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(KSL Sports)
> No. 13/14 Utah (7-0, 3-0 MWC) hosts Colorado State (3-3, 1-1 MWC). Game time is noon in Rice-Eccles Stadium. Tickets are available (UtahUtes.com, 801-581-UTIX). The game will be televised live on The Mtn. Radio is KALL 700 AM.
> Utah remained at No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches' poll and No. 14 in the Associated Press poll for the second straight week. The Utes slipped one place to No. 14 in the Harris Interactive poll, although they did receive a first-place vote. See pages 3-4 for this week's national polls.
> Utah has won 15 of its last 16 games.
> Since 2000, Utah has more wins against BCS schools (15) than any non-BCS team. Utah is 15-10 against BCS teams since 2000 (10-3 since 2004). Since the BCS began in 1998, Utah is tied for the most wins (16) against BCS teams by a non-BCS team. For more, see page 4.
> Utah has won four of the last five games against Colorado State and leads 52-22-2 overall (30-8-2 in Salt Lake City). For more on the series, see page 2.
> Utah is averaging 37.6 points per game, which if it holds up, would rank as the fourth-best scoring average by a Ute team since 1892. Kicker Louie Sakoda leads the scoring with 73 points and running back Matt Asiata is second with 48. In third is the combination of defense/special teams with 24 points.
U OF LOUUtah's All-America punter/kicker Louie Sakoda has been busy rewriting the school record book this season. Sakoda has set career marks for most points scored (259), field goals (50), punts (215) and punt yards (9,090). The scoring record had stood since 1932, while the punting records dated back to 1969. In addition, Sakoda's 10 MWC Player of the Week honors is the most by a special teams player and tied for the most in league history with former BYU quarterback John Beck.
LAST WEEKUtah found five different ways to score a touchdown, and along with field goals and PATs, crushed Wyoming 40-7. Sean Smith scored the game's first touchdown on a 25-yard interception return. The Utes also scored touchdowns on a rush, a pass, a blocked punt and a fumble recovery. Louie Sakoda made both of his field goal attempts in frigid gusting winds, including a 50-yarder. Aiona Key blocked a punt and ran it in for a score—his first TD as a Ute and Utah's first touchdown off a blocked kick since 2004. Matt Asiata rushed for a touchdown and made his first career TD reception. Utah's final score came when RJ Rice recovered a fumble on a muffed punt in the end zone. Sakoda's punting pinned Wyoming deep in its own territory and his 81-yard boot in the fourth quarter was the longest by a Ute in 20 years.
KYLE STYLEFourth-year Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham is 31-14 overall and 3-0 in bowl games. He is 6-3 against BCS schools. Since he joined the staff as a Ute assistant in 1994, Utah has won nearly 70-percent of its games (117-55). Utah has played in nine bowl games during Whittingham's tenure—winning eight. Prior to becoming Utah's head coach in 2005, he spent one season as the defensive line coach and 10 years as the defensive coordinator.
OUTSIDE THE LINESUtah cornerbacks coach Aaron Alford is a 1997 CSU alum and a former Ram defensive back—lettering in 1993 … Junior Utes will be admitted free of charge to the Utah-CSU game. Kids 12 years and under are eligible for Junior Ute membership and can apply online at UtahUtes.com … The Utes are on a record pace for home attendance, averaging 45,434 in their three games. All three crowds have exceeded the seating capacity (45,017) of Rice-Eccles Stadium, including 45,599 against Oregon State—the third-biggest attendance ever for a Utah home game.
INSIDE THE HUDDLEAiona Key's touchdown return on blocked punt was the first blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Utah since Derrick Odum did so against Oregon State in 1992. It was the first blocked kick of any kind returned for a touchdown by a Ute since Shaun Harper scored on a blocked field goal in 2004 … Linebacker Mo Neal returned to action last week after missing three games with a knee injury. He will help fill in for Kepa Gaison, who will miss this week's game with a knee injury. Gaison, who has seen significant playing time as the backup at two linebacker positions, will likely be replaced by the tandem of Neal on the inside and Afa Garrigan at the stud … Defensive end Koa Misi took a break in the second half against Wyoming to rest a sore hip … Special teams stalwart Trevor Moss will miss this week's game due to a concussion … Two true freshmen have played for Utah this year: OL Tony Bergstrom and DT Sealver Siliga. Six redshirt freshmen have also played.
WATCHING THE SCOREBOARDUtah has scored 36% of its points (94) in the second quarter. The Utes' best overall quarter is the third, when they are out-scoring opponents 62-9 … Utah ranks third in the nation in time of possession (33:50) … Utah is tied for 11th in the nation in red zone offense, scoring on 29-of-32 (91%) of its trips inside the 20 … Utah leads the league in kickoff coverage with a 49.0 net average.
