Visiting Coaches On Hand For Scrimmage

PROVO -- Over three hundred high school football coaches were on campus Friday for the annual BYU Spring Football Coaches Clinic. Coaches from around the country, including Utah, California, Idaho, Arizona and Hawaii, watched the BYU team scrimmage outdoors as it closed the second week of spring practice.

Earlier in the day clinic participants had the opportunity to take part in position workshops and breakout sessions with members of the BYU coaching staff and participate in a question-and-answer session with BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. Coaches also had the chance to tour the Student Athlete Building and the Indoor Practice Facility as well.

Speakers at this year's clinic included Steve Lineweaver from Euless Trinity High School (Texas); Reggie Torres from Kahuku High School (Hawaii); Jim Ewan from Chandler High School (Arizona); Gino Mariani from Highland High School (Idaho); and Dan Herring from Centennial High School (California).

“It is great for our high school coaches here in Utah to have to chance to hear and learn from others around the country,” said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall.

During practice both Blake Morgan and Coleby Clawson recorded interceptions during 7-on-7 drills. The defense continued to dominate once the scrimmage started, holding quarterbacks Max Hall and Brenden Gaskins to a combined 0-for-9 to start. On the opening drive redshirt freshman defensive back Garett Nicholson picked off a pass from Hall intended for sophomore O'Neill Chambers.

“Garett has continued to improve every day this spring,” said Mendenhall. “He’s doing a great job.”

Linebacker Grant Nelson deflected a Gaskins pass on the following drive, while incompletions to B.J. Peterson and Rex Morgan quickly ended the set.

On a third-and-20 situation, following an offensive off-sides penalty, Hall completed his first pass of the day, a 25-yard completion to junior Tyler Kozlowski. The senior quarterback found Chambers for another 10-yard pickup, followed by an 18-yard pass to senior tight end Dennis Pitta. Hall ran for seven yards, but sophomore linebacker Jordan Pendleton recorded a sack for a five-yard loss on the next play. The offense benefited after back-to-back pass interference calls on attempts to Luke Ashworth and Chambers, lining up on the two-yard line. Hall found Pitta for a two-yard touchdown pass despite tough coverage by senior defensive back Scott Johnson. The two players both reached for the ball before falling tangled to the ground. Junior kicker Mitch Payne successfully converted the extra-point attempt.

Junior running back Harvey Unga had a chance to stretch his legs a little on the following set, running for eight yards on two carries as the Cougars practiced an overtime situation. The drive was cut short as Payne prepared to kick a 26-yard field goal. For a defense which blocked five kicks in 2008, this was not an unfamiliar situation. Senior linebacker Shawn Doman reached up and got enough of a hand on the ball to force it to the left of the upright.

“I was very impressed with our defense today,” said senior defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen. “Our guys were out there making plays. It was a lot of fun.”

Gaskins and the second-team offense came in for the final drive of the day. Malosi Te'o caught two balls for 12 yards to open the drive, but the defense continued to dominate as the scoring attempt fell short.

“I thought it was a very productive scrimmage today,” said Mendenhall. “We had some phenomenal teaching opportunities. The offense had to score to force the overtime situation, and the defense had the opportunity to block a big kick.”

Defensive back Brandon Bradley was held out of practice due to an ankle injury sustained earlier in the week and is expected back within a few days. Also missing from the action was senior linebacker Matt Bauman. Bauman will sit out 2-4 weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Friday morning.

Practice will resume on Monday as the Cougars open their third week of spring ball.