This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

As Utah celebrated the first win of the season Thursday night, the person who took center stage wasn't the new quarterback who had just thrown for two touchdowns, or a member of the defense that didn't allow any points at all.

Troy McCormick, the junior running back who accumulated 110 all-purpose yards and scored his first touchdown since 2014, took the honors of "lighting the U" with a prop switch — a nod not only to his performance against SUU, but also how far he had to come to get there after rehabbing from a knee injury.

"I just feel blessed to come back from an injury like that feeling full speed," he said afterward. "I just feel blessed to be playing this year."

Including McCormick, players getting their second chance took a leading role in Utah's 24-0 victory over Southern Utah.

The last time McCormick played was in the 2014 Las Vegas Bowl. The following spring, he tore his ACL in practice. At the time, he was expected to play a large role in Utah's offense.

The start of the 2016 season brought that vision back into focus: Not only did McCormick break off some of the biggest runs of the evening on an otherwise lackluster night in the run game, he also caught three passes, including a 33-yard screen that led to Utah's second touchdown.

The first he ran in himself, untouched, from four yards out. His evening, along with a less-than-stellar night for Joe Williams (49 yards and a fumble), vaulted him squarely into the conversation to be Utah's starting back.

"Troy McCormick was a positive for us tonight," coach Kyle Whittingham said. "Best guy is going to play. There's no favorites."

The best guy in the Utah receiving corps was Tim Patrick, seeing his first action since his 2014 season ended against Oregon. The last time fans saw Patrick on the field at Rice-Eccles Stadium, he was being taken off in a cart.

What a contrast, then, to see the 6-foot-5, 210-pound receiver devastating SUU's secondary to the tune of 105 yards and two touchdowns. On his highlight play, a 57-yard touchdown, Patrick shook off Thunderbirds corner Emmanual Roker like an old coat. He also scored on a jump ball in the end zone, a tricky catch against SUU's Jarmaine Doubs.

"Fantastic," he said. "I got my first touchdown out of the way, so that was exciting."

The man throwing the pass was junior Troy Williams, who got his second-ever start, but his first at his new school. Williams' 272-yard, two-score debut was substantially better than the two-pick performance he got when he started at Washington.

Players at their second school on defense — Kylie Fitts and Sunia Tauteoli — were among the leaders in tackles. Hunter Dimick, who missed most of last season with injury, got a sack to bring his career total to 16.

The Utes weren't perfect, a point that Whittingham underlined afterward. But that's what Week 2 will be for: a second chance.

Twitter: @kylegoon —

BYU at Utah

P Sept. 10, 7 p.m. TV • FOX