ND Irish continue Utes’ plummet

Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind.

Utah’s fall has been swift. From rapid-scoring offensive juggernaut, the Utes are suddenly a team that can do little right — two Saturdays in a row.

This time, in their first trip to South Bend, the Utes ran into an inspired Notre Dame and couldn’t even locate the end zone.

One week after a 47-7 thrashing from TCU, the 15th-ranked Utes played flat football and the timing could have not been worse.

The Irish controlled the lines, got two huge plays from their special teams and designed a solid, power-oriented game plan that allowed freshman quarterback Tommy Rees to be comfortable and effective. He threw three TD passes in his first start, two to Duval Kamara.

The result: a 28-3 Irish victory, their first over a ranked team since beating Penn State in 2006, ending an 11-game skid in those games. No wonder Notre Dame students poured onto the field to celebrate with the players when time ran out.

“We were riding high. Had eight in a row,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “Right now we’re not feeling real good about ourselves. I can tell you that. But nobody feels sorry for us. ... But right now we’re reeling a little bit.”

Notre Dame’s defense bottled up Utah — which came in averaging 41 points per game — and stopped the Utes from scoring in the second half after they reached the 6 and 12 on separate drives.

“The biggest factor in the game was our ineptness on offense,” Whittingham said

Utah managed a season-low 265 yards total offense and only 71 yards rushing. It was their lowest scoring game since being shut out by UNLV on Sept. 22, 2007.

The Utes have lost now two straight for the first time since dropping the first two of the 2007 season.

“I really don’t know what the issues are. Something has to be done. We have to change something and start heading in the right direction,” said Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn, who was 24 for 39 for 194 yards.