ANAHEIM, Calif. - Utah used a 72-yard kickoff return to set up the winning touchdown, as the Utes upset No. 14 Arizona in the 11th annual Freedom Bowl, 16-13. A crowd of 27,477 watched as the Cats used a stifling defense to hold Utah to only 75 yards of total offense.
Arizona quarterback Dan White connected with Ontiwaun Carter from 23 yards out to give the Cats the early lead. After a White fumble deep in Arizona territory, Utah running back Charlie Brown scampered in from six yards out to tie the score.
After a 44-yard field goal by Steve McLaughlin, the Cats had first-and-goal at the Utah 2-yard line, but two dropped passes by Tim Thomas and then Lamar Lovett in the end zone forced the Cats to kick a 20-yard field goal. Late in the fourth quarter with Arizona leading 13-7, and Matt Peyton having to punt from his own end zone, the Cats gambled and took a safety as Peyton stepped out of the back of the end zone.
On the ensuing kickoff, Cal Beck returned the ball to the Arizona 5-yard line. The Wildcat defense held the Utes on three straight downs to set up a fourth-and-goal. Quarterback Mike McCoy scrambled out of the pocket and was in the grasp of Chuck Osborne but managed to get the pass off and found Kevin Dyson in the corner of the end zone for the winning score. A final UA drive ended in an interception.
The Cats recorded six sacks on the day, three of them by Tedy Bruschi, who earned Defensive MVP honors. Chuck Osborne had two sacks, and Sean Harris led the team with nine tackles.
