Thursday; November 6, 2008 DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE X-factor to decide game Tony Pizza Utah plays more of a power running game and utilizes four-receiver sets more freSPORTS EDITOR quently. TCU is better at the speed runFor anybody who wants to dissect the ning game and hits the edge of its offensive monumental matchup between Utah and line extremely well. "They get a little more production in the TCU, it might be easiest to just make a run game than we do," Whittingham said. Mad Lib. ' Tonight, (team name) will face its biggest "We're a little more productive in the throw defensive struggle of the season when it game, but there are a lot of similarities." With so many aspects of the game seemtakes on the (appropriate ordinal number)ing to be equalized, at least on paper, comranked defense from (name of school). ing up with a hypothesis on which team has That little ploy could go on for hours. "We try to the .spread the ball around. the edge basically comes down to opinion. One thing both teams are hoping for is There can be as many as 10 guys that touch the ball on any given game...I would imagine an X-factor, and it's fitting that both teams that it makes it hard for other teams to pre- have so many candidates to choose from pare for us, because there's never one com- on offense. mon denominator from week to week." For the Utes, they have their go-to seThat quote came from head coach Kyle nior receiving corps in Bradon Godfrey, Whittingham after Tuesday's practice. It Freddie Brown and Brent Casteel. There's very well could have come from TCU head also the two staples in the running game in Matt Asiata and Darrell Mack. If the coach Gary Patterson. Never have two more similarly matched Horned Frogs have been watching game teams met at Rice-Eccles Stadium with tape, they'll know what to expect from more on the line. Either team could have those guys. pitted its first-team offense against its firstFrom Utah's defensive perspective, that team defense and been completely pre- group can count on zeroing in on receiver pared for what it will see on the field from Jimmy Young and tailbacks Joseph Turner, its opponent tonight, Marcus Jackson and Ryan Christian. "I think there are some similarities as far Both teams' quarterbacks also have the as the coverage goes, with what the TCU ability to be dangerous both on the ground defense plays opposed to what our defense and in the air. plays," said U quarterback Brian Johnson. The surprise heroes of the game could "You know, just overall similarities in speed come from offensive X-factors such as in athleticism. It will be a battle and a great TCU's Jeremey Kerley and Aaron Brown matchup." Utah and TCU do have their differences. See X-FACTOR Page 10 rot Quarterback It comes down to two guys. Utah fifth-year senior Brian Johnson and TCU sophomore Andy Dalton are the captains of their respective ships. While Johnson and Dalton both run a derivative of the spread-option offense, the younger Dalton is the more fleetfooted of the two and has 308 yards rushing this season to go along with six rushing touchdowns. Johnson's 14 touchdown passes and eight interceptions are decent stats, but many Ute fans have been waiting for a breakout game by their senior quarterback. Despite going 23-for-32 against New Mexico, Johnson threw a critical interception in the Lobo end zone in the fourth quarter. The Utes and Homed Frogs both feature change-up quarterbacks in Corbin Louks and Jeremy Kerley. While the wideout Kerley obliterated BYU when he lined up behind center, the Utah defense should be more prepared for TCU's tricks, as the Utes do the same with a couple of players. Edge:Even 0' • 'yi-^r'.; ^:#'^vv^Running back The versatile running game of both teams is quite evident. TCU has seven rushers who have more than a 100 yards on the season. Utah has four. TCU has four guys with more than 300 yards total rushing. Utah has two. Matt Asiata and Darrell Mack have 541 yards and 465 yards, respectively. Asiata had 80 yards on 12 carries against the Lobos, while Mack had 54 yards on 10 carries. Speedster Eddie Wide, who has yet to see a substantial amount of playing time this season, will look to use his quickness and athleticism against the equally tough Horned Frog defense. TCU's three-headed dragon features Joseph Turner (444 yards, 10 touchdowns), Marcus Jackson (356 yards, four touchdowns) and Ryan Christian (331 yards and three touchdowns). Logically, seven is more than four. Edge: TCU Wide receiver ' -?&£#* When trying to contain the TCU air assault, there's one guy Utah will have to keep a keen eye out for—Jimmy Young, No. 88. The sophomore from Monroe, LA., has 729 yards receiving this season, including five touchdown receptions. Young set a TCU single-game record two weeks ago with 226 yards receiving on five receptions against Wyoming. Seniors Walter Bryant and Shae Reagan are No. 2 and No. 3 on the team in receiving yards, respectively. The eclectic set of Utah wideouts has leadership, talent and a variety of experience. Senior wideouts Freddie Brown and Brent Casteel were the most impressive receivers in the win over New Mexico, but the question is, will a breakout performance by Johnson coincide with an offensive explosion from the six or seven used Utah wideouts? - — Edge: Utah Offensive linemen One sack. That's a stat that shoiridbring ismile to the faces of Utah fans. Despite the unusual New Mexico defense and the combo blitzes it featured, Johnson was sacked only once on the night. Utah has given up 20 sacks on the season, resulting in total losses of 130 yards. TCU has given up half of that, with 10 sacks resulting in a loss of a mere 67 yards. With Utah going up against potentially the best defensive line in the nation, will it channel all its energy and know-how into stopping the fearsome front four of TCU? . Edge: TCU Gfoii'. :ji D e f e n s i v e 0¥ l i n e - • - • - •• • \ ^ >- . • . • . . • . . . . .. - , . .-,. • . .