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SALT LAKE CITY - While the snow fell at Rice-Eccles last Saturday, White was all over the field. Oh, and the white fluffy snow too. John White IV's performance gave him 1,191 rushing yards for the season, moving him up in the record books up on the hill.
The junior transfer from L.A. Harbor College ran for 167 yards against UCLA, giving him enough yards to surpass former Ute and Denver Bronco Mike Anderson for fourth best in school history for a single season.
W | vs | Score | Yds | Att | Y/A | Lg | TD |
11 | UCLA | W 31-6 | 167 | 33 | 5.1 | 22 | 2 |
10 | @ ARZ | W 34-21 | 109 | 27 | 4.0 | 18 | 2 |
9 | OREST | W 27-8 | 205 | 35 | 5.9 | 60 | 1 |
8 | @ CAL | L 10-34 | 39 | 15 | 2.6 | 14 | 1 |
7 | @ PITT | W 26-14 | 171 | 36 | 4.8 | 37 | 0 |
6 | ARZST | L 14-35 | 85 | 17 | 5.0 | 30 | 1 |
5 | WASH | L 14-31 | 35 | 14 | 2.5 | 6 | 0 |
3 | @ BYU | W 54-10 | 174 | 22 | 7.9 | 62 | 3 |
2 | @ USC | L 14-23 | 56 | 20 | 2.8 | 18 | 1 |
1 | MONST | W 27-10 | 150 | 19 | 7.9 | 25 | 1 |
It was also White's sixth 100-plus yard game this season. The Utes are 6-0 when he hits the 100 yard mark.
"[White's] been a mainstay for us," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "The formula is still there. If he goes over a hundred yards, we win. If he doesn't, we've lost."
While even the blustery winter weather wasn't enough to slow him down, White gave most of the credit to the offensive line.
"We got off the ball," White said. "Our offensive line wanted it more than [UCLA's] defensive line."
Utah's game against the Bruins was just another day at the office for Juan Blanco el Cuatro, who continues to put up video game-esque numbers this season. White has had games where he rushed for 205, 174, 171, 167, 150 and 109 yards.
Only three former Utes are ahead of White in the record book - Carl Monroe (1507), Dameon Hunter (1396) and Darrell Mack (1204). With two regular season games left, plus a bowl game that the Utes are now eligible for with their win over UCLA, anything is possible.
If White can continue his current pace of 119 yards a game against Utah's next three opponents, he would finish with 1,547 yards.
"Nothing really surprises me with John anymore," Utah offensive lineman John Cullen said. "The guy's a beast."
But rushing yards isn't the only category White is climbing the record books in. White is also third in rushing touchdowns with 12, and fifth in carries with 238.
The 5-8, 186 lbs. running back will get his next opportunity to climb his way into Utah football history on Saturday as the Utes travel north to take on Washington State in Pullman.
Email: rojackson@ksl.com Twitter: @rojackKSL