PROVO -- After Tuesday's scrimmage at LaVell Edward's Stadium, Coach Bronco Mendenhall took his team back to the practice fields for the second session of two-a-days to continue preparations for the 2005 season. The fans were back in full force Wednesday morning as 732 flocked to the outdoor practice field to support the Cougars.
"I appreciate the fans being here and their support and interest," Mendenhall said. "We're continuing to improve. With these two-a-days it's about survival and a test of the player's desire."
The 740 fans that attended Monday and 732 from Wednesday have both surpassed the highest-attended fall practice in 2004, the second open session, which drew 610.
As has been the case throughout Fall Camp, the team ended the morning practice with a scrimmage. While the Cougars showed promise on both sides of the ball, the offense made a statement on the final drive as All-MWC quarterback John Beck led a well-executed two-minute drill that ended with sophomore tight end Jonny Harline making a leaping grab in the endzone for a touchdown.
"We started the scrimmage off slow," Harline said. "But when we had to step up we did and we got it done."
Starting 61 yards out, Beck got things going quickly as he hit junior running back Fahu Tahi who rumbled down the sideline for an 11-yard, putting solid hit on a defender to get out of bounds and stop the clock. On the next play, Beck hit junior receiver Zac Collie for a 22-yard pickup to put the offense on the defense's 28-yard line.
Following an incomplete pass, Beck connected with junior running back Curtis Brown for a 6-yard pickup. With the clock running, Beck quickly got the offense organized and hit junior receiver Nathan Meikle for a seven-yard gain. The two hooked up again on the next play for six-yards to set up the pass to Harline.
Beck finished the day completing 11-of-17 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown pass. He also ran for a score from seven yards out on the opening drive of the scrimmage. Junior quarterback Jason Beck threw his first touchdown pass of the fall while completing 3-of-4 passes for 70 yards. Senior quarterback Matt Berry also put up solid numbers as he completed 6-of-9 passes for 76 yards.
Junior receiver Joe Griffin was the main target for the quarterbacks as he caught three passes for 108 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown reception from Jason Beck and a 41-yarder from Berry that set up a field goal by sophomore Jared McLaughlin. Senior receiver Todd Watkins also went deep, catching a 50-yard pass from John Beck, setting up another McLaughlin field goal.
Junior linebacker Cameron Jensen made two big plays during the scrimmage, recording a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery. The tackle came during the opening drive when he dropped Tahi in the backfield for a five-yard loss as soon as Beck handed him the ball. Linebackers Mark Staffieri, Bryan Kehl and Paul Walkenhorst also recorded tackles for loss.
Kehl teamed with senior cornerback Ryan Beck to keep the offense out of the endzone following Watkins' 50-yard grab. Following the catch, Kehl dropped Brown for a one-yard loss on first down. After a two-yard gain by Brown, Beck deflected first-cousin John Beck's pass that was intended for Meikle in the endzone. It was the second consecutive day Ryan disrupted one of John's throws. He intercepted a pass during Tuesday's scrimmage.
After a closed practice Thursday, the Cougars will welcome the public to attend Friday's morning session which will run from 10 a.m. to noon.