Utah nails game-winning field goal as time expires in their 34-32 win over USC

USC Trojans #13 Caleb Williams looking down field for an open receiver. Photo by Skylar Blackmon/TGSportstv1.

 LOS ANGELES, CA – Caleb Williams sat alone and dejected on the bench for minutes after the Utah Utes (6-1) made the game-winning field goal as time expired in their 34-32 win over the USC Trojans (6-2) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

This was the Utes’ third win over the Trojans in the past two seasons. Williams and his Trojans watched both back-to-back Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff hopes fade away as Cole Becker’s game-winning field goal kick sailed through the uprights. 

Williams had a subpar game by his Heisman standards throwing for 256 yards with no passing touchdowns. Utah’s backup quarterback Bryson Barnes; a former walk-on, threw for 235 yards with three touchdowns outdueling the projected No. 1 pick in next season's NFL draft.

Utah struck quickly out the gate with Sione Vaki leaving Trojan defenders in his dust on a 52-yard catch-and-run touchdown for the early 7-0 lead less than 90 seconds into the game.

The Trojans responded minutes later with running back Marshawn Lloyd bursting straight up the middle of the Utes defense for a 45-yard touchdown run tying the game 7-7 four minutes into the game.

Both teams would score touchdown runs later in the quarter tying the game 14-14 at the end of the first quarter. The defenses stepped up in the scoreless second quarter as the teams headed into halftime tied at 14 apiece.

Barnes led Utah on a five-and-a-half-minute drive down the field culminating with a six-yard touchdown strike to Landen King for the 21-14 lead with 7:30 remaining in the third quarter.

After recovering a Trojan fumble on their next drive, Vaki snagged a 15-yard catch from Brynes for the touchdown giving Utah a 28-14 lead.

With the Trojan offense sputtering, their defense stepped up with a huge Calen Bullock pick-six to cut the lead to 28-23. The Trojans attempted a two-point conversion to try to make it a one-field goal game but failed.

USC Trojans #79 De’jon Benton (DL) making a tackle on an running back from the Utah Utes. Photo by Skylar Blackmon/TGSportstv1.

Following a pair of field goals by both teams, freshman phenom Zachariah Branch returned a deep punt 61 yards giving USC hope. Caleb Williams took matters into his own hands the very next play scrambling for an 11-yard touchdown run as the Coliseum erupted with a thunderous celebration it hasn’t seen in weeks. The score gave the Trojans a 32-31 lead with 1:46 remaining in the game.

With the game in the balance, Brynes was driving down the field but on a crucial incomplete third-down pass that would’ve seen Utah facing a fourth down outside of field goal range, USC’s Bear Alexander was flagged for a roughing the passer penalty. After review, the play was upgraded to a Targeting ejection as the 6’3”, 315-pound defensive lineman found himself choking back tears on the sideline as the Utes received newfound life. 

Brynes then scrambled for 26 yards before being tackled hard at the USC 19-yard line with 16 seconds remaining. Brynes' jersey was a mixture of sweat, grass, and dirt after the play but that gritty run put his team in position for the win.

“It was a dropback pass and it just wasn’t there,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “He saw the opening in the pass rush lanes and took it.”

Becker then nailed the pressure-packed 38-yard field goal as time expired leaving Trojan fans and players stunned.

USC #4 Mario Williams (WR) caught a pass from Caleb Williams for 18 yards by outrunning the Utah Utes #21 Karene Reid (LB). Photo by Skylar Blackmon/TGSportstv1.

Williams went through a range of dejected emotions on the USC bench as time expired. He lingered on the bench for minutes with numerous players trying to lift his spirits and get him up before he finally left the field exasperated, minutes later.

“It was as gut-wrenching a defeat as I can remember in my career,” said Trojan coach Lincoln Riley.

While Brynes led the final drive and Becker kicked the winning field goal, the true hero for the Utes was Vaki. The sophomore stud played both safeties on defense and running back on offense, making key tackles, runs, receptions, and a pair of touchdowns for Utah.

“That was our blueprint, what you saw tonight,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. “Sion Vaki had nearly 220 yards of offense, 70 rushing and 150 receiving.”                                                

The Trojans now head up north to Berkeley to face California (3-4) at the California Memorial Stadium next Saturday.