PROVO -- In anticipation for its Alumni Day scrimmage on Friday, the BYU football team closed practice with a brief session of situational drills on Thursday.
Beginning at the 30-yard line, quarterback Max Hall led the first team offense down the field, completing all seven of his pass attempts. The junior connected with Manase Tonga and Michael Reed, reaching the first-down marker. A nine-yard pass to Austin Collie, followed by an 11-yard completion to Reed set the offense up on the 29-yard line.
Back-to-back catches by Dennis Pitta resulted in a first-and-goal situation. The drive was capped off with Wayne Latu's five-yard run into the end zone. With a talented group of running backs this season, Latu recognizes spring as a time to improve.
"We have a lot of talented guys this year," said Latu. "Coach Reynolds is trying to prepare all of us in case anyone goes down and we need to step up. I'm learning a lot and trying hard to improve."
After a third-and-out on the following drive by the second-team offense, the team participated in the first "Blue Zone" drill of the day. Hall wasted no time, as he completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Austin Collie on the first play.
Quarterback Brenden Gaskins led the team's second attempt in the "Blue Zone". Attempting to get the first-down, Gaskins threw a pass to Luke Ashworth in coverage, which was tipped and brought down by Terrance Hooks. On the play, Hooks sustained a substantial knee injury.
"It doesn't look good," he said. "It's possibly a patella tendon injury, but we won't know for sure until an X-ray. It was a non-contact injury on a non-contact day of practice. I'm saddened beyond anything I can tell you, and frustrated beyond that."
The team ended practice by "going out" from the three-yard line. Hall completed both of his pass attempts to Collie and Tonga during the first segment. Kurt McEuen threw a six-yard pass to Kaneakua Friel before the defense recorded a sack to end the day.
Hall remained perfect, completing 10-of-10 passes for 85 yards and one touchdown pass on the day. Collie, the recipient of the touchdown pass, led all receivers with 32 yards on three receptions.
Tomorrow the Cougars will host close to 900 former players and their families at the annual BYU Football Alumni Day. In the afternoon, guests will attend the current team's first scrimmage of the spring season at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The scrimmage will be closed to the general public.
HOMECOMING ANNOUNCED: It was announced today that the Cougars' October 11 game against New Mexico will mark the annual Homecoming game. Homecoming week will actually kickoff on Oct 7 with events running throughout the week. This year's theme will be, "Go the Distance."