OGDEN — Throughout spring ball and into fall camp, Ron McBride said he was a talented runner that could hurt opponents in a number of ways.

Yet, through the first few weeks, Marky Filipe was used mostly as a receiver out of the slot picking up a few yards each game and rarely seeing time in the backfield.

"He's like a guy that can score at any time," said McBride, the second-year coach at Weber State. "He's so explosive, and he can do so many things."

But with a nagging hamstring injury, Filipe wasn't able to hit the ground running the way he expected to. And with the Wildcats trying to get starting back Adrian Conway back into rhythm after an injury-shortened 2005 season, Filipe wasn't asked to carry the ball even when healthy.

Now, though, the Wildcats don't have much choice but to use Filipe in the backfield, and he's showing the skills that made him one of the biggest surprises in the preseason.

He had only one carry through the first four games of the season. Since that time, though, Filipe is blossoming as a runner as well as a receiver.

On only his second carry of the season, the senior from Taylorsville High sprinted up the middle of the field for a 26-yard touchdown in the first quarter against Northern Colorado. He didn't carry the ball again in the game but had five catches for another 20 yards.

A week later at Sacramento State, Filipe again flashed his explosive play-making capabilities when he busted free for a 63-yard run that set up a score.

His season totals so far? Four carries for 83 yards and a touchdown. He also has 18 receptions for 177 yards and a score.

With the Wildcats resting up after a bye week and facing perennial Big Sky power Montana on Saturday, the natural question is if Filipe's big play capabilities will be rewarded with more touches, particularly in the backfield.

"I'd like to carry the ball more," Filipe said. "I like running back a little better. But I'll do whatever the coaches want. I just want to help the team anyway I can."

Filipe ended up at Weber State after spending time at Southern Utah where he helped the Thunderbirds defeat the Wildcats in 2004. But a change in coaches led him to reassess his situation at SUU, and he moved north to Ogden where McBride was setting up shop. He sat the 2005 season out as a redshirt and is now one of the most dependable players on WSU's offense.

The former Warrior played at Dixie State for a season before serving an LDS Church mission to California. He enrolled at SUU and averaged 128 all-purpose yards per game.

"I felt like this was a good place for me," Filipe said. "I trusted the coaches here and felt comfortable. So I'm glad I made the move."

As he keeps breaking off big plays, the Wildcats are glad he made the move, too.

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E-mail: jeborn@desnews.com