Utah Utes football: Defense contains Nick Foles, Arizona offense

By Dirk Facer, Deseret News

Published: Saturday, Nov. 5 2011 10:55 p.m. MDT

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Arizona's Juron Criner (82) is dragged down by Utah's Mo Lee, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011. (AP Photo/John Miller)

Associated Press

Summary

Utah's defense picked off highly touted Arizona quarterback Nick Foles twice in Saturday's 34-21 victory. The Utes also sacked him on two occasions.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Utah's defense picked off highly touted Arizona quarterback Nick Foles twice in Saturday's 34-21 victory. The Utes also sacked him on two occasions.

"He's a great quarterback and you have to create a lot of pressure when you're dealing with any good quarterbacks," said Utah linebacker Matt Martinez. I think we did a good job of reading him and putting enough pressure to make him scramble around and throw some bad passes."

Although the senior was able to complete 25 throws for 326 yards, the Wildcats' three turnovers proved to be too much to overcome.

"Turnovers are a big deal. So the overall numbers of the game are kind of deceiving," Martinez noted. "You can have any amount of passing yards, but you can't win a game when you have three turnovers."

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gdog3finally

West Jordan, Utah

Defense is great. The offense is getting better, but still needs to keep the defense off the field more. Utah's national defense stats are amazing considering how much they are on the field and how many negative field position situations they are in. More..

1:53 a.m. Nov. 6, 2011
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meet me in the MUSS

Sandy, Utah

Where are all the trolls saying Utah would "lose by 35" and "give up 500 passing yards?" That aside, Utah controls its own destiny. The Utes could go to the Sun bowl if they win out, a bowl that pays out almost 4 times what the More..

11:52 a.m. Nov. 7, 2011
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