After the second touchdown scored by the Utes in each of Utah’s past two games, Morgan Scalley has elected to go for two.
Against Arkansas, after quarterback Devon Dampier found pay dirt to put the Utes up 13-3 with 9:23 remaining in the second quarter, Utah didn’t kick an extra point. Instead, long snapper Logan Castor lined up a few steps away from where the five linemen and backfield were lined up in a “swinging gate” formation. The snap was shoveled by Castor from the right side to Mana Carvalho, who ran it in for 2 points to give Utah a 15-3 lead.
Last Saturday versus Utah State, the Utes went for two again after their second touchdown, this one a 9-yard rushing score by quarterback Byrd Ficklin that put Utah up 13-0 with 5:30 left in the first quarter.
It was another unique formation with Castor again the snapper. This time, everyone was lined up to the right of Castor, who had kicker Dillon Curtis in the backfield behind him. Curtis clapped his hands as if he was going to take the snap, but Castor snapped the ball diagonally to Carvalho, who ran toward the right side of the end zone but was stopped short of the goal line by Brevin Hamblin.
Scalley’s decision to go for 2 early in the game in a situation where Utah doesn’t “need” 2 points is pretty unconventional.
What is Scalley’s thought process on the 2-point conversions?
“The thought of going for 2 is, first of all, we want to make people pay that aren’t necessarily disciplined in how to align to these different formations that we show,” Scalley said. “Part of it too is forcing teams to have to prepare for something that you don’t spend a whole lot of time aligning to stuff like that, so getting that on film.”
Of course, if the 2-point conversion works, like it did against Arkansas, it gives the Utes an additional point that could come in handy later and change late-game strategy.
Scalley, who says he is an “aggressive guy by nature,” says Ute fans will see more 2-point conversions throughout the season.
“We felt like we had it and unfortunately it wasn’t there, but I’m an aggressive guy by nature and I like taking advantage of stuff that I see. It didn’t work. Some will work, some won’t, but we’re not going to ever do anything without repping it and being prepared,” Scalley said.
“But you’re going to see more of it. Let’s just put it that way.”
Scalley visits injured Utah State linebacker in the hospital
Utah State linebacker Harrison Taggart, who suffered a scary injury in last week’s game versus Utah, posted a positive update on his condition on Sunday.
Taggart was injured in the second quarter of Saturday’s game after his helmet made contact with Daniel Bray’s knee while Taggart was tackling the Utah running back.
Both Utah State coach Bronco Mendenhall and Utah coach Morgan Scalley both immediately ran out to check on him alongside the Utah State athletic trainers. Taggart laid motionless on the field for a number of minutes and was placed on a spine board and loaded into an ambulance, which took him to the University of Utah Hospital.
Taggart was able to point to the sky as he was loaded into the ambulance.
On Sunday, Taggart posted an update on Instagram.
“Woke up with feeling and starting to get some movement in my legs! God is good. Thanks for all the texts and prayers,” Taggart wrote.
Scalley visited Taggart at the hospital and said that he was in “good spirits.”
“Harrison, I’ve known him through recruiting. His mom and I went to high school together, so I just wanted to make sure that things were OK and went and visited with the family for a little bit,” Scalley said.
Taggart’s position coaches were visiting with him at the time Scalley arrived at his room, and they invited him in.
Taggart may be released from the hospital Monday or Tuesday.
“He was still there last night. I think he’s going to be (at the hospital) today and depending on how the rehab goes, they’ll be either home tonight or tomorrow. I mean, just heartbreaking. He was in good spirits, joking around, but never want to see that happen to anybody,” Scalley said.