•• • * ' Does anyone inflict more fear and hesitation on the field than Paul Kruger? Yes. His name is Jerry Hughes. Despite Kruger's impressive stat line, Hughes' stats stand out a whole lot more. The junior from Sugar Land, Texas, a converted running back, leads the nation in sacks with 14 and sits above Kruger with 17 tackles for loss, compared to Kruger's 14.5. Hughes' partners in crime, Matt Panfil and Cody Moore, are also in the top 10 for the Horned Frogs in tackles and sacks. Defensive end Koa Misi has seven tackles for loss this season, while senior defensive tackle Greg Newman has 7.5. Edge:TCU •"•.".• • :.=/ V ••• . . . , i j Mm linebacker Which trio of linebackers is better: Utah's Stevenson Sylvester, Nai Fotu and Mike Wright or TCU's Jason Phillips, Robert Henson and Daryl Washington? Both of the teams' defenses are led in tackles by linebackers. TCU's trio has more tackles with Phillips at 60 and Henson at 57. They also have 10 and nine tackles for loss, respectively. Utah's trio is as versatile as they come. Will Sylvester, Fotu and Wright be able to contain the athletic Dalton and the plethora of reliable running backs that the Horned Frogs have? The TCU trio handled BYU's Harvey Unga and Fui Vakapuna with relative ease. Will it be the same for Utah's Asiata and Mack? That is the million-dollar question. Edge: TCU . • / * • . : Coaching The last time the Utes lost to TCU was Sept, 15, 2005. A lot has changed since then. Both teams are ranked in the top 15 in the nation and actually are separated by only one spot in the AP Poll. The No. 10 Utes and No. 11 Horned Frogs gather for a nationally televised game at Rice-Eccles Stadium with their seasons on the line. Whether he likes to admit it or not, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham and his Utes know that this is the biggest game Utah will have played in recent memory. Will Gary Patterson's crew storm into Salt Lake City and spoil Utah's BCS hopes? Expect fireworks. Or more simply put, a sea of black. Edge: Utah „ ComgUed[by Christopher Jeremy Brooks is one of the many Utes playmakers who can make a big impact every time he touches the ball. Multiple efforts made tonight's game unique Christopher Kamrani • Special teams Louie Sakoda will be shouldering a incredible load on the special teams front. The preseason Ail-American pinned New Mexico within its 20-yard line four times Saturday. However, TCU punter Anson Kelton is an impressive punter himself. He averages 42 yards per punt, which is .5 less than Sakoda. Kicker Ross Evans is also one to keep a watchful eye out for. He is i3-for-i5 on the season. The disparity between the Utes and Horned Frogs comes in the return game. Jeremy Kerley and Aaron Brown are viable threats to take it to the house for six anytime they touch the ball. The problems for the Utes resurfaced after several weeks of being dormant. David Reed muffed a punt that was recovered by New Mexico. In a showdown of specially-talented defenses, both teams will try not to give up good field position throughout the game. Edge: Even TYLER C O B B / n * Daily Utah Orwfcfe Blackout comes to fruition .;-• ;.v. /•.'•' - , , V , „:-*—a... _._•- . _ Secondary If Utah's secondary was to look into a mirror, it would see the TCU back four staring right back at it. Both teams feature one of the more athletic and versatile secondaries in the country. While TCU might have a slight edge speed-wise, Utah might make up for it with effort and sound tackling ability. TCU safeties Tejay Johnson and Stephen Hodge run alongside defensive backs Steven Coleman and Nick Sanders. Coleman leads the team in interceptions with three, while Sanders has two. Look for Ute Sean Smith, who stands at 6-foot-3-inches, to be marking Jimmy Young all night. The Utes will need solid play from safeties Joe Dale and Robert Johnson, while the X-factor of the night might be the overall, well-rounded game of senior defensive co-captain Brice McCain. Edge: Even . , , 1(J f and season ticket holders," Ronchetti said. "The best way to do this promotion is to ASST. SPORTS EDITOR just get involved." Thanks to the input and hard work of Despite the best efforts of the marketing the football team itself, the reality of the program, Ronchetti said that an event like "Blackout" has come true. this would stand no chance of happening During Spring Semester, players lined without the aid of students—especially up at social events such as Crimson Nights the MUSS. and created groups on social networks The Facebook group "Utah Blackout such as Facebook to get the word out. 2008" has 1,119 members and is growing evThey wanted a change. ery minute. The creator of the group and The likes of Brian Johnson, Louie Sakoda marketing co-chair for the MUSS, Mallory and Stevenson Sylvester stood out, shook Hill, was one of the first to embrace the hands and asked the student body to help notion of the "Blackout." give the team a "Blackout" game. "We sold 1,300 specialized MUSS Black"We were the ones that got it started at out sweatshirts within a week," Hill said. tryouts," Sylvester, said. "We got a lot (of The sweatshirts, first handed out Tuessignatures), but it didn't really carry over, day, are basic black with the regular MUSS so we had to talk to the athletic director." logo and the word "BLACKOUT" written As the billing of tonight's game would out in white letters underneath. suggest, athletic director Chris Hill gave Members of the MUSS board are going the Utes the green light. the extra mile to promote this "Blackout" Ann Ronchetti, director of marketing for Utah Athletics, said she knew this would See BLACKOUT Page 10 be something special. Ronchetti is in charge of creating game themes for every game at Rice-Eccles Stadium. She said although this marketing scheme started before the season, she had no clue exactly where this idea would go. "We all knew that this was going to be an important game," Ronchetti said. "This promotion fit perfectly for this game, a night game. A special fit." And tonight's matchup could not have been scripted any better. No. 10 Utah takes on No. 11 TCU in an already exciting game that the now "black" atmosphere will surely electrify, with Bowl Championship Series hopes on the line for both teams. Ronchetti and her stafffiguredthe best way Rumors of players wearing black jerseys are fueled to get the correct input would be to retrieve by EA Sports' "NCAA Football 09" because in the information from every possible angle. game, the Utes have an alternate black jersey. "We got input from'the players, fans