Walk-on QB Luke Bottari helps lead Utah to 23-17 win over Colorado

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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah was intent on making its final game of the Pac-12 era a wild one.

With quarterback Bryson Barnes sidelined due to injury, Utah was left with fifth-string quarterback Luke Bottari under center to get the job done Saturday in the final game at Rice-Eccles Stadium this season.

Bottari attempted only three passes in the first half — all completions — and finished the day with two rushing touchdowns and 61 yards on 6-of-10 passing in a 23-17 win over the visiting Colorado Buffaloes for senior day.

He wasn't expected to do much under center in Utah's (8-4, 5-4 Pac-12) game plan, but Bottari delivered in what he was supposed to do, especially on a fourth-and-4 down at Colorado's (4-8, 1-8 Pac-12) 38-yard line where he found Luca Caldarella for a 16-yard gain, and then again on fourth-and-3 on the next series on a 5-yard pass to Mikey Matthews.

For the walk-on quarterback, it was quite the ending to a season where he was started on California's roster before coming back to Utah during fall camp.

Though Bottari was called on to lead to the offense, it was a strong ground game that helped Utah to its eighth win of the season. Utah finished with 268 rushing yards, with Jaylon Glover leading the charge with a career-high 107 rushing yards. Ja'Quinden Jackson added 68 yards on 21 carries, and Sione Vaki added 68 yards on seven carries.

Utah's defense set the tone early when on Colorado's opening drive, Connor O'Toole stripped backup quarterback Ryan Staub — starter Shadeur Sanders was held out due to injury — of the ball on a sack before fellow defensive end Van Fillinger jumped on the ball for an early turnover.

The Utah offense then went 58 yards on eight plays over five minutes — no passing plays — before Bottari found the end zone on a 2-yard run for his first career touchdown.

It was all part of a strategy where Utah drained the clock to speed up the game. On Utah's three meaningful drives of the first half, the offense took 16:35 off the clock to take a 13-10 lead into the break.

Colorado's Staub kept the Buffaloes into the game down and refused to let Utah waltz to victory. Midway through the fourth quarter, Staub orchestrated an eight-play drive that went over 84 yards that was capped off on an 18-yard touchdown pass to two-way player Travis Hunter for a touchdown.

Staub finished the day throwing for 195 yards and one touchdown on 17-of-24 passing in the loss.

This story will be updated.

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Josh Furlong

Josh is the Sports Director for KSL.com and beat writer covering University of Utah athletics — primarily football, men’s and women's basketball and gymnastics. He is also an Associated Press Top 25 voter for college football.