In Saturday's scrimmage, the Utes had a variety of contributors. Seven runners (Mack, Casteel, Derrek Richards, Ray Stowers, Brian Hernandez, Grady and Zac Eldridge) and seven receivers (Godfrey, Casteel, Hernandez, Freddie Brown, Matt Sims, Colt Sampson and Richards) netted positive yardage.

"I think we finished strong," said Johnson.

Even so, the Utes are far from satisfied.

"We've got to get better every day starting April 22 and that's the bottom line to it," said Ludwig. "We've got to take that mode all the way through summer, all the way through fall camp and all the way through the '07 season. We've got to get better every day."

Continue what the team has done all spring, he continued.

"We got better with each practice and with each scrimmage," said Ludwig. "So I'm encouraged by that. But again, that's just the start."

Whittingham said the Utes came out of spring ball in good shape.

He was pleased with how the offense executed in the Red & White Game, especially the quarterbacks — including junior college transfer Chad Manis, who completed 11 passes while seeing action for both teams — and the receivers. Mack and Stowers each showed something and could help turn Utah's running game into a strength next fall when the injured Darryl Poston returns and highly touted recruit Matt Asiata joins the program.

"I think coming out of spring we're in good shape," said Whittingham. "The bottom line when you come out of spring is you want to have made progress as a football team, stay healthy for the most part and have some momentum going into the summer workouts. I think we've done that."

EXTRA POINTS: Kicker Louie Sakoda made seven PATs for the Red squad. He also connected on a 47-yard field goal ... Troy Bunting and Vilisoni Kotobalavu had sacks for the White ... David Cravens led the White team with four receptions. Collin Robinson had two and Sam Ewalefo one.

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E-mail: dirk@desnews.com