Charlie Brewer threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns to lead No. 24 Utah past Weber State 40-17 on Thursday night in the season opener for both teams at Salt Lake City.
The Utes’ Dalton Kincaid caught four passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Tavion Thomas added 107 yards and a pair of TDs on 12 carries.
Bronson Barron threw for 213 yards and a touchdown to lead the Wildcats. Weber State never got its offense on track, tallying just 57 rushing yards against.
Utah took a 3-0 lead after Jadon Redding made a 25-yard field goal to cap off the Utes’ opening drive.
Weber State came up with an immediate answer. Rashid Shaheed cut to the edge and returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, giving the Wildcats a 7-3 lead. He tied an FCS record with his sixth career touchdown off a kickoff return.
A 90-minute lightning delay forced both teams into their locker rooms with 8:26 left in the first quarter.
The Utes moved down the field quickly after play resumed, scoring on a five-play, 75-yard drive to take a 10-7 lead. Brewer completed all four of his passes on the drive, culminating in a 17-yard strike to Kincaid for Utah’s first touchdown of the game.
Redding added a 31-yard field goal before the end of the first quarter.
The Utes then extended their lead to 19-7 on a 12-yard run from Thomas. Devin Lloyd set up the touchdown after intercepting a tipped pass at the Weber State 31-yard line.
Weber State had a chance to cut into the deficit before halftime after driving to the Utah 1. However, Brandon McKinney stopped reserve quarterback Creyton Cooper for no gain on fourth down.
Utah ended any comeback hopes when Brewer connected with Solomon Enis on an 8-yard strike for his second TD pass, extending the Utes’ lead to 26-10 late in the third quarter.
–Field Level Media