GAME RECAP: Devon Dampier Runs No. 11 Utah Past No. 15 Houston 21–13 at Rice-Eccles Stadium

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Rice-Eccles Stadium waited 40 minutes for a Utah touchdown. Devon Dampier made it worth the wait.

No. 11 Utah trailed 10–0 in the third quarter, then scored three rushing touchdowns and turned a late Houston fumble into the clincher in a 21–13 win over No. 15 Houston. The Utes improved to 7–0 (4–0 Big 12). The No. 15 Cougars dropped to 6–2 (3–2).

It was a defensive game early. Houston went 70 yards on its second drive but turned it over on downs at the Utah 3 when J. Chenault Jr. broke up Conner Weigman’s fourth-down pass. Utah answered with a 12-play, 70-yard drive, but Kentrell Webb intercepted Dampier in the end zone early in the second quarter. Houston then went 15 plays and 74 yards over 7:44, and Jonathan Dimas hit a 24-yard field goal with 3:44 left in the half. The Cougars led 3–0. Utah moved 76 yards in 34 seconds before halftime, but Dillon Curtis missed a 34-yard field goal as time expired. It stayed 3–0 Houston at the half.

Houston took the second-half kickoff and went 15 plays, 75 yards in 8:14. A Utah pass interference penalty set up first-and-goal at the 2, and Makhi Hughes scored from 2 yards out with 6:46 left in the third. Dimas’ kick made it 10–0. Utah answered immediately. Dampier capped a five-play, 75-yard drive with a 22-yard touchdown run with 4:25 left. Curtis’ kick made it 10–7. Dimas drilled a 47-yard field goal with 2:17 left in the third, and the Cougars led 13–7.

Utah went 80 yards in 10 plays on the next drive. A Wayshawn Parker touchdown catch was wiped out by an ineligible-man-downfield penalty, but Parker caught a 13-yard pass to the 5 on the next play and scored from 5 yards out with 11:57 left. Curtis’ kick gave Utah its first lead at 14–13. Latreveon McCutchin intercepted Dampier at the Houston 34 on Utah’s next drive. Then the game flipped for good. Jackson Bennee sacked Weigman for an 11-yard loss and forced a fumble, and Jireh Moe recovered at the Houston 9. Dampier scored on a 9-yard run on the next play with 2:09 left. Curtis’ kick made it 21–13. Houston drove 52 yards in eight plays, but Weigman’s fourth-down pass for Koby Young fell incomplete. Utah ran out the clock.

Dampier ran 15 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns and went 18-of-26 for 204 yards with two interceptions. Parker added 13 carries for 47 yards and a touchdown plus four catches for 46 yards. Utah finished with 430 total yards (204 passing, 226 rushing) despite two turnovers. Houston had 368 total yards and one turnover. Weigman went 19-of-35 for 282 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Amare Thomas caught five passes for 133 yards, including a 56-yarder. Hughes ran 19 times for 52 yards and the score. Houston ran 31 times for 86 yards and went 0-for-2 on fourth down.

Houston outgained Utah through the air and still lost, because it settled for field goals and came up empty twice on fourth down. Utah’s defense made the one play that mattered, and Dampier did the rest with his legs.

Player of the Game: Devon Dampier. 15 carries for 150 yards and two touchdowns, including the 9-yard clincher with 2:09 left, plus 204 passing yards on 18-of-26.

Utah stays unbeaten and goes on the road to face Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium next week. Houston has a bye next week before hosting Cincinnati at TDECU Stadium.