This years version of the Holy War between Utah and BYU had a very different fell to it. This game was played in September instead of the last games of the season and the first time the two schools have not been in the same conference, ever. Also, this was the second largest margin of victory by either side in this games 93-year history as Utah defeated BYU 54-10. The last game that had a bigger blowout was when Utah defeated BYU 49-0 way back in 1922.
The game started off huge for Utah as their defense scored a touchdown on a bad snap exchange from center Terence Brown to Jake Heaps. Then Heaps attempted to pick up the ball and attempted throw it instead of falling on the ball near the endzone, but Heaps lost control and Utah defensive tackle Derrick Shelby scored the first touchdown of the game.
That would be the only touchdown Utah would score until the end of the first half. In between the two touchdowns, BYU looked to be the better team as they were driving down the field and making plays in the first half.
However, the second half started and two different teams showed. Utah made adjustments where BYU did not, and the one knock against BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall is that he does not make adjustments. Mendenhall believes that if his team executes their plays they will be fine and stays the course regardless.
In the second half Utah started off by driving down the field and scoring on a quick 59-yard strike to wide receiver Dres Anderson and that is when the onslaught began. On the ensuing kickoff BYU muffed the punt inside the five-yard line and Utah then punched it in.
Utah looked like a completely different team in the second half and it was led by the offensive line and the running game. The BYU front seven had been a strength but they did not get too much pressure against Jordan Wynn and could not stop running back John White. White ended up having rushing for 174 yards, three touchdowns and averaged 7.9 yards per carry.
Jordan Wynn still did not look great and still is floating some balls out there, but he is a smart quarterback and is typically making the right choice to avoid a bad mistake.
The Utah defense shutdown the BYU running game by holding starting running back J.J. DiLuigi to only 31 yards. The defense forced BYU quarterback into one interception and two interceptions, and overall the Utes recovered six fumbles and the one interception.