Utes win Sugar Bowl, cap perfect season

NEW ORLEANS — The Utah football team is the only undefeated team in the nation for the 2008 football season after upsetting No. 4 Alabama on Friday night in the Sugar Bowl before 71,872 fans at the Louisiana Superdome.

The Utes, ranked No. 6 in the final BCS standings, completed a 13-0 season with a 31-17 victory over the favored Crimson Tide. It marked Utah's eighth straight bowl victory, best in the nation, dating back to 1999.

As the final seconds ticked off, the large Utah contingent chanted "Un-de-feat-ed!"

After taking a 21-10 halftime lead, the Utes turned the ball over on the first play of the second half when Brian Johnson had the ball slip out of his hand. Alabama scored in seven plays on a pass from John Parker Wilson to Glen Coffee to cut the lead to 21-17 with 11:41 left in the third quarter.

The Utes responded, however, driving 71 yards in 1:37, with Johnson hitting David Reed on a 28-yard pass, as Reed broke a tackle near the 15 and rambled into the end zone to make it 28-17.

The Ute defense, which sacked Wilson six times, held the Crimson Tide the rest of the way.

Utah kicker Louie Sakoda added a 28-yard field goal with 2:49 left to cap the scoring.

Thanks to a quick offensive burst and some stout defense, Utah grabbed a 21-10 halftime lead.

Utah jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead behind the passing of Johnson, who completed 10-of-14 passes for 139 yards in the first quarter alone and 15-of-22 in the first half for 181 yards.

The Utes came out firing, with Johnson throwing five straight passes to five different receivers out of a no-huddle offense. It took the Utes just 1:19 to get in the end zone the first time.

Johnson hit Jereme Brooks for 19 yards, Darrell Mack for 14 and Bradon Godfrey for 22 more. That put the Utes on the 13-yard line, where after a 6-yard pass to Freddie Brown, Johnson found Casteel down the left sideline for a touchdown.

After an interception by Utah's Robert Johnson at the Alabama 32, the Utes took just five plays to score again, with Matt Asiata going the final two yards for the score to make it 14-0.