Sept. 17, 2017
San Jose State postgame quotes
Salt Lake City, Utah----- Bryce Crawford kicked three field goals including a career-long 51-yarder and Bailey Gaither had a career night with eight receptions for 125 yards and San Jose State's only touchdown in a 54-16 non-conference loss to Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Crawford converted tries of 24 yards in the first quarter, 51 with 1:08 to go in the second and 38 in the fourth after going the Cal Poly and Texas games with a field goal try.
Gaither was on the receiving of a Josh Love pass of 47 yards with 46 seconds to go in the second quarter. The sophomore's fourth touchdown reception of the season drew San Jose State (1-3) to a 30-13 deficit. The two-play touchdown drive was set up by a Trevon Bierria interception -- the team's first of the season.
Love was the Spartans' third of four quarterbacks in the game. Starter Montel Aaron was forced to the sidelines late in the first quarter on a run out of the pocket towards the San Jose State sideline. Sam Allen replaced Aaron to finish out the series and was at quarterback the next two Spartan possessions.
By the time Love entered the game, Utah (3-0) was leading 23-3. The Utes got four touchdown passes from quarterback Tyler Huntley who completed 30-of-43 for a season-best 341 yards and rushed for 53 yards on 14 carries. Wide receiver Darren Carrington caught three of Huntley's scoring passes and finished with nine catches for 153 yards.
Collectively, San Jose State's quarterbacks were 17-of-35 with two interceptions for 233 yards and a touchdown. Aaron and Allen each completed 2-of-5 pass attempts. Allen was intercepted twice. Love was 13-of-25 for 183 yards and a touchdown. Michael Carrillo saw his first action of the season on the final series, but did not throw a pass.
Utah took advantage of the Spartans' season-high five turnovers on three fumbles and a pair of interceptions and turned them into 27 points.
The San Jose State defense held its own again in the first quarter on the road forcing Utah to settle for three Matt Gay field goals of 21, 56 and 51 yards to offset Crawford's 24-yarder for a 9-3 first-quarter lead.
Allen's first play as Aaron's replacement was a pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Sunia Tauteoli at the San Jose State 43. Six plays later, Huntley and Carrington connected from 7 yards out for the first touchdown of the game and a 16-3 Utah lead.
Carrington's 26-yard touchdown catch and a 5-yard run by running back Zack Moss gave the Utes a 30-3 advantage with 3:32 to go before halftime.
San Jose State was outgained, 501-263. The Spartans managed just 30 yard rushing against the Utah defense.
The Spartans play their second game against a Utah-based team in as many weeks when they open Mountain West play against Utah State, Saturday, September 23. Game time at CFECU Stadium is 4:30 p.m.