Team Takes Spirited Practice Outside

PROVO -- The football team took its third spring practice outdoors for a spirited session in pads on Thursday.

“It was a nice change to be outside,” said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. “We spent the first two days inside, but since we were in pads today it was nice to get out here. Tomorrow we’ll also plan to be outdoors.”

The Cougar defense successfully held the offense out of the endzone on 4-of-5 drives during 11-on-11 drills, including back-to-back three-and-out situations.

During the first of the two short drives, BYU’s running game was unable to move the ball. The second started with a sack on quarterback Brenden Gaskins by Shiloah Te'o and Rick Wolfley and a short five-yard pass to redshirt freshman tight end Braden Brown. With the cheers of its teammates behind it, the defense forced Gaskins to throw an incomplete pass to Brown to end the set.

Senior quarterback Max Hall sparked the offense on the final drive of the day, connecting with senior tight end Dennis Pitta on 4-of-5 passes, including a crucial 15-yard pass on third down. After consecutive passes to Pitta for four and six yards, respectively, sophomore running back Bryan Kariya ran into the endzone for a seven-yard touchdown.

Hall finished the afternoon completing 10-of-14 passes for 71 yards, while Pitta led all receivers with 45 yards on five receptions.

The Cougars will practice again Friday afternoon to close their first week of spring ball.