Big Scoring Plays Highlight Alumni Day

PROVO -- More than 1,000 former BYU football players and family members were in attendance at practice on Friday to watch the current team close out its third week of spring practice.

“The main takeaway I get from this day is really the enthusiasm (the football alumni) have for the program,” BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “They are excited to be back, and they show their appreciation for what’s happening. It’s great to see everyone that comes back be able to reconnect with their old teammates as well as connect with our current team.”

Many former Cougar standouts and players from many different eras of BYU football were watching from the sidelines, including Vai Sikahema, Chris Hoke, Todd Watkins, Cameron Jensen, Reno Mahe, Chad Lewis, Lee Johnson, Greg Pitts, Larry Harmer and Chris Farasopoulos. Legendary coach LaVell Edwards was also on hand with other members of his coaching staff.

Cougar alumni attending Friday’s practice saw several big plays from the offense during the 11-on-11 team segments with three touchdowns resulting from plays of over 50 yards. Junior quarterback Riley Nelson guided four team sessions and helped produce all three offensive scores.

On the day Nelson was an impressive 3-for-4 for 137 yards and two touchdowns, but the arm of senior running back Harvey Unga actually produced the first touchdown of the day, a 75-yard halfback pass to junior wide receiver O’Neill Chambers. On Nelson’s next possession under center he found junior wideout McKay Jacobson over the middle for another 75-yard score and followed on his next set of downs with a 56-yard connection to junior running back JJ Di Luigi. On the final touchdown, an illusive Di Luigi showed he can be hard to track down in the open field, scampering most of the 56 yards with the ball in his hands.

Freshman quarterback Jake Heaps went 6-of-10 for 85 yards in his three sessions leading the offense. He also produced several long plays, including completions of 25 yards to senior Luke Ashworth and 22 yards to sophomore Rhen Brown. He also connected with freshman tight end Devin Mahina and junior running back Bryan Kariya for plays of 16 yards and 13 yards, respectively.

Sophomore quarterback James Lark (1-for-2, 31 yards) led two team sessions and added to the long-play effort of the day, connecting with freshman tight end Mike Muehlmann on a 31-yard play to take the ball to the 6-yard line. The defense kept the offense out of the end zone, however, with Romney Fuga and Vic So’oto closing in for a whistled sack on the practice’s final play.

Additional highlights from the defensive side of the ball included a sack from freshman defensive end Thomas Bryson and a big hit by junior safety Steven Thomas.

Freshman running back Joshua Quezada led all ball carriers with six attempts for 26 yards and added a nice catch in traffic for a six-yard gain. Chambers led all receivers with 80 yards.

The Cougars have the weekend off before resuming practice on Monday.