Utah backup QB Bryson Barnes opens Florida game with 70-yard TD

Live blog: The No. 14 Utes beat the Florida Gators, 24-11, on Thursday night.

Bryson Barnes was already something of a Utah football folk hero.

If he keeps this up, he’ll be bigger than that.

The former walk-on, starting in place of senior Cam Rising, didn’t bother playing it safe on his first play from scrimmage. The Milford High star went deep to Money Parks for a 70-yard touchdown to put the Utes up 7-0 early at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Barnes may be the most unheralded of the Utes’ quarterbacks. But as our columnist Andy Larsen pointed out this week, he’s good with a deep ball.

If you’re still unfamiliar with Barnes’ story, check out this profile ahead of last year’s Rose Bowl.

Final: Utah 24, Florida 11

Kyle Whittingham and the Utes didn’t have their starting QB.

But they got their revenge.

The Utes beat the Florida Gators, the first SEC opponent to ever visit Rice-Eccles Stadium, 24-11.

Quarterback Cam Rising did not suit up, but backups Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson shared the duties to lead the Utes to victory.

“This team’s got a lot of grit,” Whittingham said. “Next man up mentality. Couldn’t be prouder of these guys. Bryson Barnes, Nate Johnson did what we needed them to do. It wasn’t pretty at the end there; we kind of let them back in. But we got the victory. On to the next one.”

Gators cross the goalline

Florida has found the end zone in the fourth quarter. Graham Mertz found Caleb Douglas for a 19-yard score, capping a 13-play drive that spanned 6:54.

After a two-point conversion, it’s 24-11 with 9:22 to play.

Florida mistakes mount

First, the Utes pinned the Gators deep.

Then, Utah safety Sione Vaki executes the tip drill to perfection.

And finally, it’s Bryson Barnes’ turn to show off his wheels.

It’s 24-3 early in the third quarter.

Halftime: Utah 17, Florida 3

A Cole Becker 51-yard field goal gave the Utes three more points in the second quarter. But Utah might be lamenting its missed opportunity: a trick play that saw wide receiver Devaughn Vele just narrowly overthrow Micah Bernard down the sideline.

Either way, the Utes have a lead at the break.

In his TV interview, head coach Kyle Whittingham expressed his pleasure with his backup quarterbacks so far.

“They’re both doing a nice job taking care of the football. Nate’s doing exactly what we hoped he would with the run game. Probably need to get him more involved with that.”

On that opening touchdown: “We’ve opened up fairly conservatively the past…