Aztecs Downed at No. 14 Utah, 35-7

SALT LAKE CITY -- Cam Rising threw for 224 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in three quarters to help No. 14/15 Utah beat San Diego State, 35-7, on Saturday night.  

After being held scoreless in their first four possessions following a 73-7 win the previous week over Southern Utah, the Utes (2-1) scored a touchdown on five straight possessions in the second and third quarter. Utah forced a pair of turnovers and scored touchdowns following both takeaways.  

The Utes outgained the Aztecs (1-2), 398-173, including a 224-60, advantage through the air. Over the final three quarters, Utah totaled 309 yards and five touchdowns.  

SDSU lost starting quarterback Braxton Burmeister to an eye injury in the first quarter and never got on track offensively. San Diego State failed to convert a third down until midway through the third quarter and only had one first down at the half.  

True freshman and third-string quarterback Kyle Crum directed the Aztecs for most of the final three quarters, throwing for 53 yard and an 18-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Nicholson late in the fourth quarter. He also had an interception.  

The touchdown pass by Krum and catch by Nicholson were both the first of their careers.  

Rising threw touchdown passes on three consecutive drives to help the Utes take a 21-0 halftime lead. He got Utah on the board with a 30-yard strike to Brant Kuithe. His second touchdown pass was a 13-yard toss to Solomon Enis in the back of the end zone. Rising capped it off with a 15-yard pass to Devaughn Vele with 20 seconds left in the half after Aaron Greene fumbled a kickoff at the Aztecs 27.  

Karene Reid picked off Krum to start the third quarter, which led to an 18-yard touchdown run by Tavion Thomas.  

After a three-and-out by SDSU, Rising found Vele for a 3-yard strike for the final score of the game for the Utes with 7:34 left in the third quarter.  

Dez Malone and Jonah Tavai led San Diego State with six tackles apiece, while Michael Shawcroft had five tackles, a 15-yard sack and a pass breakup.  

The Aztec defense held the high-powered Utah offense scoreless in the first quarter, snapping a streak of 16 consecutive quarters with a point.  

SDSU had its five-game road winning streak snapped, which was the third-longest active streak in the country, and fell to 7-4 against the Pac-12 since the start of 2016.  

Utah, meanwhile, won its 10th straight home game and improved to 21 of its last 22 at Rice-Eccles Stadium, which sold out for the 72nd consecutive game.