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Utah Utes linebacker Lander Barton (8) runs with the ball, eventually for a touchdown, after intercepting it during an NCAA football game between the University of Utah Utes and the Iowa State University Cyclones held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News
One of the nation’s most impressive streaks lives on, not that it provides any solace to a team that’s lost seven straight games.
In the second quarter of Utah’s 31-28 loss to No. 22 Iowa State, Cyclones quarterback Rocco Becht’s pass was behind Jaylin Noel and went off the receiver’s hands and into the hands of Ute linebacker Lander Barton at the Utah 13-yard line.
Becht had a chance to tackle Barton, and had him around his leg, but the 236-pound linebacker quickly shook off Becht’s grasp and was off to the races.
Streaking down the left sideline, the crowd’s excitement grew with each passing step. As Barton started to run out of gas around the Iowa State 30-yard line, it looked like Noel was going to catch him from behind, but a key block from cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn ensured that wouldn’t happen, and Barton glided into the end zone with an 87-yard touchdown.
“I got to give all the credit to my teammates, blocking their (expletive) off that whole play,” Barton said in a postgame interview on ESPN 700. “… Zemaiah peeling back, blocking the receiver, I mean, I wouldn’t have been there without them.”
In the second-to-last game of the season, Barton extended Utah’s streak of consecutive years with a pick-six to 21 seasons — setting an NCAA record.
It was the second pick-six in as many years for Barton, who also had one in Utah’s win over Weber State in 2023.
Utah has had a flair for interception returns for touchdowns for 21 years now, including in some of the most important games…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/utah-pick-six-streak-extends-003309204.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-11-25 00:33:00
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