The Utah Utes shocked the No. 5 Stanford Cardinal on Saturday in Salt Lake City, 27-21. The win was the second time Utah has defeated a top five team.
No. 5 Stanford vs. Utah results: Utes knock off the Cardinal, 27-21
Stanford rallied back, but Utah made a play when it needed it and handed the Cardinal their first loss.
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Although the Utes were able to hang on for the win, the game came down to the final minute. Stanford drove deep into Utah territory, needing a touchdown to take the lead. The Cardinal had a 1st-and-10 from the Utah 14-yard line. After limiting Stanford to eight yards on the first three downs, Utah forced an incomplete pass on 4th-and-2 to seal the victory.
The game started out well for Stanford, which drove its opening possession 75 yards for a touchdown. The Utes answered right back, matching the Cardinal with a 75-yard touchdown drive of their own. The game didn't stay tied long, however, as Ty Montgomery broke free on the next kickoff, racing 100 yards for a touchdown. Like it did after Stanford's first touchdown, Utah answered right back with a touchdown drive to tie the game.
The Cardinal’s early success didn’t last. After gaining 140 yards in the first quarter, Utah limited Stanford to 59 yards in the second quarter and just 28 yards in the third quarter. The Utes did an excellent job of controlling the ball, including an 11-play 99-yard touchdown drive to take a 21-14 lead. Utah added a pair of field goals and led 27-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
Stanford cut Utah’s lead to 27-21 with 9:22 to play, thanks to a huge play from Montgomery. The Cardinal wide receiver took a screen pass on 3rd-and-10 45 yards to the Utah 7-yard line. That set up a Kevin Hogan touchdown pass two plays later. Utah failed to get a first down for the second straight drive, setting up Stanford’s final drive. The Cardinal came close, but Hogan’s final pass fell incomplete in the end zone.
Box Score Hero:
James "Bubba" Poole finished with 111 rushing yards for Utah while Travis Wilson threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns while adding 35 yards on the ground.
Montgomery was huge for the Cardinal in the loss. He finished with eight catches for 131 yards. He also returned three kickoffs for 160 yards.
Rankings Ramifications:
The loss knocks Stanford out of the National Championship race, and will drop the Cardinal out of the top five. At 4-2, Utah could get some consideration in the next poll.
But Did They Cover?
Stanford opened as a 9-1/2-point favorite and failed to cover by a wide margin.
For More On This Game:
Rule of Tree covers all things Stanford-related, while Block U analyzes the Utes. Pacific Takes is your home for complete Pac-12 coverage.
Next Week’s Schedule:
10/19 3:30 p.m. ET -- Stanford vs. No. 11 UCLA
10/19 10 p.m. ET -- Utah at Arizona
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