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By Ellis Williams
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Utah Utes quarterback Devon Dampier added an unexpected job to his rivalry-game workload Saturday.
With the offense facing fourth-and-1 in the third quarter, he became a receiver and hauled in a 29-yard pass to extend the possession.
The Utes needed more than their early two-touchdown lead to put away the BYU Cougars. A 20-14 halftime deficit forced Utah to rally, and Dampier helped finish the turnaround in a 28-20 victory that kept his team unbeaten.
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His catch put an unusual finishing touch on a four-touchdown performance. Utah identified Dampier as the second FBS player in the past 30 seasons with multiple passing touchdowns, multiple rushing touchdowns and at least 25 receiving yards in one game. Navy Midshipmen quarterback Jackson Gutierrez accomplished the same feat earlier this season.
Dampier completed 14 of 26 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Both scoring throws went to Utah wide receiver Braden Pegan, who finished with five catches for 86 yards. Dampier also reached the end zone on runs of 22 and three yards.
“First and foremost, he’s a great leader,” Pegan said after the victory. “He’s very vocal. He’s very well spoken.”
Pegan credited Dampier’s preparation and clear communication for making him easy to follow. Utah head coach Morgan Scalley also pointed to the quarterback’s growth in handling adversity, describing a player better able to move past mistakes and lead teammates through difficult stretches.
The highlight catch did not immediately produce points. That possession ended with a missed field goal, and Utah had to wait until its next drive for Dampier’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Pegan to restore the lead. His three-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter then provided the final margin.
Utah’s defense protected it by shutting out BYU in the second half and finishing with four interceptions. Dampier’s versatility on offense was one part of a win that moved the Utes to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the Big 12, keeping their unbeaten season intact after another close rivalry test.
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