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SALT LAKE CITY — Stop doubting Utah already.
At least that's the message Utah veteran receiver Kenneth Scott wants people to do. He's tired of the trash talking and the doubt cast about Utah's offense and the team's ability to compete in the Pac-12.
"I'm tired of people talking trash," Scott said after Utah defeated Oregon in lopsided fashion.
Scott, who has seen most of his targets this season end in a pass interference call on the defense, was animated in Saturday's victory after pulling down two quick catches early in the game. It was a celebration of Scott emerging again as one of Utah's top playmakers and taking back his position as a viable threat.
"I'm just doing my thing, and when the ball's up in the air go get it," he said. "I'm just trying to make stuff happen and display my energy. It feels good catching the ball without getting a PI. That's just me being me out there."
Until the Oregon game, Utah's receiving core was relatively absent in the offense. Besides freshman Britain Covey and a smattering of the occasional other player, Utah had few playmakers catching the ball and having an impact on the offense. While some of that was the vanilla schemes Utah dialed up in its first few games and a quarterback change midway through the Utah State game, the receivers showed up in great fashion against Oregon.
"I'm tired of hearing people say we don't have any playmakers," Scott said. "We've got playmakers all over the field. Give us the opportunity and we're going to do it. It's all about the opportunities you get, and just because some are not getting as much opportunities as other people doesn't mean they're not good or anything. People judge people off stats, and stats don't mean anything unless you watch the film."
Senior quarterback Travis Wilson targeted nine receivers in Utah's win over Oregon, with Covey and freshman tight end Caleb Repp coming down with a combined four touchdowns. Scott, too, added a receiving touchdown and was the team's leading receiver with 75 yards on six catches. In all, Utah receivers accounted for 257 yards of the team's 530 total yards on offense.
"I think the offense that we have in place is really good and really stable for the athletes we have on this team," Wilson said. "I still feel like we're missing those big, big plays, but I think with what we're doing and being effective, those big plays will come."
"The receivers stepped up. Scottie had a big game for us," head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "That loosens everything up for Booker and everyone else in the run game. It makes us a complete offense. When we throw the ball like we did Saturday, it makes us a complete offense and not a one-dimensional offense."
Even after a dominant win, Scott said he gets the impression that many are still surprised Utah could compete with the likes of Oregon.
"It seemed like everybody was surprised that we beat them. During the whole week we had the confidence like we're going to beat these guys as long as we execute and do the things that we do, and that's what happened," he said. "This team is something special. We knew what we had going into this game and we had the confidence that we could do the things that we can do. And as long as we believe in each other that's all that matters."
Although a nice quality win, Scott said the team will not take it easy and coast in its remaining eight games of the season. Even on a bye week when the coaching staff has lessened the workload, Scott is organizing unofficial practices with teammates to keep the momentum and to get the reps in.
"There ain't no time off. I don't want to be rusty, so we're going to come in here and I'm going to get a couple of guys and work out," he said. "We're just going to throw the ball around and get the timing cohesiveness together. It's a big year. We don't have the time to be off.
"I stopped celebrating (Sunday). I'm on to Cal; they're a great team," Scott added. "Every Pac-12 team is athletic and has talent. It's going to come down to who's more efficient and effective. We've just got to make sure we execute and build on our offensive production last week."
