This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

With Jordan Wynn's passes sailing high above the turf at Rice-Eccles Stadium, it was easy to ignore what was going on back down at ground level.

The Utes' rushing game, suspect throughout this dominant season, for the second straight game was balanced and, more importantly, successful. Eddie Wide, who had nine carries to Matt Asiata's seven, was the speed back the Utes have been hoping for.

He ran for 71 yards — an average of 7.9 per carry — and a touchdown, while Asiata picked up 39 yards and two touchdowns. Wide also caught a 30-yard screen pass from Wynn in the second quarter to help break the game open.

"The pass opened up the run game for us," Wide said.

That's the way it's supposed to work. The running backs aren't just starting to show some punch — they appear to be a more-than-effective one-two punch.

"It's much like we had in '08," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said, referring the duo of Darrell Mack and Asiata.

Then, Whittingham compared his modern pair to the 2004 backs, Marty Johnson and Quinton Ganther.

2008? 2004? Utah can only hope Asiata and Wide replicate the success that led to the two BCS-bowl seasons.

Last week, at Wyoming, Asiata rushed for 109 yards on 16 carries.

Wide's highlights this week included back-to-back runs of 15 and 36 yards in the third quarter. The second went for a touchdown and put the Utes up 38-6.

The stat book will show that Saturday, for how good he was, Wide didn't even lead the Utes in rushing. It was Sausan Shakerin, whose 80-yard total was skewed by a 72-yard touchdown scamper in the game's final minutes.

Regardless of who got them, there weren't many carries to be had for the Utes. In some offenses, a back gets 30 carries. Utah rushed only 29 times against the Rams and Wide led the team with nine. It seems to be working, though, and neither of the primary backs seems to have a problem with it.

"It helps keep us fresh," Wide said. "So we don't mind."

boram@sltrib.com Twitter: @oramb —

Matt Asiata

Season totals entering Saturday • 71 carries, 354 yards, 3 TDs

Saturday against CSU • 7 carries, 39 yards, 2 TDs

Eddie Wide

Season totals entering Saturday • 66 carries, 348 yards, 6 TDs

Saturday against CSU • 9 carries, 71 yards, 1 rush TD, 1 receiving TD