 yards for another touchdown, extending Utah's streak of consecutive seasons with a pick-six to 23.
It was the first time since 2008 that Utah had recorded both a fumble return touchdown and an interception return touchdown in the same game.
The defense certainly wasn't perfect. Cincinnati finished with 456 yards of offense, and the Utes allowed a few explosive plays that they'll need to clean up moving forward.
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However, Utah also held Cincinnati to just 3-of-11 on third down and recorded three sacks.
What continues to impress me about this defense is its ability to change games. This isn't just a group that can get stops. It's a defense that can create turnovers and put points on the board. That is going to be incredibly important as Utah gets deeper into its schedule.
Devon Dampier Continues to Show How Dangerous This Offense Can Be
Devon Dampier put together another outstanding performance against Cincinnati, completing 22 of his 29 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns.
Dampier was nearly perfect in the first half, completing 15 of his 16 passes while leading Utah to touchdowns on every offensive possession.
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He also rushed for 45 yards, becoming Utah's all-time leading rusher at the quarterback position with 1,228 career rushing yards as a Ute.
Hunter Andrews had the best receiving game of his career, finishing with five catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Daniel Bray also had a big afternoon, scoring twice, while Wayshawn Parker rushed for 82 yards.
Utah finished the game with 534 yards of total offense, including 268 yards on the ground.
The biggest thing that stood out to me was how balanced this offense looked. Utah has already established itself as one of the better rushing teams in the country, but Dampier continues to show that the Utes can be just as dangerous through the air.
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When Utah is running the ball this effectively and Dampier is throwing it the way he did Saturday, this offense becomes extremely difficult to defend.
There are still things to clean up, particularly the turnovers and lack of production in the second half, but it's hard not to be impressed with what this offense has shown.
Final Thoughts
Utah is now 8-0 for the first time since 2010, and the Utes continue to find different ways to win football games.
After grinding out a defensive battle against Houston, Utah followed it up with an offensive explosion against Cincinnati.
The Utes have shown they can win close games, dominate defensively and put up points in a hurry.
Now comes the biggest game of the season. Utah returns home to face BYU in the Holy War, with both teams competing for a Big 12 championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
