Day Five Showcases Running Back Talent

PROVO -- Thursday morning brought the first practice in full pads with the running backs carrying the offensive load, rushing for 126 yards in seven series.

“Today’s practice gives us a great point of reference before we start two-a-days tomorrow,” BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “The fans won’t be seeing any surprises tomorrow, we’ll be running the same thing we have run for the past five years.”

After individual drills, the Cougars gathered for 11-on-11 blue zone drills. Junior Riley Nelson led the first and third drives while freshman Jake Heaps led the second. Nelson went 1-for-4, with his one connection being a 7-yard touchdown pass to Richard Wilson, while adding 11 rushing yards. Heaps was 0-for-1 with one interception. Robbie Buckner grabbed the interception in the end zone for another stop on defense.

Breaking into more position drills, the team came back for four more live series. Nelson completed 1-of-2 passes for 12 yards and added 14 yards on a quarterback keeper. Heaps completed 2-for-6 for 53 yards, including a 44-yard pass to freshman tight end Devin Mahina who found a hole up the middle.

Representing the running back talent was junior J.J. Di Luigi, who ran for 13 yards, and junior Bryan Kariya, who had two carries for 21 yards. Sophomore running back Mike Hague had his teammates energized, taking hard hits on each of his four carries for 24 yards.

Lark quarterbacked one series, handing off the ball six times while the offense gained 38 yards. Senior kicker Mitch Payne was 2-for-2 on PATs and made two long field goals from 49 and 50 yards. Freshman Joshua Quezada earned a 1-yard touchdown in Heaps’ opening series.

BYU will have its first of four public practices Friday with both the 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. sessions open to the public.