DeKalb, Ill. • In Utah’s eighth quarter of the football season, the Ute defense finally recorded a takeaway when safety Corrion Ballard stripped the ball from a Northern Illinois receiver and linebacker Chase Hansen recovered the fumble.
The Ute offense promptly wasted that turnover by giving the ball right back to the Huskies on running back Zach Moss’ fumble. Hansen personally made sure the Utes would capitalize NIU’s next turnover.
Hansen’s interception stopped what could have become the Huskies’ winning drive, and that’s not all. His 40-yard dash to the end zone clinched Utah’s 17-6 victory Saturday night at Huskie Stadium.