Utah 24, Michigan 17
When: 8:30 PM ET, Thursday, September 3, 2015
Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah
Temperature:
85°
Head Official:
Steve Strimling
Attendance:
47825
By The Sports Xchange
Quarterback Travis Wilson was 24-of-33 for 208 yards and added 53 yards and a touchdown on the ground to lead Utah to a 24-17 victory over Michigan in the season opener for both teams Thursday in Salt Lake City.
Devontae Booker added 69 yards and a touchdown for the Utes, who beat the Wolverines for the second straight year and notched their third consecutive victory in the series.
Quarterback Jake Rudock was 27-of-43 for 279 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his Michigan debut. The senior also threw three interceptions - including one in the fourth quarter that led to a game clinching touchdown for Utah.
The Utes held the Wolverines to 119 total yards and six first downs in the first half.
Andy Phillips made a 30-yard field goal to put Utah ahead 3-0 in the first quarter and Kenny Allen answered from 29 yards out to even the score at 3-3 early in the second. The Utes quickly jumped back in front 10-3 when Booker punched the ball in from 1 yard out with 10:33 left before halftime.
Utah extended its lead to 17-3 in the third quarter after Wilson capped off 10-play, 74-yard drive with a 14 yard scamper up the middle. Michigan scored its first touchdown after Rudock connected with Jake Butt on a 19-yard throw, making it 17-10 with 46 seconds left in the quarter. The Wolverines kept the drive alive after a late hit by Gionni Paul gave them a first down at the Utes' 19.
Justin Thomas erased the mistake on the next defensive series by returning Rudock's third interception 55 yards to give Utah a two-touchdown lead with 7:58 remaining.
The Utes have won eight consecutive season openers dating back to a 25-23 victory over Michigan in 2008.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
Michigan |
|
Utah |
De'Veon Smith |
Player |
Devontae Booker |
17 |
Attempts |
22 |
47 |
Yards |
69 |
2.8 |
Avg Yards |
3.1 |
0 |
Touchdowns |
1 |
0 |
Long |
0 |
Receiving
Michigan |
|
Utah |
Amara Darboh |
Player |
Britain Covey |
8 |
Receptions |
5 |
101 |
Yards |
58 |
12.6 |
Avg Yards |
11.6 |
1 |
Touchdowns |
0 |
0 |
Long |
0 |
Team Stats Summary
|
Yards |
Scoring |
Defense |
Team |
Tot |
Rus |
Pas |
TD |
FG |
INT |
Sck |
FF |
Michigan
|
355 |
76 |
279 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1.0 |
1 |
Utah
|
335 |
127 |
208 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
0.0 |
0 |