Utah Utes football: Few turnovers key in Utah victories

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah won more than its first Pac-12 game Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The 27-8 victory over Oregon State also included a triumph in the turnover battle.

The Utes intercepted three passes and recovered a fumble en route to a 4-1 advantage in takeaways. A week earlier, however, they were on the short end of a 4-0 turnover margin in a 34-10 loss to California.

"If we can possess the football we've got a chance to win," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "That's been the storyline of the season."

The ups and downs are reflected in Utah's 3-0 non-conference record and 1-4 Pac-12 mark. Getting over the .500 mark overall though, will require consistency. The Utes visit Arizona on Saturday.

"Hopefully we'll put back-to-back games together," Whittingham said. "We'll find out."

Quarterback Jon Hays noted that the Utes are just trying to be smart with the football. He credits offensive coordinator Norm Chow for helping them bounce back this week.

"We've just got to keep progressing. We've got to go out and keep the turnovers to a minimum," Hays said before praising the defense. "They're going to keep us in any game with any team in the nation."

Both aspects are part of a blueprint Whittingham envisions for success down the stretch. The Utes, he detailed, need to play great defense, play very good special teams, take care of the football on offense and score in the red zone.

All phases contributed in the win over the Beavers.

"I think part of the frustration on our side is that we know we are capable of coming out and playing like this. But it's just words when you don't come out and perform," said wide receiver DeVonte Christopher. " So next week we've just got to come out and do the same thing and that just starts in practice —day-by-day-by-day."

Whittingham noted that a point of emphasis last week was playing with "passion and energy" throughout the entire football game.

"I think our guys did a good job of that," he said after the big emotional swing from the lopsided loss at Cal.

Besides issuing the challenge to step things up, the coaching staff also lightened the load on Hays.