San Diego • In their latest bowl game, the Holiday here, the Utah Utes were on their way to doing what they usually do in the postseason — win and play tough, two-fisted defense.
It got to the point early on when there was a sense of sympathy for the Northwestern Wildcats, repeatedly unable to move the ball on a wall of Utes resistance. Even when Northwestern had some opportunity, such as a Utah fumble near midfield covered by them, the offense could do … absolutely nothing with the ball, except punt it.
The Utes mixed up their defensive approaches, but seemed convinced that Northwestern could not gain much yardage on the ground.