Bryson Barnes was already something of a Utah football folk hero.
If he keeps this up, he’ll be bigger than that.
The former walk-on, starting in place of senior Cam Rising, didn’t bother playing it safe on his first play from scrimmage. The Milford High star went deep to Money Parks for a 70-yard touchdown to put the Utes up 7-0 early at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Barnes may be the most unheralded of the Utes’ quarterbacks. But as our columnist Andy Larsen pointed out this week, he’s good with a deep ball.
If you’re still unfamiliar with Barnes’ story, check out this profile ahead of last year’s Rose Bowl.
Final: Utah 24, Florida 11
Kyle Whittingham and the Utes didn’t have their starting QB.
But they got their revenge.
The Utes beat the Florida Gators, the first SEC opponent to ever visit Rice-Eccles Stadium, 24-11.
Quarterback Cam Rising did not suit up, but backups Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson shared the duties to lead the Utes to victory.
“This team’s got a lot of grit,” Whittingham said. “Next man up mentality. Couldn’t be prouder of these guys. Bryson Barnes, Nate Johnson did what we needed them to do. It wasn’t pretty at the end there; we kind of let them back in. But we got the victory. On to the next one.”
Gators cross the goalline
Florida has found the end zone in the fourth quarter. Graham Mertz found Caleb Douglas for a 19-yard score, capping a 13-play drive that spanned 6:54.
After a two-point conversion, it’s 24-11 with 9:22 to play.
Florida mistakes mount
First, the Utes pinned the Gators deep.
Then, Utah safety Sione Vaki executes the tip drill to perfection.
And finally, it’s Bryson Barnes’ turn to show off his wheels.
It’s 24-3 early in the third quarter.
Halftime: Utah 17, Florida 3
A Cole Becker 51-yard field goal gave the Utes three more points in the second quarter. But Utah might be lamenting its missed opportunity: a trick play that saw wide receiver Devaughn Vele just narrowly overthrow Micah Bernard down the sideline.
Either way, the Utes have a lead at the break.
In his TV interview, head coach Kyle Whittingham expressed his pleasure with his backup quarterbacks so far.
“They’re both doing a nice job taking care of the football. Nate’s doing exactly what we hoped he would with the run game. Probably need to get him more involved with that.”
On that opening touchdown: “We’ve opened up fairly conservatively the past several years so we thought let’s change it up this year.”
A bit of bad news: Whittingham said it’s “doubtful” Karene Reid could return in the second half.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes running back Micah Bernard (2) congratulates Utah Utes quarterback Nate Johnson (13) after he scored a touchdown, in football action between the Utah Utes and the Florida Gators at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023.
Nate breaks one
And Nate Johnson has delivered.
The redshirt freshman quarterback breaks a 27-yard run for the Utes’ second touchdown of the game. It’s a score Utah can thank the Gators for: they were flagged for having two players wearing No. 3 jerseys on the field during a punt, giving the Utes a first down.
Credit the MUSS
Twice now, the Gators have had false starts kill drives. Both times, they’ve been on the stadium’s south end.
The Utes managed to keep Graham Mertz short of the line on third down and then the MUSS did its work to help force a false start.
To top things off, the Gators pushed the field goal wide right.
It’s still 7-3.
Q1: Utah 7, Florida 3
A Jonah Elliss sack forced the Gators to settle for a field goal in the first quarter. But Florida is threatening again as the quarter comes to an end. Florida QB Graham Mertz looks like he’s getting more comfortable — especially with Utah’s star linebacker Karene Reid on the sideline and reportedly being evaluated for a head injury.
Bryson Barnes will start for Utah
For a while now, it seemed a long shot Cam Rising would be ready for the Utes’ season opener. So far, it’s been backups Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson on the field during warmups.
(Eric Walden | The Salt Lake Tribune) With Cam Rising still recovering from ACL surgery, backup quarterbacks Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson were prominent figures on the field at Rice-Eccles Stadium during warmups on Thursday night.
Rising and tight end Brant Kuithe, who has not yet been cleared for full practice, are both in street clothes at the stadium.
A big roar
The U. put a seismograph station in Rice-Eccles Stadium tonight and it hasn’t disappointed so far.
How to watch Utah vs. Florida
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fans line up as the Utah Utes arrive to face the Florida Gators, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023.
Tonight’s game is on ESPN and streaming on WatchESPN.
But if you’re looking for more info about this showdown between the Utes and Gators, we’ve got you covered here.
