Utah held a 10-7 lead at the half, but things went south for its defense in the third quarter. Daniels connected with KU wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. for 34 yards. Several plays later, Daniels …
Elijah “Scooby” Davis watched the eyes of the quarterback, as Jalon Daniels dropped back in the pocket.
The Kansas quarterback then launched the ball toward his receiver, running a flat route.
But Davis had other plans.
The Ute cornerback jumped the route, intercepted the pass and the rest was history: 97 yards later, Davis found pay dirt and gave his Utes a 24-14 lead with 8:05 remaining.
After a sluggish performance on both sides of the football, No. 13 Utah’s three interceptions against Daniels proved the difference in its 31-21 victory over Kansas on Black Friday in Lawrence.
The Utes officially ended the regular season with a 10-2 record and a 7-2 mark in the Big 12.
Junior quarterback Devon Dampier was also a catalyst in the victory, finishing with 253 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 11 times for 50 rushing yards.
The Utes opened up the game with a 3-0 lead over the Jayhawks with 8:39 remaining in the first quarter after Smith Snowden intercepted KU quarterback Jalon Daniels for a 17-yard gain.
Kansas running back Daniel Hishaw responded with a 7-yard rushing touchdown with 12:03 remaining in the second quarter. The score gave the Jayhawks a 7-3 lead.
Dampier and the Utah offense were finally able to find life a drive later, following a quiet first quarter. The junior quarterback found freshman tight end JJ Buchanan for a 58-yard touchdown reception.
Utah held a 10-7 lead at the half, but things went south for its defense in the third quarter. Daniels connected with KU wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. for 34 yards. Several plays later, Daniels sneaked forward for a 1-yard rushing score to retake a 14-10 lead with 8:16 remaining in the third quarter.
After recovering a Byrd Ficklin fumble and forcing a punt, Kansas appeared to be in the driver’s seat with 13:45 remaining. But once again, Daniels threw an interception, this time to defensive back Jackson Bennee in the end zone.
Dampier and the Ute offense led a four-play, 80-yard drive after Bennee’s pick, which was capped off by a 28-yard touchdown pass to Larry Simmons.
On the next series, Davis picked off Daniels for the 97-yard pick-six. The Jayhawks were able to stay in the contest, however, after Daniels found wide receiver Leyton Cure for a 21-yard touchdown.
Dampier and Simmons put the game on ice with a 48-yard touchdown, which gave the Utes a 31-21 lead with 2:14 left in the game. The touchdown was Dampier’s third passing score of the afternoon and 22nd of the regular season.
The Utes, however, were eliminated from Big 12 contention later Friday night when Arizona State lost to the Arizona Wildcats.
Source: Utah News