"Trick plays have long-term benefits," he said. "It's not just the play at the moment. You run a couple of fake punts and the rest of the year, people slow down on the punt rush.

"People get a misconception that when you run a trick play you burn an opportunity. You actually utilize an opportunity and they have a long-term basis. It keeps (the defense) on their toes."

DYNAMIC DUO: At the start of the year, Ute coaches said they wanted to play both Darrell Mack and Matt Asiata this year and called the pair 1 and 1A.

So far the combination couldn't be working out much better. After five games, Asiata has one more yard than Mack 320 to 319, while Mack has one more carry 65 to 64.

"To this point, we're getting about 125 yards a week out of the tailback position," Whittingham said. "It's tough to get through the season with one back and we're fortunate to have two of them.

EXTRA POINTS: Starting offensive guard Robert Conley, who missed last week's game with a knee injury, is expected to play Thursday. Whittingham says the team is as healthy as it's been all season ... In last year's Oregon State game, both Johnson and Asiata went down with injuries ... Utah ranks No. 3 in the nation in time of possession at 35:05 ... Oregon State coach Mike Riley has a 49-40 mark in eight seasons at OSU and a 5-2 record against ranked teams ... Utah is 4-9-1 all time against Oregon State with its last win coming in 1992 by a 42-9 score.

Utah on the air

Oregon State (2-2) at

at No. 15 Utah (5-0)

Thursday, 7 p.m.

TV: Versus

Radio: 700AM

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E-mail: sor@desnews.com