Looks like Utes are starting to catch on

All throughout fall camp, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham sang the praises of his receiving corps, calling it the best in the Mountain West Conference with as many as eight quality receivers.

Then his receivers promptly went out and laid a giant egg in the loss at UCLA, dropping passes and looking like an average bunch at best.

But after their collective performance in Utah's 45-7 win over Northern Arizona Saturday night, the Ute receivers are "out of the doghouse" according to Whittingham.

Five Ute receivers caught passes from Brett Ratliff, many doing so in brilliant fashion to bail out their quarterback on throws that were just off at times.

Derrek Richards, Bradon Godfrey and Marquis Wilson each caught four passes and each caught a touchdown pass. Freddie Brown caught three passes, while Brent Casteel caught two.

"The receiving corps had some spectacular catches," Whittingham said. "Derrek Richards had a couple of incredible catches and Marquis Wilson, Bradon Godfrey, Freddie Brown and Brent Casteel all did a nice job."

Richards said the receivers took it as "a personal challenge" from Whittingham when the receivers were served last in Saturday's pre-game meal as part of their punishment for last week's off-day.

"We got called out because we didn't play well at UCLA," Richards said. "Coach Whit said we had to step it up. He even made us eat last at the pre-game meal."

When asked about it, Whittingham said, "How did you hear that?," but laughed it off, saying, "Absolutely, they were dead last, even after the developmental squad guys."

Godfrey, the transfer from Southern Utah who had to leave the game with a sprained ankle on his touchdown grab in the third quarter, made the first outstanding catch. It came on a diving 22-yard gain on the first play of the second quarter, that kept a drive alive that resulted in the first Ute touchdown.

Then on a third-down play early in the third quarter, Richards stretched out and dove to make a catch for a 38-yard gain.

"I was hoping I could keep up in stride ... Ratliff laid it out there ... I had my guy beat and had to make a great play," Richards said.

The next play was the 24-yarder to Godfrey in the right front corner of the end zone.

On Utah's next series, Richards caught his own 24-yard pass in the end zone, again stretching out to make the grab.

Then early in the fourth quarter, it was Wilson's turn as he snagged a ball that had been tipped and barely got his feet down before falling out of the end zone.

"We struggled last week and came into this game slow, but once we started rolling we made some big plays," said Ratliff.

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