Both Sides Making Plays

PROVO, Utah -- Head coach Bronco Mendenhall and the BYU coaching staff were encouraged by both the offensive and defensive side of the ball during practice Tuesday.

The intensity and speed of practices continued as coaches and players alike focused on refining the 2011 Cougars.

Both units and special teams found positives in the 11-on-11 team segment. Junior defensive back Preston Hadley came in from the backfield to register a whistle sack just before sophomore quarterback Jake Heaps let fly a long pass down the sideline that was caught by sophomore wide receiver Cody Hoffman for what would have been an 80-yard touchdown.

Heaps finished 3-of-6 for 22 yards on the day.

On the ensuing drive, junior Riley Nelson filled in at quarterback, leading the offense down the field to set up a field goal by sophomore kicker Justin Sorensen from 37 yards.

Nelson connected with sophomore running back Joshua Quezada on an 18-yard gain, then scrambled by a pass rush to find senior wide receiver Matt Marshall down field for a 24-yard reception.

Quezada had seven rushes for 32 yards and one catch for 18 yards. Senior running back JJ Di Luigi added seven rushes for 19 yards and senior Bryan Kariya had four rushes for 11 yards with one 12-yard reception.

Sophomore defensive end Mike Muehlmann, who played tight end last season before switching to defense this year, came up with a sack on Nelson during the drive, as did sophomore defensive back Skye Povey.

Sophomore quarterback Jason Munns finished up the team segment, going 2-of-3 for 13 yards.