This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The moves were anything but shaky.

Feigning right, then bouncing left and burning straight, Utah's Shaky Smithson was as smooth as smooth gets. He glided like a ballet artist and juked like an in-rhythm dancer. And he torched the University of Nevada-Las Vegas for a 77-yard touchdown via punt return that boxed up a game that temporarily was on the verge of unraveling.

Smithson's sprint across white lines gave the Utes a 23-10 lead midway through the third quarter. And it was just one of many highlight reel-worthy special teams moments that helped guide Utah to a 38-10 win over UNLV on Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"Things happen just like that when you've got the ball in your hands," Smithson said. "I just felt it."

Smithson shook things up the most. He returned five punts for 128 yards, and brought a kickoff back 22 yards. His TD return was the seventh-longest in school history, and the first for the Utes since Derrek Richards torched Utah State in 2007.

But Smithson was not the only Ute who felt it.

Running back Eddie Wide delivered a slicing blow during punt-return coverage that resulted in a Rebels fumble and an ensuing Utes recovery, setting up a quick-strike Utah TD.

The ever-reliable Joe Phillips nailed his lone field-goal attempt. He split the uprights from 44 yards out, converting his 12th consecutive kick.

Punters Nick Marsh and Sean Sellwood combined to produce four well-placed kicks for a 41.2 yards-per-punt average, once pinning UNLV on its own 9-yard line.

And the Utes forced a fumble during a kickoff for the second consecutive game.

Smithson and Wide said special teams are a direct source of pride and respect for Utah. Coach Kyle Whittingham went a step further.

"It's a huge emphasis of our program," Whittingham said. "It's part of our four-point plan to win."

The Utes did just that Saturday, eventually outgunning the lesser-considered Rebels. But while special teams were a goldmine for Utah, Whittingham could not ignore a glaring deficit.

A UNLV punt block during the third quarter was returned for a touchdown. It marked the second time in two weeks the Utes have failed to protect their kicker and an opponent has traded failure for points.

Whittingham said he would have to dissect the game tape to detect the main source of the problem. He estimated that a slow snap and missed assignments are the main culprits. But he is certain that Utah's punting game is not displaying the same level of expertise the rest of Utah's special teams play produced while running the Rebels out of Salt Lake City.

"It's unacceptable," Whittingham said.

bsmith@sltrib.com On Twitter: tribjazz —

Playing (mostly) special

Big return • Shaky Smithson returns a punt for a 77-yard touchdown during the third quarter, making it 30-10 Utah.

Big kick • Utah punter Sean Sellwood nails a 60-yard kick during his only attempt of the game.

Big blow • The Utes allow their second touchdown via punt block in two games.