Return fire: Utes quiet Cowboys with major rout

Wyoming coach Joe Glenn's "guarantee" of a victory was backed Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium — by Utah.

The Utes used the remarks as motivation in a 50-0 victory over the Cowboys. They've now won six straight games, and at 7-3 overall and 4-2 in Mountain West Conference play are assured of a fifth consecutive winning season.

"Things are rolling for us right now," wide receiver Derrek Richards said. "This game is a testimony to that. We're playing really well right now."

So well, in fact, that Poinsettia Bowl representative Larry Baber left the game saying he was "very impressed" with the Utes.

And he wasn't alone.

In his postgame remarks, Glenn had plenty of praise for Utah. He also had something to say about guaranteeing a Wyoming win — comments made at a luncheon Monday.

"I got emotional last week and got my Irish mouth going and made the guarantee," Glenn said. "It was probably not a good idea. I wouldn't do it again. Find the crow and I'll eat it."

Glenn said he didn't remember making an obscene hand gesture at Utah in the midst of the lopsided game. He acknowledged, however, that coaches do get emotional on the sidelines.

The Utes racked up 505 yards of total offense while holding the Cowboys to just 122. In a twist of irony from last season's 31-15 loss in Laramie, where quarterback Brett Ratliff was sacked six times, Utah's defense matched the number of sacks. Defensive lineman Gabe Long led the way with three.

The Utes forced five turnovers in snapping Wyoming's streak of 42 consecutive games without being shut out.

"We had a bad taste in our mouth after last year's loss," said safety Steve Tate, who picked off a pass in the first half. "Our main goal was to come out and play as a team. I think this was our best performance this year. We're playing with confidence right now."

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham credited his team's preparation.

"A solid game today. I'm very pleased with the way the players handled themselves during the bye week," he said. "Wyoming came in with a stingy defense. We did a nice job moving the ball and we made first downs."

The Utes made 22 of them to be exact. Quarterback Brian Johnson, who completed 17-of-29 passes, directed an offense that wound up with 278 yards on the ground and 227 in the air against the MWC's top-ranked defense.