Fans Enjoy Second Open Practice

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PROVO -- Over 800 fans were in attendance as the Cougars wore full pads for their practice Tuesday morning.

Sophomore JJ Di Luigi got involved in the action early during blue zone drills, accounting for the first three plays, both in the air and on the ground. Quarterback Max Hall completed a short one-yard pass to tight end Dennis Pitta, who was stopped short after a hard hit from defensive back Andrew George. The drive ended with an incomplete pass to sophomore McKay Jacobson in the endzone. Defensive back Brandon Bradley was there for the pass breakup.

The second-team offense found itself in a fourth-and-eight situation, with the special teams unit taking the field to attempt a 35-yard field goal.

Senior linebacker Coleby Clawson wrapped Di Luigi up for a loss of one yard on the ground to start the last blue zone set, but the offense found the endzone with a nine-yard scoring pass from Hall to Malosi Te'o.

The second session of team drills started with a 35-yard bomb from Hall to Jacobson. Linebacker Grant Nelson sacked Hall for a loss of eight yards, but a 36-yard completion to Di Luigi set up first-and-goal. Bradley’s coverage on Jacobson paid off again as another pass fell incomplete in the endzone and the offense was forced to attempt a field goal, which was missed by junior Mitch Payne.

The defense intercepted its third pass in two days when junior college transfer Corby Eason picked off a 40-yard ball from senior Brenden Gaskins near the sideline.

“Corby’s a good player,” said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. “He’s in a really visible position against a really good receiver in McKay Jacobson. His competition right now, Robbie Buckner and Brian Logan, both are very good receivers. We have a good situation there.”

Hall led the first-team offense on one final drive to end practice, completing passes to Luke Ashworth, Pitta, Jacobson and Andrew George. Di Luigi ended practice much like he started, catching back-to-back passes of 15 and 10 yards to score and end the drive.

Di Luigi ended the day with 62 yards receiving and one touchdown, plus 23 yards rushing, while Pitta caught five balls for 45 yards and one touchdown. Hall went 19-for-26 for 196 yards and two touchdowns.

The team resumes practice Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. Practice is closed to the public.