Dres Anderson has got his partner-in-crime back.
Last season when Kenneth Scott went down with a season-ending injury, Anderson was forced to beat double coverage after double coverage. Through two games in 2014, though, Anderson is finding a life a bit easier
“Way easier,” Anderson said. “I don’t always see a safety over the top. I’m happy I get man coverage.”
Having Scott back on the field has given Utah a dimension they didn’t have last year. The man his teammates refer to as ‘the Dark Knight’ is a complete receiver. He’s fast, strong, has great hands and always seems to know where he is on the field.
In the first quarter of Utah’s 59-27 victory over Fresno State, Travis Wilson threw a fade route to Scott, giving the receiver a chance to show off his talent.
Scott rose up over a helpless Bulldog defender, snagging the ball out of the air for the first touchdown of the contest, That grab helped spark the Utah blowout, but it also sparked another competition.
After the touchdown, Scott said Anderson came up to him and said, “Oh, I got to get me one.”
The scoring contest was on.
On the next Utah drive, Anderson got behind the Fresno State secondary and Wilson hit him in stride for a 38-yard strike.
“(Anderson) scored, and I was like, ‘Oh well, I have to get me (another) one,’” Scott said.
With just under five minutes remaining in the second quarter and the Utes on the Bulldogs’ 36-yard line, Wilson hit Scott on a 10-yard curl route up the far sideline. Scott wasn’t content with just a first down. The elusive wideout broke tackle after tackle, taking it into the end zone for a score.
Scott: 2
Anderson: 1.
Anderson would even things up yet again in the third quarter, however, when he was the recipient of a five-yard pass from Wilson for his second touchdown.
With the Utes’ lead swelling, Anderson and Scott rested, content to settle for a tie – at least for the day.
“We have a friendly competition, nothing too crazy though,” Anderson said.
That competition led to the receivers combining for 161 yards and four touchdowns. The impressive stat line didn’t surprise either Anderson or Scott.
“We expect to do those things,“ Scott said. “We have high standards for ourselves this year. We believe we can accomplish those things, [so] it came to no surprise for us.”
With Scott back in the fold, head coach Kyle Whittingham has the offense he’d envisioned. Offensive coordinator Dave Christensen has built an uptempo, fast-paced NASCAR offense that can get up and down the field in a hurry.
The two receivers feel Christensen has given them an offense to make them a top end one, two punch out wide.
“Me and K Scott have been seeing this for a long time, being a great one, two combo,” Anderson said. “Christensen coming in and implementing his things, and it’s going real well.”
Scott readily admits the duo’s competition is ongoing, both on and off the field, something seen during the post-game press conference. As punter and Australian native Tom Hackett answered questions, both Anderson and Scott took turns trying out there Australian accents.
“Hey, mate,” Scott said.
“I like it, mate,” Anderson said.
For Anderson, he is just glad to have his ‘mate’ back on the field.
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