Offense Scores Twice During Monday's Pass Attack

PROVO -- The BYU offense found success through the air during team drills on Monday as the Cougars opened their final week of spring practice.

“The initial plan was to start preparation for our first opponent today,” said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. “But there were a couple things I wanted to accomplish today instead, like more firmly establish our two-deep.”

Six different players were on the receiving end of passes thrown by senior quarterback Max Hall, who completed 12-of-19 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns on the day. Sophomore J.J. Di Luigi led all receivers with two receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore O'Neill Chambers followed with 50 yards on three catches.

The air strike started from the get-go as the first-team offense needed only three plays on its opening drive to get the first score. Hall found junior Luke Ashworth and Chambers for back-to-back receptions of 39 and 31 yards, respectively. On first-and-goal Hall threw a short pass up the middle to senior tight end Dennis Pitta for the touchdown.

A quick third-and-out was the story of the second series as the BYU defense held two runners to short gains. Linebacker Jameson Frazier picked up the first of two sacks he recorded on the day on the following third-and-seven play.

After a three-yard gain on the ground by junior Harvey Unga, Hall felt the defensive pressure and forced an incomplete pass. On third-down he connected with junior Tyler Kozlowski for 12-yards to move the chains. Senior linebacker Coleby Clawson stepped up defensively on the following two plays, providing coverage on an incomplete pass intended for Ashworth and tackling Unga who ran for only a one-yard gain. In another third-down situation Hall threw a short pass to Di Luigi who ran it in for a long 59-yard touchdown.

The offense did not score again, but Hall continued to find open receivers for notable gains, including Pitta for 19 yards, Kozlowski for 20 yards and Ashworth and Chambers for 10 yards each.

“I really like how this team has trained and progressed this spring,” said Mendenhall. “Now whether we become a successful team or not this season will depend on critical plays at critical moments.”

The Cougars will practice on Wednesday and Friday this week as they near the end of spring practice. Practices are closed to the public.