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Running back John White had said he was ready to make his debut for the Utah Utes.

And boy, did he look like it.

While many of his offensive teammates strained to find their rhythm in what coach Kyle Whittingham charitably described as a "less than impressive" 27-10 victory over Montana State at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday night, the junior college transfer enjoyed a breakout performance in his first start.

White rushed for 150 yards on just 19 carries, scored two touchdowns — one on a pass from quarterback Jordan Wynn — set up a field goal with a long run and helped the Utes grind out a victory when the Bobcats still posed a plausible threat.

"He saw the holes, he hit the holes hard," Whittingham said. "Ran with a purpose. … He was a very productive player for us."

Just think, it could have been even better.

But White slipped and tripped all alone on the turf near midfield in the fourth quarter, when he appeared to be on his way to a 75-yard touchdown run.

Instead, he had to settle for a 24-yarder that was no match for the beautiful memory of his touchdowns — the first a 5-yard pass from Wynn in the first quarter and the second a 10-yard run in the second that gave the Utes a 24-0 lead and made it appear they would cruise to a blowout victory.

"Celebrating with my teammates, that was the best part," White said. "It doesn't get any better than this. … It's the happiest thing on earth, for me. Just seeing my teammates running to me and just jumping up, you know, giving a shoulder pound. It was great."

White was the first new starter at running back for the Utes since 2007, after the departure of three-year co-starters Matt Asiata and Eddie Wide. He had rushed for 2,527 yards and 34 touchdowns during his career at L.A. Harbor College before joining the Utes.

Without him, who knows what would have happened?

Whittingham complained about his team's "abysmal" passing game — just 101 yards through the air, with 6.7 yards per completion — and said the Utes should have tried to throw downfield more considering how effectively they were running.

In the end, the Utes needed White to help keep possession and burn the clock and prevent any fluke Bobcat comebacks. White gained 97 of his yards in the second half, including 72 in the fourth quarter.

"John White was definitely impressive with the way he ran the ball," Whittingham said. —

Waiting his turn

• Highly recruited freshman running back Harvey Langi does not get any carries for the Utes in their 27-10 victory over Montana State. But Langi does see action on special teams.

• Coach Kyle Whittingham said Langi could get carries at USC on Sept. 10, if fellow running back Tauni Vakapuna cannot recover from a sprained ankle suffered against the Bobcats.