West Virginia beaten by Utah 48-14
West Virginia was thoroughly beaten at home 48-14 by Utah in the Big 12 Conference home opener Saturday evening.
Redshirt senior quarterback Jaylen Henderson started the game but the offense generated only 95 yards in the first half and weren’t able to score. Redshirt freshman Khalil Wilkins then took over to start the second half trailing 35-0 and led the offense on multiple scoring drives. Wilkins completed 3-6 passes for 63 yards with a touchdown while rushing for 39 more yards while providing some life to the offense.
The Mountaineers had the football first but after a first down the offense was forced to punt giving Utah the football at their own 27-yard line.
The Utes would botch their first play, but then methodically down the field and on 3rd and goal from the 7 Devon Dampier would throw a touchdown toss to JJ Buchanan take an early 7-0 lead with 7:16 left in the opening quarter. On the next possession for the Mountaineers the offense would go three and out.
Utah would then use another methodical 11-play, 65-yard drive capped off by a Dampier seven-yard touchdown run to seize an early 14-0 lead with 1:33 remaining in the first quarter.
The Mountaineers would move the football into Utah territory on the next possession on an 18-yard catch and run by Cam Vaughn but the offense would stall out after not being able to convert on fourth a four giving the football back to Utah.
The Utes would turn their third drive into their third touchdown on a 32-yard toss from Dampier to Ryan Davis to seize complete control of the game 21-0 with 11:32 left in the first half.
Things didn’t get any better on the ensuing drive as the Mountaineers were stuffed on third and fourth and one giving the football back to Utah at the West Virginia 43-yard line. But on the next play Dampier attempted to throw the ball deep only to be picked off by Nick Taylor.
However, the offense would again stall out after picking up a first down and would punt the ball back to the Utes with 4:56 left in the first half. And despite being pinned deep in their own end, the Utes would move the ball to the Mountaineers 34-yard line with 1:35 remaining on the clock.
The Utes would then cash in on their fourth touchdown in five drives to take a 28-0 lead into halftime.
The Utah offense continued their strong play to open the second half moving the football down the field right outside the red zone and then the defense was able to force a fourth down attempt from the 17. Dampier would connect with Dallen for a first down. The Utes would then tack on another score to make it 35-0 after another Dampier touchdown toss.
Wilkins then took over for the Mountaineers and led the offense on an 8-play, 75-yard drive capped off with a 39-yard touchdown toss to Vaughn to put West Virginia on the board trailing 35-7.
Utah would again put together a scoring drive but this time only three points as the defense recorded a stop in the red zone to give the Utes a 38-7 lead with 5:18 remaining.
Wilkins would again move the West Virginia offense deep into Utah territory and had a touchdown erased on a pass interference penalty but on fourth down it was incomplete giving the football back to the Utes. Dampier would then be replaced and the Utes would tack on a field goal to go ahead 41-7.
On the ensuing drive Wilkins handed the ball off to Jarod Bowie for a 68-yard run on a reverse to again put the offense in the Utah red zone for the third consecutive time. And redshirt freshman Diore Hubbard would punch it in from one-yard out to cut the score to 41-14.
The Utes would then tack on another late touchdown to win 48-14.
West Virginia will next travel to take on BYU Friday night with a 10:30 p.m. kick.
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