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As John White goes, so go the Utah Utes. Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has made that statement several times this season following big games by the junior running back.

Unfortunately for the Utes (7-5, 4-5), that statement rang true in Friday's 17-14 loss to Colorado (3-10, 2-7) as well.

White rushed just 10 times for 28 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury.

While his effort was enough to move him ahead of Dameon Hunter (1,396 yards in 2001) into second place for the most rushing yards in a season at Utah with 1,405, it wasn't nearly enough to help the Utes overcome a devastating loss to the Buffs.

"He is most of our offense," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "All you have to do is watch us play, and you can figure that out. We still ran the football. Tauni [Vakapuna] came in and ran effectively. There wasn't much of a dropoff."

However, Vakapuna, who finished with 14 carries for 77 yards, committed a crucial turnover when he fumbled with 4:38 remaining in the game on Utah's 36-yard line.

The ball was recovered by Colorado's Curt Cunningham.

"It was my fault, that was it," Vakapuna said. "We had an opportunity, and I lost it for the team."

Vakapuna added that if White had remained in the game, the Utes probably would have won.

Luckily for the Utes, White's injury might not be serious enough to keep him out of the bowl game, Whittingham said.

While White's injury might have been the most damaging to Utah's chances of winning, it wasn't the most frightening of the day.

On the play after White went down, Utah junior right guard Sam Brenner suffered a neck injury.

The game was delayed approximately 14 minutes while he was attended to on the field and taken off in an ambulance.

Brenner gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was wheeled into the ambulance, a motion that drew one of the biggest cheers in an otherwise dismal afternoon for the Utes.

X-rays and a CT scan performed at the University of Utah Hospital were negative, according to his parents, Jim Brenner and Eileen Malik. Doctors did say they believe there is ligament damage, but Sam does have full motion in all his extremities.

"[Sam] was upset they took him away in the ambulance," Malik said.

"He wanted to go back to the sideline, and he was angry they wouldn't let him."

Offensive line coach Tim Davis went to the hospital to be with the family following the loss.

Utah defensive lineman Joe Kruger also left the game in the second half with an ankle injury. Like White, Kruger could be ready for the bowl game depending upon when the Utes play.

Tribune reporter Kyle Goon contributed to this story. —

Utah rushing vs. Colorado

Player Att-Yds

Tauni Vakapuna 14-77

John White 10-28

Shawn Asiata 1-1

Jon Hays 8 -(-17)

Total 33-89