3 takeaways from Utah’s more-eventful-than-expected victory over Baylor

Midway through the second quarter, everything was humming along for Utah football against Baylor on Saturday.

The Utes had scored on offense and special teams, and their defense had set up a touchdown and stifled the Baylor offense.

Then, Cam Rising was hurt and the complexion of the game changed.

The Utes still won 23-12, keeping the Bears from seriously challenging after Utah scored the game’s first 23 points, but the game leaves the Utes with several questions after a victory that moves them to 2-0 heading into their final nonconference game next week.

What is Utah’s quarterback situation after Cam Rising’s injury?

You could feel the collective energy deflate in Rice-Eccles Stadium when Utah’s senior quarterback exited the game near the end of the first half.

Rising left the game with an apparent right hand injury with 1:47 remaining until halftime after he was pushed out of bounds at the end of a play in Baylor territory.

He went to the medical tent and then to the locker room and was replaced by true freshman Isaac Wilson. Rising was in street clothes on the sideline during the second half and had his middle and ring fingers taped together on his right, throwing hand.

Following the game, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham did not have an update on the severity of Rising’s injury and his availability moving foward, while adding he was told it’s “not real serious.”

“Can’t tell you the exact description. He may be back this week. We’ll see,” the coach said.

Rising completed 8 of 14 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game. He also had two carries for 21 yards.

Wilson completed 4 of 9 passes for 30 yards over all or part of six possessions, though Utah never scored while he was on the field. Cole Becker missed field goals to end two of those drives, though.

Whittingham complimented Wilson on his play — “he looked much more comfortable and much more in charge,” the coach said — and noted that Wilson did not turn the ball over.

The Utes hit the road for the next two games, wrapping up nonconference play at Utah State next Saturday followed by their Big 12 opener at Oklahoma State on Sept. 21.

“I’ve got to (be) ready. I’ve got to be there for my team,” Wilson said, if he’s called on again. “I think I could have helped the defense moving the ball just a little bit more.”

Defense rules the day

It’s been common theme for Utah during the Whittingham era, but the Utes leaned on another stingy defensive effort to subdue Baylor.

“Defense played lights out,” Whittingham said, while praising his team for giving up just 223 yards of total offense. “... In this day and age of college football, that outstanding defense.”

Baylor quarterback Dequan Finn, a talented dual-threat transfer from Toledo, had a rough outing throwing the ball, finishing just 9 of 21 for 115 yards with one touchdown.

His first-quarter fumble on a strip sack deep in Bears territory set up the second of quick back-to-back Utah touchdowns to build a 14-0 lead.

After Finn’s fumble — which resulted in a 22-yard loss — it took until midway through the second quarter before Baylor was back in positive territory in total offensive yards.

Whittingham praised the defensive effort of two of his pass rushers, Connor O’Toole and Van Fillinger. O’Toole had seven tackles and two sacks — his first sack led to the first turnover of the game — while Fillinger had five tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss.

Special teams and running game need work

With Utah’s passing game largely stalled after Rising’s exit, Utah leaned heavily on its rushing attack to move the ball to help keep Baylor from seriously threatening in the second half.

Micah Bernard, in particular, had a nice game for the Utes, finishing with 118 rushing yards and a receiving touchdown.

Still, Whittingham would like to see more out of that part of the Utes’ offense.

“We’re still not running the football as well as we can,” he said on a day where Utah put up 170 rushing yards on 4.6 yards per carry.

Special teams, too, was a mixed bag that leaned more towards the “needs work” category.

Tao Johnson returned a blocked field goal 77 yards for a touchdown — the first blocked field goal for a score since 1999 for the Utes — but Becker missed two field goals from 40-plus yards, and Whittingham said, “Special teams was a disappointment.”

The next chance to improve on these early-season struggles is next week, when Utah will play Utah State for the first time since 2015.