This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah fans thought they were watching an in-sync, high-octane offense that put up 59 points on Saturday afternoon, but there was more to it.
They were watching a contest of one-upsmanship from Dres Anderson and Kenneth Scott, a friendly rivalry that worked very well for the Utes and devastated Fresno State's secondary. In a race for catches, yards and touchdowns, neither wanted to fall too far behind.
"We always have a competition," Scott said. "When I am on the field and I score first, [Anderson] just says to me that he has to get one of those. If he was to score first, then I would say to myself that I have to get one of them."
Good thing for Utah that Travis Wilson had enough big throws to go around.
Scott had more catches, finishing with six for 77 yards. Anderson gained more ground, going for 84 yards on three receptions.
They had two touchdowns each. And everytime one of them makes a big play, it's easy for the other to bust the next big aerial assault.
"Way easier," Anderson said. "I don't always see a safety over the top. I'm happy, I get man coverage."
Against this offense, through two games, "man coverage" may as well be no coverage.
That combination, a ferocious back-and-forth, was what the Utes hoped they would get last year before injuries wrecked their dreams. Scott was out for the year within the first half of the first game of 2013, and Westlee Tonga, another important passing component, was done by the fourth game. It all crashed down when Wilson was lost for the year due to what was then seen as a life-threatening medical condition.
Having the pieces back, the Utes are finally realizing their full offensive potential.
"We try to do our thing," Anderson said. "We both work so hard in practice, so to see a show-and-tell on the field is a great thing."
With 107 points in the first two weeks, Utah thinks it's a great thing as well.
Twitter: @kylegoon —
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Ute receivers Dres Anderson and Kenneth Scott tried to make Saturday's game one of one-upsmanship. Their day, by the numbers:
Player Rec Yds TDs
Anderson 3 84 2
Scott 6 77 2