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Colorado Springs, Colo. • If Matt Asiata didn't sleep soundly Saturday night, he may never do so.

During Utah's 28-23 Mountain West Conference victory at Air Force, Asiata was a true workhorse.

The senior running back gained 95 yards on 26 carries — 10 more than his previous season-high — to help the eighth-ranked Utes stay undefeated.

Asiata got busy quickly against the Falcons.

On Utah's first possession after recovering an Air Force fumble, quarterback Jordan Wynn handed the ball to Asiata seven straight times.

He gained 34 yards, converted twice on third-and-one and drove the Utes from their own 32 to the Falcon 34.

"It's always fun to do something like that," Asiata said. "Whoever is in there, you have to believe in yourself and believe in the teammates that are on the field with you and just make plays. That's what I tried to do."

After Wynn completed a five-yard pass to Jereme Brooks on Utah's first drive, the Utes went back to the running game.

This time, Eddie Wide got the call. He carried five straight times and eventually scored Utah's first touchdown on a one-yard run.

"That was the coaches' plan and, as players, you take that ball and try to run it down their throats," Asiata said. "… That's exactly what me and Eddie did."

In all, Utah ran on 12 of its 13 plays on a time-consuming, 68-yard scoring drive that gave them a 7-0 lead with 6:43 left in the first quarter.

"I'm really proud of our O-line," Asiata said. "They took their D-line and pushed them back and kept making holes for us."

Early in the second quarter, Air Force took a 10-7 lead.

It was the first time Utah had trailed since the second quarter of what turned out to be a 68-27 win at Iowa State on Oct. 9

The Utes responded to the challenge by again unleashing Asiata.

He carried six times on a 12-play, 64-yard scoring drive that took 51/2 minutes off the clock.

Asiata scored the go-ahead touchdown when, on third-and-goal, he absorbed a hit at the line of scrimmage but bounced off and lunged over the goal line.

"Air Force is really tough," Asiata said. "They are disciplined and I have to give it up for them. But I wanted it and the second effort got it for me."

Wide finished the game with 82 yards on 23 carries, eight more than his previous season-high.

In the third quarter, Wide scored a touchdown that gave Utah a 28-10 lead on another one-yard run up the middle.

"When it gets down to the goal line — one-yard runs — it comes down to desire," Wide said. "Those runs are desire runs. You have to want to get it in there. The offensive line has to make a great push and it's your job to go get it."

luhm@sltrib.com Twitter: @sluhm —

By the numbers

Matt Asiata's game-by-game rushing numbers:

Opponent Att Yds Avg TDs Long

vs. Pitt 16 65 4.1 0

vs. UNLV 8 39 4.9 0 14

at New Mexico 9 32 3.6 1 7

vs. San Jose 11 51 4.6 1 9

at Iowa State 11 58 5.3 1 13

at Wyoming 16 109 6.8 0 22

vs. Colorado State 7 39 5.6 2 15

at Air Force 26 95 3.7 1 10