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Show 6 SPORTS Thursday August 30, 2012 UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS TODAY: Football Utah vs. Northern Colorado 5:15 p.m. Rice-Eccles Stadium Women's Soccer Utah @ Colorado College 4 p.m. Colorado Springs, Colo. FRIDAY: Women's Volleyball Utah @ Santa Clara 11 a.m. Davis, Calif SATURDAY: Women's Soccer Utah @Weber State 12 p.m. Ogden, Utah Women's Volleyball Utah vs. North Carolina 1 p.m. Davis, Calif Cross Country Utah @ Utah State Open TBA Logan, Utah AP TOP 25 FOOTBALL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 USC Alabama LSU Oklahoma Oregon Georgia Florida State Michigan South Carolina Arkansas West Virginia Wisconsin Michigan State Clemson Texas Virginia Tech Nebraska Ohio State Oklahoma State TCU Stanford Kansas State Florida Boise State Louisville www.dailyutahchronicle.com FOOTBALL Utes ready for season opener 1C=111 Derek Siddoway STAFF WRITER The wait is over. After a rough first season in the Pac-r2, the Utes are starting fresh. "We're excited to get the season started," said head coach Kyle Whittingham. "We're excited to find out what team we have. All indications from spring ball and fall camp indicate we're going to be pretty competitive, but you never know until you line up against an opponent." That opponent will be Northern Colorado, which the Utes face tonight in the season opener at Rice-Eccles Stadium. And although the Bears might not be the most talented team on the Utes' schedule — they finished o-ii last year in the FCS Big Sky — Northern Colorado will certainly not be overlooked. There is a general consensus among the team. BYU can wait, the Pac-r2 can wait, next Friday's matchup against USU can wait. The foundation starts tonight. "It's a lot of work that's all going to culminate [tonight]," quarterback Jordan Wynn said. Wynn has the right to be as restless as any Ute for kickoff. After undergoing surgery and rehab throughout the end of last season and spring, he has fought off cornpetition at fall camp to take the field at the helm of a new offense. "I feel good about this offense," Wynn said. "It's pretty much using the best talents I have and I am looking forward to playing in it." Although Wynn and the rest of the offense might not get the harshest of tests against Northern Colorado, fans should look forward to seeing the Utes in myriad offensive and defensive sets. To put it simply, the game plan won't pull any punches. "We are going to do what we need to do to help us be efficient on offense and win a football game," said offensive coordinator Brian Johnson. "[Basic play calling] is not even in the thought process of anybody on our offensive staff. We want to go out and try to play a clean game and execute at a high level." To execute at that level, the Utes will need stellar blocking from an offensive line that has been in flux for most of fall camp and the first week of practice. Whittingham said Miles Mason will start at left tackle and Percy Taumoleau at right. At guard 4,4 CHAD ZAVALA/The Daily Utah Chronicle Devonte Christopher and the new Utah offense will take the field for the first time tonight against the Northern Colorado Bears at Rice-Eccles Stadium. there will be some flexibility as the Utes see how freshmen Kala Friel and Jeremiah Poutasi perform in a game setting. Not only will protecting Wynn be important, but opening lanes THE EDGE QUARTERBACK UTAH: Regardless of Jordan Wynn's prowess in the passing game, the biggest question is whether or not he can finish a season without being sidelined by an injury. Despite returning from major shoulder surgery and battling true freshman Travis Wilson for the starting position, Wynn has exhibited a firm grasp of the Utes' new offense and has maximized his time in the weight room to enter the season with as much durability as possible. NORTHERN COLORADO: In his sophomore season, quarterback Seth Lobato, a transfer from Colorado, threw for 2,448 yards, seventh best in Northern Colorado history. Now in his junior year, Lobato brings not only a cannon arm but the ability to make plays with his feet back to the Bears' pass-heavy offense. With that being said, the Big Sky is not the Pac-12 and Lobato will be tested by a loaded Utah defense. EDGE: UTAH for running back John White will also be vital for the offensive line. Ironically, a spread offense might provide White with greater opportunities with defense forced to remain honest. After sitting out of UTAH vs. NO. COLO. Which has the advantage? RUNNING BACKS UTAH: Not only do the Utes bring back their single-season rushing record holder in John White, but they have also supplemented the run with the recent additions ofjunior college transfer Kelvin York and redshirt freshman Jarrell Oliver. Although White might not match his numbers from last season because of Utah's new spread offense, opposing defenses will be unable to load the box against the run as they did in the latter part of the 2011 season. White is hungry after going through training camp without contact and will be eager to showcase his talents for a home crowd. NORTHERN COLORADO: At 5 feet 7 inches, junior running back Quentin Hildreth is of similar build to