This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2006, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

LARAMIE, Wyo. - Two years later, the Utah Utes endured another power outage against Wyoming at War Memorial Stadium.

This time, however, it was their offense that went dark.

Looking absolutely nothing like the team that continued its Fiesta Bowl march following a stadium power outage on their last visit to play the Cowboys, the Utes collapsed miserably for the second time in three weeks - suffering a 31-15 loss Saturday in front of 20,806 fans that snapped a six-game winning streak against the Pokes and might have knocked them out of the Mountain West Conference title chase.

"It was a bad day for us," guard Zane Beadles said.

So how'd it happen, just two weeks after a 36-3 home

loss to Boise State?

Same way, pretty much.

Quarterback Brett Ratliff endured another miserable outing - sacked six times, he committed four turnovers, three of which led to touchdowns - the running game was nonexistent and the defense could scarcely stop the Cowboys when the outcome was still in question.

The Cowboys led 24-0 at halftime, and made it 31-0 on an interception return for a touchdown on the third play of the third quarter. Nothing much mattered after that, except for the Wyoming celebration of holding the Utes to 144 yards and just one meaningless offensive touchdown in the final minutes.

"How about our defense?" Wyoming coach Joe Glenn said. "Relentless is the word for the way they played. . . . Utah couldn't run on us or throw on us. It was a great day of coaching by our defensive staff."

For the Utes, not so much.

Nobody in their locker room seemed to have any solid answers afterward, with some players suggesting they did not "play with passion," others saying they were simply dominated physically, and coach Kyle Whittingham mostly sticking with facts, not opinions.

"First of all, we dug ourselves a hole," he said. "Twenty-four-nothing, that's a tough row to hoe."

And it was tough from the start.

With redshirt freshman quarterback Karsten Sween directing the offense masterfully in just his second start - he was 17-for-24 passing, for 202 yards and a touchdown - the Cowboys marched downfield for a field goal on their first possession.

Then, Wyoming's Ward Dobbs sacked Ratliff on the Utes' third play of the game - the Utes had been the only team in the country that had not allowed a sack this season - and forced a fumble that teammate Dorsey Golston recovered at the Utah 11-yard line.

Three plays later, Wyoming's Wade Betschart plunged in from the 2 for a 10-0 lead. Sween later scored on a 4-yard draw play to make it 17-0, then followed another Ratliff fumble with a 24-yard touchdown pass to receiver Michael Ford that made it 24-0.

"It was all our own doing, turning the ball over," Whittingham said.

In all, Ratliff completed 16 of 31 passes for only 111 yards against the best pass defense in the country, with the one late touchdown to receiver Derrek Richards and two interceptions. He also fumbled twice while getting sacked, setting up Wyoming touchdowns both times.

"We just physically got beat," Ratliff said. "They brought it, and we didn't."