PROVO -- The Cougars headed into the second weekend of Fall Camp with a practice Friday in which the players showed an increase in execution and intensity. The fans once again showed their enthusiasm for the team and the upcoming 2005 season as a camp-high 762 witnessed the morning practice.
"I think there was a focus on execution and that's what we asked our players for," Coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "We recreated the practice we had the day before where I thought there was some execution and intensity lacking. So today even though we were not in pads, we came out with the idea being execution and I think the offense responded well, especially in the Blue Zone and with the two-minute drill."
During Thursday's morning scrimmage, the offense failed to cross the goal line and settled for two field goals, both on drives starting in the Blue Zone. Preseason All-MWC candidate John Beck helped reintroduce the offense to the endzone on the first drive Friday, completing 3-of-3 attempts for 15 yards, including a one-yard pass to junior tight end Jonny Harline for the touchdown. Harline made another diving, one-handed grab in the back of the endzone for the score.
Senior quarterback Matt Berry matched Beck's effort on the next drive as he followed an incomplete pass with a 17-yard strike to junior receiver Brett Cooper, and then finished things off with a three-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Joe Griffin.
"I'm pleased that our receivers are going after the ball and catching the ball on a very consistent basis," Mendenhall said. "They have to do that for us to accomplish our goals of scoring points and winning games. It's a great chance for our secondary to be developed over and over again as we keep experimenting by putting different players at different positions."
The defense stepped up to the plate on the next drive and forced the offense off the field in three plays. After Beck completed a nine-yard pass to All-America candidate Todd Watkins, safety Corby Hodgkiss deflected a pass on the second and defensive back Stephen Covey broke up a pass on third.
With the second unit back on the field, the offense made some noise as Berry went deep to find junior receiver Zac Collie on third down. The play went for 96 yards -- the longest play from scrimmage during Fall Camp.
"The safety was a little late getting over and Matt dropped the ball right in the bread basket," Collie said. "We're getting better. That's all we can ask for is to keep that enthusiasm and that intensity up and execute properly. That's our main goal."
The first unit kept it rolling on the first play of the next drive as Beck hit sophomore receiver Bryce Mahuika for a 27-yard pickup. Beck then completed a three-yard pass to Hudson. The drive came to an abrupt end on the next play, however, as Beck's pass was tipped by Collie and intercepted by Hodgkiss. Mendenhall noted that Hodgkiss has come a long way to now be making plays on the football field.
"Corby's had a great camp. It's a great story. He was on his mission and was diagnosed with diabetes. He came off his mission and we weren't planning on him even having a chance until at least January, but to his credit he's ready now and had an outstanding camp. With Spencer White out at safety he's taken full advantage of his opportunity."
With Berry back at the helm, the offense went three-and-out, giving Beck and the first unit another chance. Beck got the offense out quickly as he hit Watkins for a 42-yard pickup on the first play. The defense came right back with two big plays, sacking Beck on consecutive downs. Senior defensive lineman Justin Maddux was credited with the first sack, a six-yard loss, while the second was a team effort. An incomplete pass by Beck on third down ended the drive. The defense registered two more sacks on the next two drives, one by sophomore defensive lineman Tyler Berry and the other by the team. Both drives ended after three plays.
Berry got the offense back on track, leading a 13-play drive from the five-yard line of the offense to the 16 of the defense. The drive ended with sophomore kicker Jared McLaughlin hitting a field goal. Berry was 7-of-12 on the drive for 73 yards, including completions of 17, 18 and 19 yards to Collie, Griffin and freshman receiver Saia Hafoka, respectively.
The last drive was a two-minute drill engineered by Beck from 55-yards out. As was the case on Wednesday, Beck wasted little time in getting his team down the field. Beck hit Mackey Award candidate Daniel Coats for an eight-yard gain and then ran for a first down. On the next play, Beck hit Coats for a 40-yard pickup, putting the offense on the three. Seconds later he found Griffin in the corner of the endzone, who made a fingertip grab to score his second touchdown of the day.
The Cougars will finish up the week with a single practice session on Saturday.