Both Units Impress to Begin Week Two

PROVO -- Monday began the second week of BYU fall camp with both sides of the ball showing their strength in the morning practice of two-a-days.

"There were bright spots for either side,” said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. “In the blue zone work today the offense looked as sharp as they have ever been in this camp scoring touchdowns, which is really encouraging. Then in the second team period the defense was just as dominant the other way, where I am not sure they allowed more than one or two first downs the whole time."

The offensive unit was strong during the blue zone drill, turning all five of its drives into points. Junior quarterback Riley Nelson ran the ball three-straight times on the first possession, scoring the day’s first touchdown on his final rush.

Freshman Jake Heaps took over at quarterback for the next two possessions, both ending in touchdown passes. After an incomplete pass and a tackle for loss by senior defensive lineman Vic So’oto, the Cougar offensive line picked up a hard blitz to give Heaps enough time to find freshman tight end Richard Wilson across the middle for a 22-yard touchdown.

After J.J. Di Luigi picked up an 11-yard gain, Heaps hit junior wide receiver O’Neill Chambers on a fade route for a nine-yard touchdown.

Nelson returned for another possession, hitting sophomore running back David Foote for 11 yards, then finding redshirt freshman Cody Hoffman for a 10-yard touchdown.

Sophomore James Lark led the final possession, throwing two completions to freshman wide receiver Dallin Cutler and sophomore running back Mike Hague to set up a 24-yard field goal by sophomore Riley Stephenson.

The defense came alive in the 11-on-11 team session to close out practice, forcing four three-and-outs in six possessions.

Junior linebacker Jameson Frazier had 1.5 sacks in the session’s first possession while Aveni Leung-Wai and Graham Rowley recorded a sack apiece.

Heaps went 4-for-11 for 36 yards during the segment highlighted by a 20-yard throw to sophomore wide receiver Rhen Brown. Nelson went 2-for-6 with 18 yards, including a 12-yard pass to freshman running back Joshua Quezada.

Fans have another opportunity to meet the team on Tuesday evening at the annual Cougar Kickoff event. Cougar Kickoff starts at 6 p.m. on Haws Field just west of the Indoor Practice Facility.

The next public practice is Thursday at 10 a.m. at the SAB practice field.