Utah vs. BYU: Las Vegas Bowl Recap, Score, What’s Next

Utah vs. BYU: Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl recap, score and what’s next for the Utes and Cougars.

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl Recap

Score: Utah 35, BYU 28

Prediction: Utah 28, BYU 23, Line: Utah -2.5, o/u: 54

And You Care Because … Utah came up with five takeaways in the first quarter and scored on all five possessions. Joe Williams ran for two one-yard scores and Travis Wilson ran for a 20-yard score, but it was the defense that all but put it away early on with Tevin Carter and Dominique Hatfield each coming up with pick sixes. However, that was it for the Utah scoring as BYU came roaring back with Tanner Mangum shaking off the horrible start to lead the way to 28 unanswered points. Mangum threw two touchdown passes and ran for a four-yard score to pull the Cougars within seven with 3:23 to play, but Utah was able to grind out the clock to seal the win.

What Else?

– Utah QB Travis Wilson completed 9-of-16 passes for 71 yards, and ran 15 times for 23 yards and a score.

– BYU QB Tanner Mangum completed 25-of-56 passes for 315 yards and two scores with three picks, and ran for four yards and a score.

– Utah RB Joe Williams ran 24 times for 91 yards and two scores, and caught two passes for 22 yards.

– BYU outgained Utah 386 yards to 197. However, turnover margin was 5-0 in favor of Utah.

– Utah’s Tevin Carter didn’t make any tackles, but he picked off two first quarter passes including a pick six to start out the scoring.

– Utah P Tom Hackett averaged 49.5 yards per kick on his six kicks with four put inside the 20.

Game Rating: B … What started out as a total clunker and an all-timer of a first quarter in the history of the Holy War turned into a fun battle late. Bronco Mendenhall’s team kept fighting – Virginia fans have to like what they saw in terms of the Cougars’ fight.

What’s next for BYU?

The Kalani Sitake era is about to kick in with a terrific team returning. QB Tanner Mangum is a proven leader to build around, and he gets back a few nice backs to hand off to in Angernon Brown and Francis Bernard. Sitake will be about the running game, and the pieces are there with the backs to go along with four starters back up front. The passing attack will be the early concern with Mitch Mathews and Devon Blackmon gone, meaning Nick Kurtz has to rise up and be a bigger factor.

Losing star end Bronson Kaufusi is a killer for the front three that has to hope for everything to work even better around Travis Tuiloma on the nose. Leading tackler Michael Wadsworth is gone from the secondary, but it’s a good group returning around corners Michale Hannemann and Michael Davis. The linebacking corps should be solid with big tacklers Fred Warner and Harvey Langi leading the way. PK Trevor Samson is gone, but P Jonny Linehan is back after averaging 43 yards per kick.

What’s next for Utah ?

The Utes will have a brand new backfield in 2016, with QB Travis Wilson and RB Devontae Booker exhausting their eligibility. Joe Williams has looked like a worthy successor to Booker as a feature back, but quarterback is a flashing question mark since backup Kendal Thompson is a senior as well. With four starters back, including all-star RT J.J. Dielman, Utah could sport one of the Pac-12’s top O-lines.

Don’t expect much drop-off on defense, provided the Utes can retool at linebacker. Gionni Paul, Jared Norris and Jason Whittingham leave gaping holes on the second level. Fortunately, Utah can dominate up front with NT Lowell Lotulelei and Hunter Dimick, and on the back end with FS Marcus Williams. Two-time Ray Guy Award-winning P Tom Hackett can’t adequately be replaced.