We all knew it would be a tough one for the Utes; it was, as #18 Utah (6-1, 3-0) escaped an upset despite getting outplayed by the Falcons. The Utes defense didn't stop the run all game but came up big in OT in a 23-16 victory. Air Force (4-4, 3-2) controlled most of the game on both sides of the ball but lacked the big play to put them over the top.
The Utes scored on their first possession when Terrance Cain fumbled on a keeper and Wide, who was trailing the play, picked up the ball and ran 44 yards for a touchdown. Joe Phillips pushed the extra point attempt wide right. That was all for the Ute offense in the half as the Falcons held the Utes to just 107 yards of total offense.
Air Force took the lead as Jared Tew pounded it in on the goal line to put the Falcons on top 10- 6 in the second quarter. With the crowd out of the game and Utah looking dysfunctional, Air Force looked like they could pull away. David Reed had different plans. In the third quarter, the Utes star receiver made the biggest play of the game when he connected with Terrance Cain for a 90 yard touchdown catch, (second longest passing play in school history) to make it 13-10 Utah.
After a pair of Falcon field goals, the game was tied at 16 going into overtime. Air Force won the toss and elected to play defense. Utah's Eddie Wide sprained his ankle in the first half but came back and punched in a 1 yard touchdown to take the lead 23-16.
While the Utes let Air Force run all over with 254 yards rushing they stopped the run in overtime. Stevenson Sylvester came up huge and stopped a fourth down quarterback keeper from Connor Dietz. As the play ended, Rice-Eccles Stadium erupted and the Utes rushed the field after a thriller of a game.
As you take a look back at the stats, you would come to a conclusion that Utah shouldn't have won this game. Utah had five penalties, two turnovers and went 4 - 14 on third down. It came down to who would make the big plays. The Utes made the big plays and Air Force suffered another heartbreaker.