Quarterback Devon Dampier totaled 224 yards on offense and ran for three touchdowns to lead Utah to a 42-10 victory over No. 21 Arizona State on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.
The Utes (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) earned their first home victory over a Big 12 opponent since joining the league last season. Led by 120 yards on 10 carries from Dampier, Utah racked up 276 rushing yards and ran for six touchdowns against the Sun Devils, the most in a single game for the Utes since running for six scores in a 52-7 win over Stanford in 2021.
Arizona State (4-2, 2-1) saw an eight-game winning streak in Big 12 play come to an end in the absence of starting quarterback Sam Leavitt. Jeff Sims got the start after Leavitt sat out with a right foot injury. Sims totaled 176 yards on offense, completing 18 of 38 passes for 124 yards and gaining 52 yards on 21 carries.
Dampier, who rushed for touchdowns of 12, 24 and 9 yards, also was 7-of-12 passing for 104 yards.
Utah literally ran away from Arizona State in the first half. The Utes racked up 183 yards and three touchdowns on the ground by halftime while averaging 7.6 yards per carry.
Dampier scored Utah’s first two touchdowns on the ground. He cut off-tackle and sprinted 12 yards into the end zone to cap off the Utes’ opening 14-play, 75-yard drive. Early in the second quarter, Dampier faked a handoff and raced 24 yards to put Utah up 14-3.
Arizona State’s only first-half points came via Jesus Gomez’s 38-yard field goal. The Sun Devils tried to make it a one-score game on a 29-yard attempt from Gomez late in the second quarter. Jackson Bennee leapt over the line and blocked the field goal to keep Utah’s 11-point cushion intact.
NaQuari Rogers ran 22 yards to punctuate the ensuing drive and extend the Utes’ lead to 21-3 going into halftime.
The Sun Devils had an advantage in first half time of possession, holding the ball nearly 18 minutes. That didn’t translate to offensive success. Arizona State averaged just 3.1 yards per play over the first two quarters.
Rogers’ second touchdown, a 2-yard run off an extended option pitch, put Utah ahead 28-3 early in the third quarter.
