PASADENA, Calif. – Five years after Utah running back Joe Williams and UCLA quarterback Mike Fafaul left Fork Union Military Academy together, they both posted record-breaking performances in the same game on the same wild afternoon.
Only Williams left the Rose Bowl happy with his effort.
Williams rushed for a school-record 332 yards and four touchdowns in his second game back from retirement, and No. 19 Utah held off pass-happy UCLA 52-45 Saturday.
Williams broke off TD runs of 3, 43, 64 and 55 yards during the greatest rushing day in Utah history, surpassing Mike Anderson's 1999 record, and the most prolific rushing performance by a UCLA opponent.
"I'm pretty sure [the Bruins] are tired of seeing the back of my jersey running down the field," Williams said, giving the credit to his offensive line. "We've got five grown men out there that could be in the NFL tomorrow. I'm just glad to be running behind them."
Williams quit football last month before returning last week when injuries decimated the depth for Utah (7-1, 4-1 Pac-12); he has 511 yards rushing in two games since.
"It's awesome," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "We've had some really good running backs come through here, and played against some inferior teams [compared with UCLA]. He broke the record of all-time, and we've had a bunch of guys in the NFL, running backs that have done a lot of great things."
Williams broke Anderson's record shortly before shredding Edgerrin James' record for a Bruins opponent with 10:28 to play.
