Alphonzo Tuputala stepped in front of a Bryson Barnes pass and looked like he was about to take it the distance to give Washington a 12-point advantage.

Washington, leading 33-28 with less than a minute to play in the third quarter, was racing down the sideline for what looked like it would be a game-changing pick-six. And then the fifth-year junior linebacker dropped the football before he crossed the goal line to complete the score.

Utah recovered to prevent the touchdown.

The Utes were stuffed in the endzone for a safety on the ensuing play, but as the two sides head into the fourth quarter of what has been a very competitive game, it’s hard to underscore how significant a 12-point lead would have been compared to just a one-score edge.

Washington scored the game’s first points, but Utah matched the Huskies score for score all day. Utah took a 14-10 lead in the first half and the lead then changed hands four more times before the game reached halftime.

UW outscored Utah 11-0 in the third quarter — a field goal, a touchdown, a failed two-point try, and a safety — to take a 35-28 lead into the fourth quarter.

We’ll see if those extra five points prove critical.