Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News 
I love it out here. – Justin Taplin-Ross
SALT LAKE CITY — It took a while, all the way to the final play as a matter of fact, for a touchdown to be scored in Utah’s Red-White Game Saturday. That’s when sophomore safety Marcus Williams picked off a pass by Conner Manning and returned it 99 yards for a score.
“It was a heckuva play,” said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, who noted that Williams got a lot of playing time last season in place of the injured Tevin Carter. “He’s really got a bright future. He’s gained about 10 or 12 pounds in the offseason. That was his problem last year, he was a little light but he’s physically more developed now and he’s got a chance to be real good.”
The 6-foot, 190-pound defensive back gave a spark to an otherwise lackluster spring finale. The White team prevailed 12-0. The other scores came on field goals from 38 and 53 yards out by Andy Phillips.
“There was not a lot of playmaking out there,” Whittingham said. “It was mostly our twos and threes and fours in some instances. But there were some guys that stepped up.”
Cornerback Brian Allen, defensive end Kylie Fitts, linebacker Sunia Tauteoli and wide receiver Raelon Singleton received praise from Whittingham. Wide receiver Jawuan Mathis played defensive back and made an impressive one-handed pick in the end zone to deny the White team a score.
Williams, though, stole the show with his pick-6 to end it all.
“I just played it the way I’m supposed to play it, “ Williams said. “I had a great line. Everybody’s coming, my whole family’s coming down for me — blocking and putting all they can into it for me.”
THAT’S A WRAP: Director of player personnel Fred Whittingham Jr. said it’s been a really fun week for the program to close out spring ball. The players will get a couple of weeks off before summer conditioning while the coaches will head out on the road recruiting.
“So it’s kind of like a nice culmination of everything for the whole school year,” Whittingham said.
ALUMNI GAME: Former Utah safety Justin Taplin-Ross (2007-10) was named MVP of the annual alumni flag football game after the White squad defeated the Red by a score of 20-6.
“It was good being back on the field in front of the Utah fans,” Taplin-Ross said. “I love it out here.”
As usual, longtime Utah broadcaster Bill Marcroft called the play-by-play over the stadium’s public address system.
“It’s like ‘old home week’ for me because I see everybody that I was very close to for 30, what almost 40 years,” said Marcroft, who was the “Voice of the Utes” on the radio for 37 years — ending with the 2005 Fiesta Bowl victory over Pittsburgh. “The new guys, I don’t know as well, but I can joke and kid and do play-by-play on the guys that I covered for so many years. It’s great to have them come back.”
Marcroft, who can still be heard on ESPN 700’s pregame shows, added his appreciation for being able to return as well.
SAMPLES APLENTY: Ex-Ute Sean O’Connell, who is now a sports radio host and UFC fighter, was among the celebrity panelists for the “Ultimate Tailgate Championship.” O’Connell estimates sampling 35 different dishes submitted by the competitors in the stadium parking lot. He said the food was really good except for two samples that were kind of suspect.
“I feel great,” O’Connell noted. “I didn’t eat breakfast this morning. I showed up really hungry and I probably should have eaten a little bit more. Honestly, I’m getting hungry again.”
EXTRA POINTS: The White topped the Red 14-0 in the 12th annual MUSS game. Quarterback Andy Swanson was named MVP . . . Injured Green Beret Nate Harris and a group of boys who raised money to deck his van out to support the Utes were honored during a break in the game. They received football season tickets from Utah athletics . . . The Utah gymnastics and men’s basketball teams netted loud applause when introduced to the crowd of 12,224 in attendance . . . The 2015 Crimson Club Hall of Famer inductees were unveiled. The class includes the 1997-98 men’s basketball team that reached the national finals, Jamal Anderson (football), Alex Jensen (basketball), Melonie Kent (softball), Angie Leonard (gymnastics), George Seifert (football), as well as contributors Kay and Zeke Dumke Jr.
Email: dirk@desnews.com
Twitter: @DirkFacer