SEATTLE - Utah had experienced an uncharacteristic dry spell on defense in its last two games. After leading the Pac-12 in turnover margin for much of the season, the Utes had failed to produce a single takeaway.

That famine turned to a feast against Washington. Utah recovered three fumbles and caused four turnovers overall to power a 34-23 victory over the Huskies on Saturday night.

It was the first victory for the No. 12 Utes (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) in a series dating to 1931. Washington (4-5, 2-4) won its previous eight games against Utah. The victory allowed the Utes to retain a one-game lead in the Pac-12 South.

“It’s definitely a huge, huge win for the program and we’re still sitting right where we want to be,” Utah quarterback Travis Wilson said.

Wilson threw for 155 yards and one touchdown and added 42 yards and a pair of scores on the ground to lead the Utes. Running back Devontae Booker added 150 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries and linebacker Gionni Paul recovered a fumble and returned it for a score.

Quarterback Jake Browning threw for 257 yards and a touchdown to lead Washington. The Huskies could not overcome four turnovers that led to 17 points for Utah. The Utes overcame three of their own turnovers and held off a fourth quarter rally by the Huskies.

"We were putting our defense in tough situations,” Browning said. “I thought they battled hard for some situations that we put them in. We have to clean that up, and we are going to.”

After sputtering much of the first half because of turnovers, Washington's offense settled down in the third quarter. The Huskies defense also shut down Utah's offense at the same time - giving Washington a chance to make a comeback.

The Huskies cut Utah's lead to 24-20 in the third quarter on a 10-yard run from running back Myles Gaskin. Then kicker Cameron Van Winkle added a season-long 49-yard field goal to make it 24-23 early in the fourth quarter.

Utah slammed the door shut on a comeback. Wilson dragged a defender into the end zone on a 2-yard run to extend the Utes lead to 31-23 with 3:27 remaining. Then Browning fumbled the snap on Washington's next drive and defensive end Steve Tu'ikolovatu recovered at the Huskies' 35-yard line with 2:52 left.

Kicker Andy Phillips made a 36-yard field goal after the fumble recovery with 57 seconds to go.

“You know it’s a little bit like how the season has been going,” Washington coach Chris Petersen said. “Some really good flashes, some good football out there, and some really bad football with some turnovers and dropped balls.”

Turnovers helped Utah take control early in the second quarter. A fumbled snap on a punt set up the Utes at Washington's 32-yard line late in the first quarter. It paved the way for a 4-yard scoring run from Wilson, giving Utah a 7-3 lead.

Utah pushed its lead to 14-3 with 12:31 remaining before halftime on another 4-yard run from Booker. Paul set up the touchdown when he intercepted a pass from Browning and returned it to the Huskies' 8-yard line.

The Utes forced a third consecutive turnover on Washington's subsequent drive. Safety Chase Hansen stripped the ball from running back Dwayne Washington and Tu'ikolovatu recovered the fumble at the Washington 48. But linebacker Travis Feeney recovered a Utah fumble on the very next play at the Utes' 44-yard line.

Feeney's fumble recovery set up a 39-yard field goal from Van Winkle, cutting Utah's lead to 14-6. Van Winkle also made one from 42 yards out in the first quarter.

The Huskies' comeback hit a snag with another turnover. Paul scooped up a fumble and returned it 54 yards for a score to put the Utes up 21-6 with 6:10 left in the half.

Finally making these sorts of impact plays after a two-game drought had Paul and the rest of the Utah defense feeling relieved.

“We were so close in the other games of catching a pick, getting a forced fumble,” Paul said. “It’s just the extra effort. And I believe we corrected that mistake.”

Washington stopped the bleeding a bit on its next drive. Receiver Joshua Perkins hauled in a pass from Browning and took it 53 yards to set up a 1-yard touchdown catch from receiver Drew Sample on the next play. Sample's score trimmed Utah's lead to 21-13.

The Utes answered with a 43-yard field goal from kicker Andy Phillips to make it 24-13 going into the locker room.

NOTES: Utah forced three turnovers in the first half after not forcing any in either of its previous two games. ... Washington gave up 24 points in the second quarter after allowing just 16.9 points per game in its first eight games. ... Coming into the game, Washington was second in the Pac-12 in total defense and Utah ranked third. The Huskies allowed 360 yards per game in their first eight games. The Utes limited opponents to 363.6 yards per contest through their first eight games.