Freddie Brown hauls in the ball for a 31-yard gain during the second quarter of Saturday's victory. (AP Photo)
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Utes Handle Northern Arizona With Ease, 45-7

Ratliff tosses three TD passes as Utah rolls to home win.

Sept. 9, 2006

Results

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - After a slow start, Utah quarterback Brett Ratliff threw three touchdown passes in the second half Saturday as the Utes rolled over Northern Arizona 45-7.

Ratliff completed 17 of 27 passes for 299 yards and no interceptions. Utah (1-1) gained 512 yards on offense and scored on seven consecutive possessions.

Bradon Godfrey caught four passes for 80 yards, including an acrobatic third-quarter touchdown that forced him to leave the game with a sprained ankle.

Derrick Richards had four catches for 79 yards and a score, while Marquis Wilson had four receptions for 72 yards and another touchdown.

A 25-yard pass to Kenny Mahone from Jason Murrietta in the first quarter gave the Lumberjacks (0-2) their only lead of the game.

The Utes posted only 39 yards of offense in the first quarter, then scored on three possessions in the second quarter.

With the game tied, Northern Arizona recovered a fumble by Utah's Darryl Poston at its 7-yard-line. But the call was overturned, the Utes kept the ball and Mike Liti rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to put his team ahead 14-7.

Just before halftime, Utah's Louie Sakoda kicked a 28-yard field goal.

Ratliff misfired on four of his first five passes. Early in the second quarter, he completed passes of 22 yards to Godfrey and 34 yards to Freddie Brown.

From there, Ratliff looked like the quarterback who led Utah to victories last season over Brigham Young and Georgia Tech.