Fans Look on as Cougars Start Two-a-Days

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PROVO -- More than 1,400 fans were in attendance Friday as the BYU football team completed its first session of two-a-days.

“The pace can’t slow down,” said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. “The pace is accelerating and I think it’s clear today that we have a lot of work to do to be game ready.”

The Cougar offense and defense traded blows in team drills, with quarterbacks Riley Nelson and Jake Heaps leading the offensive charge, and defensive end Vic So’oto stirring the defense.

Heaps finished the day 7-of-10 for 93 yards and two touchdowns, while Nelson went 7-for-8 for 78 yards and one touchdown, adding four rushes for 36 yards. Junior wide receiver O’Neill Chambers also had four catches for 70 yards.

Heaps took first snaps in blue-zone drills, finding Chambers in the back of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown. Nelson followed that series by going 3-for-3 for 12 yards before connecting with junior wideout Spencer Hafoka for a 21-yard touchdown.

Eleven-on-11 drills went back-and-forth with the defense holding the offense on 3-of-5 series. So’oto recorded two sacks on the day with his second coming on third-and-long to end a drive.

However, the offense also showed moments of solid execution, scoring on two series. Both scores came on passes, one to junior McKay Jacobsen, a 13-yard strike from Nelson, and the other coming on the last play of the day, a 5-yard touchdown catch by freshman tight end Mike Muehlman from Heaps.

Kicker Mitch Payne sat out of practice due to a sprained ankle, which he suffered on Thursday. It is estimated that Payne with be out for seven to 10 days.

Friday's afternoon practice at 5 p.m. is also open to the public. The Cougars continue fall camp Saturday with a scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium at 10:15 a.m. The scrimmage will be open to the public.