Devon Dampier ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns and No. 10 Utah held off No. 14 Houston 21-13 on Saturday night to keep the Utes among the dwindling unbeatens.
asserted
Utah → run → unbeatens
Dampier completed 18 of 26 passes for 204 yards with two interceptions, but made the biggest plays with his legs to help Utah (7-0, 4-0 Big 12) run the longest active winning streak in college football to 13 games.
asserted
Utah → complete → games
Trailing 10-0, Dampier told Utah coach Morgan Scalley not to worry.
asserted
Dampier → trail → Scalley
“He’s our guy and I’m so proud of his fight in the second half,” Scalley said.
asserted
Scalley → ’ → half
“We’re down but he’s just got all the confidence in the world and that’s what you want.”
asserted
you → ’re → what
Jackson Bennee sacked Conner Weigman, and Jireh Moe recovered on the Houston 9 with 2:15 remaining.
asserted
Moe → sack → 2:15
“When you blitz and you’re hitting the quarterback, it feels too good to be true so that was fun of sure,” Bennee said of the blitz that was reserved for that key play down the stretch.
asserted
that → blitz → stretch
On the next play, Dampier scampered into the end zone to make it 20-13.
asserted
it → scamper → zone
Weigman, who went 19 for 35 and had 282 yards passing, drove the Cougars (6-2, 3-2) to the Utah 23, but threw four straight incompletions.
asserted
who → go → incompletions
“Left too many plays out there,” Weigman said.
asserted
Weigman → leave → plays
The Cougars stuffed all the ways Utah likes to run the ball until Dampier took matters into his own hands and posted a season high in rushing in electrifying style.
asserted
Dampier → stuff → style
“Today was one of those games where my legs were needed., just the way they play defense.
asserted
they → need → defense
I’m never scared to tote the rock if that’s I got to do to win the game for my team,” Dampier said.
asserted
Dampier → ’m → team
The Utes were driving to try and add to their slim cushion but Latreveon McCutchin intercepted Dampier’s pass at the Houston 34.
asserted
McCutchin → drive → 34
Aided by Jireh Moe’s sack, Utah forced a three-and-out.
asserted
Utah → aid → out
Utah’s defense, especially late, was key to the Utes staying clean and joining Miami and UCLA as the only teams without a loss in college football.
asserted
Utes → stay → football
“We knew what was on the line with this game; it hurts,” said Houston’s Amare Thomas, who tied his season high with 133 yards on five receptions.
asserted
who → know → receptions
Utah’s Wayshawn Parker, who was stymied most of the game, took a direct snap and bolted 5 yards into the end zone to give Utah its first lead 14-13 with 11:57 to play.
asserted
who → stymie → 11:57
Jonathan Dimas made a 47-yard field with 2:17 left in the third quarter to put Houston up 10-0 before Dampier ran for a 22-yard touchdown — accounting for all 75 yards with three rushes and two completions on the drive.
asserted
Dampier → make → drive
On the opening drive of the second half, Makhi Hughes capped a 15-play, 75-yard drive that chewed 8:14 of the clock with a 2-yard touchdown plunge for the Cougars.
asserted
that → cap → Cougars
The Cougars couldn’t convert on fourth-and-goal in the first quarter but Dimas kicked a 24-yard field goal with 3:44 left in the second quarter to give Houston a 3-0 lead.
asserted
Dimas → convert → lead
Utah’s most successful drive ended at the halftime break when Dillon Curtis missed a 34-yard field goalie to a sloppy snap-and-hold.
asserted
Curtis → end → snap
The fruitless foray capped the first scoreless half for the Utes since a 13-7 loss to TCU on Oct. 19, 2024.
asserted
foray → cap → Oct.
The Cougars stood toe-to-toe with Utah until the fourth quarter, when they faced more pressure and couldn’t get the stops they were getting all game.
asserted
they → stand → stops
Coupled with their slim loss to Texas Tech, Houston is just a few plays away from the top of the Big 12.
asserted
Houston → couple → 12
In front of their 100th straight sellout, the Utes took a while to get going and their misdirection offense didn’t seem to be fooling any Houston defenders.
asserted
offense → take → defenders
Dampier, whose two picks put Utah’s win streak in jeopardy, still played the hero as he made big play after big play when it mattered most.
asserted
it → put → play
Up next
Houston: Hosts Cincinnati on Nov. 7.
asserted
Houston → host → Nov.
The Aporia
