Key Cougs are back in the game

PROVO — You gotta hand it to BYU's Ben Criddle and Austin Collie.

Criddle the defensive back and Collie the receiver. The hurt-foot guys.

They've been on the Cougars' injured reserve list most of the season, ripped out of their games. They've watched from the sidelines in pain, hobbling around practices like broken-footed hobbits.

But on Saturday against Colorado State, they returned and both delivered big plays in BYU's 35-16 win over the Rams.

They're back. Britney Spears and Al Gore could use comebacks like this.

Criddle intercepted Ram quarterback Caleb Hanie on the Rams' second possession. Collie caught a 45-yard touchdown pass, ripped off a 34-yard kickoff return (his first since Tulsa) and finished with 145 all-purpose yards and a game-high eight catches.

BYU coaches said they specifically targeted the wide receiver position against the Rams.

"I feel like my old self again," said Collie. "I can run, come out of my breaks and make plays instead of worrying about my ankle."

Criddle, the senior BYU corner, started the year nursing an injury that kept him out of the Las Vegas Bowl.

He missed spring practice, started the season nursing another foot injury and briefly lost his starting job to Andre Saulsberry.

"I feel as healthy as I have in a week-and-a-half. It shows on film of practice," said Criddle. "I can make more plays. I can come out of my breaks quicker. I'm more explosive."

When Criddle picked off Hanie in the first quarter, he made a few moves and tried to shoot up field only to slip right on his face.

"To be honest with you, that field is a little slippery out there," said Criddle. "I have to turn my hips, and if I'm going anything past 50 percent running and try to come forward, sometimes I slip. It's kind of funny to go back and watch film. It's like a sniper is out shooting. Players are going down everywhere. I should have kept my feet. I got a little excited."

Collie's basically been missing from the Cougars' offense since the Tulsa game, when he sprained an ankle and broke some ribs.

The big-play sophomore, who was in Argentina at this time last year, exploded on the scene against Arizona and UCLA and broke a 35-year-old school and MWC record (Pete Van Valkenburg) with 366 all-purpose yards against the Golden Hurricane.