Flags Fly During Monday Practice

PROVO -- Week three of spring practice opened on Monday with mistakes coming on both sides of the ball. With the offense and defense each in possession of a yellow flag, the whistles were frequent.

“The players were a little sluggish today in terms of execution, but this team likes to compete,” said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. “The one thing this team hasn’t learned yet is how to manage that emotion along with execution. We are trying to find that balance.”

Two-minute drills opened with back-to-back sacks by the defense. After a two-yard run by senior Harvey Unga, defensive lineman Vic So’oto got to quarterback Jack Heaps for a loss of six yards. Linebacker Brandon Ogletree recorded a sack of his own on the following play, ending the series.

Senior defensive back Zeke Mendenhall tackled quarterback Riley Nelson on the first play of the next drive as the offense failed to reach the first-down marker. On Heap’s second series of the day he completed a two-yard pass to Malosi Te'o. The defense continued to dominate as a pass fell incomplete for Spencer Hafoka and linebacker Jameson Frazier intercepted a ball intended for McKay Jacobson.

The offense bounced back in the next series, with Nelson finding Luke Ashworth for five yards and the first first-down of the day. Back-to-back personal foul calls on the defense gave the offense a fresh set of downs at first-and-goal. Corby Eason was called for pass interference on a ball meant for Hafoka, but the defense responded with a pass breakup by defensive back Steven Thomas in the endzone. Nelson then handed off to Unga who scored the one-yard touchdown run.

The second scoring drive of the day came on the final series. Defensive penalties continued to benefit the offense, which was led by Heaps. The true freshman found tight end Devin Mahina for nine yards and then connected with Mike Muehlmann for a 15-yard touchdown reception.

Both PATs by sophomore Riley Stephenson were good.

Heaps led the quarterbacks on the day, completing 3-of-8 passes for 26 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Nelson added 10 yards on 2-for-6 passing, while James Lark was 0-for-1 on the day.

Practice resumes on Tuesday and is closed to the public.