White — plus 20 pounds. That being said, his production in 2011 was not nearly as impressive. Hildreth led the team with 388 rushing yards and notched his career high at 117 yards against Colorado State but missed the final two games with an injury. His meager three touchdowns during the season were a direct contributor to the Bears' 0-11 record. RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS UTAH: The Utes' receiving corps features both experienced players, such as DeVonte Christopher and Luke Matthews, as well as young talent in sophomores Dres Anderson and tight end Jake Murphy. Utah's spread offense should provide any player with decent hands a chance for big yards. The revival of the tight end position in the offense will further confound opposing secondaries. Providing a young offensive line can give Wynn enough protection to pull the trigger. NORTHERN COLORADO: Although the Bears lost their leading receiver in Patrick Walker, they return the next three leaders in Chris Morris, Dominic Gunn and Dimitri Stimphill. However, the trio combined for only seven touchdowns and averaged fewer than 50 yards per game. Lobato will hopefully have a go-to replacement in junior Jace Davis, who returns after missing the entire 2011 season because of academic issues. EDGE: UTAH EDGE: UTAH OFFENSIVE LINE UTAH: The biggest unknown determinant of how successful the Utes' 2012 season will be is the young offensive line. After graduating John Cullen and Tony Bergstrom, the Utes will rely on senior Miles Mason to protect Jordan Wynn's blind side. The rest of the lineup, however, is still by committee with freshmen Jeremiah Poutasi and Kala Friel competing for starting time. Without a solid performance from the offensive line, it will matter little how well White runs or Wynn throws. DEFENSIVE LINE UTAH: Not only do the Utes have a potential Top 10 draft pick in senior defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, but the team also returns both Dave and Joe Kruger to further entrench the defensive unit. The emergence of Nate Fakahafua in fall camp and the multiple uses of linebacker Trevor Reilly, who will also see time at defensive end, will cause further headaches for Utah's opponents. The rest of the defense's job is that much easier if the front four collapse running lanes and implode the pocket. NORTHERN COLORADO: Including Nick Candler, the Bears will enjoy the return of four offensive linemen with starting experience. The battle of the trenches will come to head against a monstrous Utah defensive line, but if Candler and company can haggle enough time, Sobato has proven he can air the ball out. NORTHERN COLORADO: Sophmore Devontae Chapple is the only returning member of the Bears' defensive line after recording 44 tackles and earning various Big-Sky accolades in his freshman year. If the rest of his unit cannot garner attention from opposing linemen, however, Chapple will likely spend the majority of the 2012 season fighting double blocks. Incomers Marcus Lucas, Lexington Smith and Gavin Miller will need to dial up the pressure if Northern Colorado hopes to control the line of scrimmage. EDGE: UTAH EDGE: NORTHERN COLORADO LINEBACKERS UTAH: Although Utah's linebacker group has almost been completely overhauled after the loss of Chaz Walker and Matt Martinez, defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake has nothing but good things to say of his fresh crop. Multiple Utes will line up at the position in various down and distance settings but might need a couple of competitions to catch up with the speed of the game. In the Utes' 4-3 defense, youngsters such as Jared Norris, Jason Whittingham and V.J. Fehoko must be able to plug running lanes and play man coverage as well. Reilly will anchor the unit at the stud position. NORTHERN COLORADO:The Bears return both their middle and weak side linebacker in Clarence Bumpas and Cameron Friend. In addition to experience, Bumpas and Friend were also the team's defensive leaders in 2011 with 56 and 39 solo tackles, respectively. Transfer Dominick Sierra is not far behind and notched 37 solo tackles last season with Cerrito. The entire defensive unit will benefit from the solid performance of these three. EDGE: NORTHERN COLORADO live action in fall camp and part of last week's practice, White is eager to return to from beneath a nationally televised spotlight. See OPENER Page 8 Win against No. Colo. is crucial to season start JAKE BULLINGER Sports Editor tah plays an FCS opponent tonight that finished o-rr last season. The game should be a blowout. Utah's starters shouldn't have to play in the second half. Brian Johnson's offense should look as effective as Chip Kelly's. All of these things should happen, which is why tonight's game against Big Sky opponent Northern Colorado is so important for the Utes. Last year, Utah defeated Montana State, one of the Big Sky's top teams, 27-1o. A r7-point victory over an FCS opponent is nothing to crow about, but Utah played worse than its 27 points indicate. The Utes had just 292 total yards, and quarterback Jordan Wynn threw for only 'or — a total that would have been unacceptable against Alabama's defense, much U See EDGE Page 7 See FCS Page 8 |