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Utes Shock No. 4 Tide

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The Associated Press

Published: January 3, 2009

Updated: 01/03/2009 12:44 am

NEW ORLEANS - Utah is the best of the BCS busters.

Brian Johnson threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, and the No. 7 Utes upset fourth-ranked Alabama 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl on Friday night to finish 13-0.

With the victory, Utah became the first team from a non-BCS conference to win two BCS bowls. The Utes beat Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl under Coach Urban Meyer, who goes for his second BCS title with Florida when his Gators play Oklahoma on Thursday in Miami.

Johnson's pinpoint passing led Utah to a 21-0 first-quarter lead, and the Utes refused to wilt when Alabama pulled to 21-17 early in the second half.

Utah's defense was equally impressive, intercepting John Parker Wilson twice and sacking him eight times, with the seventh sack forcing a fumble that sent crimson-clad Alabama fans streaming for the exits with just more than five minutes to go.

After surging to No. 1 in the rankings with a 12-0 regular season, Alabama closed the season with consecutive losses, the first against Florida in the SEC Championship Game.

Alabama could have used suspended All-America left tackle Andre Smith, but even he might not have been enough to stop a Utah defense that played with speed, ferocity and discipline.

The Utes' front seven were significantly outweighed by Alabama's offensive line, but refused to give ground to the Tide's powerful running game that averaged 196.5 yards per game coming into the Sugar Bowl. Glen Coffee was held to 36 yards on 13 carries, while Mark Ingram rushed eight times for 26 yards.

The Utes' array of stunts and blitzes appeared to upset Wilson's rhythm. He overthrew a couple of open receivers downfield and finished 18-of-30 for 177 yards and a touchdown

Johnson adeptly spread the ball around to seven receivers, and hit Freddie Brown 12 times for 125 yards. Johnson was 27-of-41 and was not intercepted.

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