How they got here, the Utes are Pac-12 South Champions

*Exhales*

Finally.

The Utes are finally in the Pac-12 Championship. I'm not going to lie, it didn’t seem possible about two weeks ago after the Utes lost to Arizona State 38-20 and starting QB Tyler Huntley went down with a collarbone injury. And to make matters worse, later in the week Zach Moss had his knee seize up on him while getting out of bed costing him the rest of the 2018-19 season. The Utes were dead in the water and once again it looked as if the November football gods didn’t want the Utes to have success in the Pac-12, or so we thought.

First, the Utes had to face a very good Oregon Ducks team at home and then follow that up by playing Colorado on the road, which in years past never went the way the Utes needed it to. With Huntley and Moss out, most of Utes fans had given up on the season. Then, out of the darkness, Jason Shelley and Armand Shyne stepped up and took the fate of this team into their own hands.

In his first game as a starter, Shelley threw for 262 yards and rushed for 2 touchdowns while Shyne had 26 carries for 174 yards. On top of his already impressive yardage numbers, Shyne had two phenomenal break away runs which set the Utes up for two scores. It was a back and forth game and with just under 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. The Ducks blocked a punt which set up the go-ahead ahead touchdown to lead 25-22 with just a few minutes remaining. Again, the Utes were dead in the water. But then, to the surprise of many Ute fans, Shelley and company needed only 8 plays before they found themselves in the end zone for the game winning score. Final score: Utes 32, Ducks 25.

The following week, the Utes were in snowy Boulder, Colorado. The Buffaloes entered the game having lost fie straight after going 5-0 to start the season. So they were looking to turn the tide and get their 6th win to be bowl eligible. The snowy conditions didn’t stop the Utes as Utah dominated for most of the game. Shelley shined yet again as the freshman threw for 221 yards and two TD’s while Shyne ran for a strong 55 yards and a score. Final score: Utes 30, Buffs 7.

After the Utes took care of Colorado, they needed an ASU to lose to the Ducks to be crowned Pac-12 South Champions. Every single Utah fan became Oregon fans for a night and it all paid off as the Ducks narrowly escaped with a 31-29 victory, the Utes were the Champs. It only took eight years but they finally did it. Your Utah Utes are going to the ‘ship! See you all in Santa Clara.