Utah Utes football: Quarterbacks take U. spotlight

Utah's annual Red & White Game lacked a little star power with many projected starters and contributors sidelined for precautionary reasons.

Even so, head coach Kyle Whittingham considered it a positive.

"We got a good look at a lot of the twos and threes," he said after Chad Manis quarterbacked the White squad to an 18-10 win over the Red team Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Manis had a hand in all three of his team's touchdowns — running for two scores and passing for another — as the Utes capped off spring ball.

Quarterback play led Whittingham's postgame evaluation. He was pleased with the performances of Manis and true freshman DeVonte Christopher, who led all rushers with 84 yards for the Red team.

Whitttingham said Manis did a nice job running the offense, while Christopher showed his big-play capabilities and promise as a quarterback of the future.

"To get those guys some experience was invaluable," Whittingham said.

Returning starter Brian Johnson played the first series for both teams before giving way to the reserves. Back-up Corbin Louks suffered a concussion in last week's scrimmage and did not participate.

Though the weather was warm, windy conditions adversely affected the passing game. Only the first score came via the air. It came with 5:19 remaining in the first quarter when Manis teamed with Freddie Brown on a 12-yard scoring strike. Brown, who led all receivers with three catches in the game, was singled out by Whittingham as the most improved player in camp earlier this week.

"It's a lot of fun, but I'm not concerned about individual accolades. It's all about the team and how we do," said Brown. "That's the most important thing."

As for the Red & White Game, Brown noted that the team capped a good spring by coming out and having fun.

No one, it seemed, had an more enjoyable outing than honorary coach and guest kicker Eric Weddle of the San Diego Chargers. The former Utah star not only picked up his first coaching victory, he also stole the show as a player — NCAA rules allow such participation from alumni.

After Manis scored his second rushing touchdown — following an 8- yard run in the second quarter with a 5-yarder midway through the third — Weddle attempted to kick a PAT. It was blocked and scooped up by Justin Taplin-Ross, who ran 12 yards before pitching it to teammate Sean Smith. Donned only in a golf shirt and shorts, Weddle pursued the ball and chased Smith 50 yards into the end zone. He caught Smith on the sidelines and playfully fell on top of him.