Utah salvaged year behind backup quarterback Ratliff

Will things be as good the second time around for Brett Ratliff?

The Utah quarterback, pressed into duty when starter Brian Johnson suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the New Mexico game, led the Utes to a 41-34 overtime win at BYU.

In his first career start at Utah, Ratliff completed 17-of-32 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 112 yards and a score as the Utes earned an invitation to the

Emerald Bowl. They'll face 24th-ranked Georgia Tech on Dec. 29 at SBC Park in San Francisco.

"It would sure be nice if he had a repeat performance. He was outstanding in the BYU game," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "Does he need to play that well? It's tough to say. We have to have a lot of people play well in order to beat these guys, in order to have a chance to beat these guys."

The Yellow Jackets will present quite a challenge for Ratliff and the Utes. They rank among the nation's leaders in total defense (10th), rushing defense (11th), scoring defense (16th) and passing defense (35th).

Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig said Georgia Tech's defensive personnel is as good as any Utah has seen all year. They're very athletic and they run a very sophisticated zone-pressure scheme.

The prospect, thereof, could be intimidating — especially for a quarterback who prior to the BYU game was just 1-of-4 passing for 21 yards and an interception in extremely limited action.

"He's the kind of guy that doesn't mind that," Whittingham said. "He's a very confident kid and I think he enjoys the responsibility that he has and he's embracing it rather than letting the pressure buckle him. He's a guy that handles that part of the responsibility very well as far as the expectations and so forth."

Ratliff's performance at LaVell Edwards Stadium earned him Mountain West Conference offensive player of the week honors.

Now comes the encore.

"He's a very confident young man and I expect that he will have another good football game," said Whittingham, who praised Ratliff's preparation, mentality and demeanor. "As good as the BYU game? That's anybody's guess. But I certainly expect him to play well."

Georgia Tech, however, has different plans. Head coach Chan Gailey acknowledged that Ratliff will be the initial focal point of the Yellow Jackets' defense.