Byline: Associated Press
LAS VEGAS -- With a methodical rushing attack and an overwhelming defensive effort, Utah won the Las Vegas Bowl exactly the way Ron McBride always hoped his team would play this season.
Adam Tate rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Utah's defense limited Southern Cal to one yard rushing as the Utes cleaned up in Las Vegas for the second time in three years, beating the Trojans, 10-6, on Tuesday.
McBride, soaked from a Gatorade dousing, led the cheers and the school fight song after the Utes controlled the ball over the final 5:43 with a poise they didn't show while blowing fourth-quarter leads against Brigham Young and Air Force in their final two regular-season games.
''We were under a lot of criticism for the Air Force and BYU games, but adversity is what I like,'' McBride said. ''I was determined that we were going to come down here and win this game. We needed this. We played with the ultimate determination.''
The Utes (8-4) won with their defense, which embarrassed USC's strong offense. The Trojans (6-6), who had their four-game winning streak snapped, finished with 151 total yards.
After scoring its only touchdown on the first possession of the second half, USC didn't get across the Utah 40-yard line for the rest of the day as linebacker Sheldon Deckart and the Utes' defense, missing two starters, dominated.
''We let them come right at us, and we stopped them,'' Deckart said. ''It was a big part of our game plan to make big plays, and then keep making big plays.''
Southern California, which entered the game hoping to build for a run at the Pacific-10 title next season, instead found nearly its every move thwarted by a Utah game plan that seemed to anticipate every trick in head coach Pete Carroll's store.
The Trojans didn't manage to accumulate positive rushing yardage until midway through the fourth quarter. Carson Palmer, who was 15-of-26 for 150 yards, missed open receivers and saw other passes dropped.
''I don't think they thought we were comparable to them,'' McBride said. ''They didn't think we were in the same league. They were destroying teams in the last five weeks of the season . . . but it's a funny game.''
UTAH7 3 0 0-10
USC0 0 6 0- 6
First Quarter
Utah-Tate 3 run (Kaneshiro kick), 5:26.
Second Quarter
Utah-FG Kaneshiro 26, :29.
Third Quarter
USC-Byrd 1 run (kick failed), 10:03.
A-30,894.
UTAHUSC
First downs 2012
Rushes-yards 54-22225-1
Passing 136150
Comp-Att-Int 12-21-115-26-0
Return Yards 860
Punts-Avg. 6-38.08-37.8
Fumbles-Lost 1-11-0
Penalties-Yards 10-956-47
Time of Possession 38:0121:59
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Utah, Tate 23-103, Hunter 17-94, Russell 2-15, Ita'Aehau 1-7, Houston 1-3, Rice 6-1, D.Smith 1-1, Fortune 1-1, team 2-(minus 3). USC, Byrd 10-31, Howard 3-14, Poston 3-12, Hale 1-8, team 2-(minus 13), Palmer 6-(minus-51).
PASSING-Utah, Rice 12-21-1-136. USC, Palmer 15-26-0-150.
RECEIVING-Utah, Lyman 4-41, Richardson 3-35, D.Smith 2-24, Russell 2-19, Houston 1-17. USC, Kelly 3-33, Pitts 3-32, Colbert 2-38, Holmes 2-16, Dickerson 2-8, Hale 1-13, Byrd 1-8, Landrigan 1-2.
CAPTION(S):
photo
The Associated Press-Utah's C.R. Dwinell sacks Southern California quarterback Carson Palmer during the second quarter of the Las Vegas Bowl. Utah beat the Trojans, 10-6.
