USU, Utah Utes football: Utes' defense overwhelms Aggies

LOGAN — In the first three minutes of Saturday night's game, the Utah defense gave up 24 yards and a touchdown.

In the final three minutes, playing their second- and third-teamers, the Utes allowed 42 yards, including 31 on one play.

And in between, the Utes gave up less than a yard a minute, allowing the Aggies just 50 total yards and a field goal during the other 54 minutes of play. It was a dominating defensive performance by the Utes.

"I thought we played very well all night on defense," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "I don't know what we finished with, but any time you can hold a team to around 100 yards, that's exceptional defense."

Leading the way for the Utes was defensive end Paul Kruger, who spent as much time in the Aggie backfield as their two quarterbacks. He ended up tying a school record with four sacks and also had a tackle for a loss, deflected a pass and forced a fumble.

"Paul just played fantastic," said U. defensive coordinator Gary Andersen. "He had great speed and athleticism to the ball. I was worried because of the athleticism of their quarterback (Diondre Borel), but we had him corralled for most of the game."

Kruger had three sacks in the first half alone and forced a fumble deep in USU territory, setting up Utah's fifth score of the day, a 24-yard field goal by Louie Sakoda midway through the second quarter.

Kruger also almost scored a safety in the first quarter when he stormed through the line and caught USU quarterback Sean Setzer, tackling him at the goal line. Although Setzer was in the end zone, he was ruled down on the 1-yard line. Kruger's other sack came on the last play of the first half when he dropped Borel for a 7-yard loss.

In the second half, on consecutive plays, Kruger sacked Setzer for a loss and then hit the quarterback as he tried to pass, sending the ball to the turf.

Asked afterward about his performance, Kruger gave the credit to others.

"The coaches prepared us well," he said.

As for his sacks, he said, "It creates a lot of opportunity when you have other defensive linemen doing a great job of making him scramble and make him hold onto the ball longer than he should. Give a lot of credit to the corners and the safeties covering the receivers and making it possible to get in the backfield and be a part of the play."