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Las Vegas • Travis Wilson's final game in Utah crimson seemed almost scripted, a conservative offensive precedent that was laid out far before the Utes' 35-28 nervy victory over BYU in Saturday's Las Vegas Bowl.

While his defense forced five turnovers in the first quarter to jump-start the Utes with a 35-0 lead, Wilson's directive was simple: hold onto the ball, make good decisions and manage a monumental lead.

As the clock bled ever so slowly, 819 days after his last victory over BYU and 1,162 since his first start in a Utah uniform, Wilson did just enough with 71 yards passing on nine completions and 23 yards rushing.

First came a 20-yard touchdown rush in the first quarter when Wilson seemed destined for a sack. The score would be Utah's longest offensive touchdown of the day.

The second came late in the third quarter. Facing a third-and-16, Wilson evaded pressure, rumbled down the sideline and stuck his arm out for the first down.

"We've just got to make some more plays. They had a good defense and [had] a lot of good talent out there," Wilson said. "We've just got to execute better."

But as the Cougars climbed back into the game to reduce the deficit to 35-21, Utah's offense stalled repeatedly for six punts and three turnovers on downs in the team's final 10 drives.

The Utes went scoreless for the rest of the game after scoring a touchdown with 4:38 left in the first quarter.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham described his team's offensive numbers as "not good at all," mentioning the still-injured conditions of Britain Covey and Kenneth Scott as forcing the Utes to field a "skeleton crew" at wide receiver.

"By the end of the game, we were running on fumes on offense," Whittingham said.

Freshman BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum outgunned Wilson by 244 yards and two touchdowns. But Mangum's three interceptions to Wilson's zero were the difference — Whittingham deeming Utah's ball security effort "job one."

Wilson praised his defense for jumping the Utes out to a huge lead, but said the lead also may have lulled the offense into complacency.

But in the end, Wilson walks away from his time in this rivalry undefeated at 2-0 — one last victory under center for Utah's longest tenured quarterback.

"I think offensively we just got too lackadaisical and just got too content with everything. But a win is a win."