From TributeToTroy

Utah 10, USC 6

Behind a time-consuming, powerful running attack and a dominating defense, Utah beat USC, 10-6, in the 10th Sega Sports Las Vegas Bowl before 22,385 fans and a national ABC-TV audience. The outcome–the Trojans’ fifth loss of 2001 by 5 or less points–snapped USC’s 4-game winning streak and Utah’s 2-game losing skid. It also ended the Utes’ 6-game losing streak to USC (Utah last beat Troy in 1916). The defensive struggle produced the lowest scoring Las Vegas Bowl ever. But that figured, as both squads were highly-ranked nationally in scoring defense (USC was 11th at 17.9 and Utah was 13th at 18.6). Utah, which entered the game ranked in the Top 25 nationally in all 4 defensive categories, limited the Trojans to just 151 total yards, including only 1 yard rushing. It was USC’s fewest total yards since getting 124 against Washington in 1996 and its fewest rushing yards since having -20 at Arizona in 1999. USC had just 12 first downs, converted only 2-of-12 third downs and was sacked 4 times (including twice by ROV Sheldon Deckart, who had a team-high 6 tackles). USC punted on 8 of its 11 possessions (including on its first 4 drives and its final 4), went 3-and-out 5 times and penetrated Utah territory only 4 times (getting inside the 30 just once). At halftime, USC had just 15 total yards (with -53 on the ground) and 3 first downs. On offense, Utah–-which was 12th nationally in rushing offense at 218.9–-controlled the clock (holding the ball 16 minutes more than USC, 38:01 to 21:59) by running 54 times for 222 of its 358 total yards. The Utes ran off 75 plays (USC had just 51). HB Adam Tate ran for a game-best 103 yards on 23 carries, while fellow HB Dameon Hunter (a 1,000-yard runner in 2001) rushed for 94 yards on 17 tries and was named Utah’s game MVP. Utah QB Lance Rice was 12-of-21 for 136 yards while hitting some timely passes, including a game-best 4 to WR Josh Lyman (for 41 yards) and 3 to TE Michael Richardson (for 35 yards). Utah scored on its second possession of the game as Tate ran for a 3-yard TD to cap a 7-play, 48-yard drive late in the first quarter. Then, after USC PK David Davis–the Pac-10’s most accurate field goal kicker in 2001–missed a 47-yarder (breaking his string of 12 consecutive successful field goals), the Utes drove 61 yards in 12 plays to set up PK Ryan Kaneshiro’s 26-yard field goal with 29 seconds to play in the half. USC came alive to start the second half, taking the opening kickoff and driving 80 yards in 12 plays, finishing with a 2-yard scoring run by FB Sunny Byrd (but Davis missed the PAT). But despite getting a pair of turnovers–-CB Kris Richard recovered a fumble and LB John Cousins intercepted a pass–-on Utah’s next 2 possessions, the Trojans couldn’t get any closer than the Ute 40-yard line the rest of the way. Trojan QB Carson Palmer was 15-of-26 for 150 yards, while WRs Kareem Kelly (33 yards) and Devin Pitts (32 yards) each had 3 receptions. Trojan All-American safety Troy Polamalu-–picked as USC’s game MVP-–had a Las Vegas Bowl record and career high 20 tackles (with a game record 12 solo), including 3 for losses, while S DeShaun Hill (14 stops and a forced fumble) and LB Frank Strong (12 tackles, including 4 for losses) also posted career bests in tackles. It was USC’s first game in the state of Nevada and its sixth contest on Christmas Day (but its first since 1934). The crowd was the smallest ever to see USC in a bowl and the fewest at a Trojan game since 20,938 showed up at Oregon State in 1997.

Utah 7 3 0 0 -- 10
USC  0 0 6 0 --  6 

Scoring: Utah--Touchdown, Tate. PAT, Kaneshiro. Field Goal, Kaneshiro. USC--Touchdown, Byrd.

Attendance: 22,385

Date: December 25, 2001