QB, Receiver Star for Utah Utes Football
Terrance Cain, David Reed Lead Way in Season Opener
Cain completed 20 of 30 passes for 286 yards and two touchdowns, and Reed had 10 catches for 172 yards and a TD in Utah's season-opening 35-17 victory over Utah State on Thursday, Sept. 3, in Salt Lake City.
It was no surprise that No. 17 Utah dispatchd its state rival and extended the nation's longest winning streak to 15 games. And it perhaps wasn't too astonishing that the Utes ran up 519 yards of total offense -- including 164 yards and two touchdowns from running back Matt Asiata.
Utah State ranked just 99th nationally in total defense in 2008, surrendering 412.7 yards per game during a 3-9 campaign. And the 35 points the Aggies gave up was almost exactly what they yielded per game last season (34.67).
Still, the Utes had to be encouraged by the productivity of Cain and Reed.
Utah lost Brian Johnson, the winningest quarterback in school history, from a team that knocked off Alabama in the Sugar Bowl last season. And junior Cain got the start only after a competitive battle with freshman Jordan Wynn.
Reed, a senior, saw significant playing time in 2008, but was only the team's fourth-leading receiver. The top three -- Freddie Brown, Bradon Godfrey and Brent Casteel -- graduated.
Both Cain and Reed answered many questions about whether they're capable of filling their new roles.
Terrance Cain Was Nation's Top JC Quarterback
Cain might seem undersized for an NCAA quarterback, standing just 5-foot-11 and weighing 185 pounds. But he's agile, and he knows how to sling the football.
At Brinn Junior College in Brenham, Tex., last season, Cain was named National Junior College Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year after passing for 3,138 yards and 29 touchdowns. Cain completed 68.4 of his passes -- one year after setting a national JC record with a 71.1 completion percentage.
Before that, Cain starred at North Shore High in Houston.
That Cain had won Utah's starting QB job was not known -- at least publicly -- until Thursday's game. Coach Kyle Whittingham did not make a formal announcement naming the starter.
David Reed Made Critical TD Catch in Sugar Bowl Victory
Like Cain, Reed came to the Utes after a record-setting junior college career.
A 6-0, 190-pounder from New Britain, Conn., Reed was a JC Gridwire All-America at Pasadena City College in California. In 2007, he set a national record with 111 catches in 10 games. At the prep level, Reed led New London High to a pair of Connecticut championships.
In his first season at Utah, Reed had 25 catches for 427 yards and six touchdowns -- including a crucial 28-yard TD grab vs. Alabama that gave the Utes a 28-17 lead.
Reed is also a threat as a kickoff returner, averaging a 25.4 yards a return in 2008. He averaged 24 yards on three runbacks vs. Utah State.
Productive Night Wasn't Perfect
The pass-catch duo provided a number of highlights for Utah on Thursday night, the biggest being a 65-yard touchdown connection in the first quarter.
But it definitely wasn't a perfect night. A promising third quarter drive on which Cain and Reed connected five times ended when the latter lost a fumble on the Utah State 42. In the second quarter, Cain threw an interception deep in Utes territory that set up an easy TD for Utah State.
"I played alright tonight," Cain said in a statement posted on the team's official website. "I know I can play a lot better, but I gave a good effort. The team played hard and made a lot of plays."
Utah's next game is Saturday, Sept. 12, at San Jose State. The following week, the Utes travel to Oregon to take on the No. 16 Ducks.
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