PROVO -- After a spirited practice session in the morning, the Cougars gathered in the afternoon at the Indoor Practice Facility for the team's annual photo and media day.
After the team photo, which was taken on the practice fields with beautiful Mt. Timpanogos serving as the background, the team filed into the Indoor Practice Facility for a series of photos and interviews with many local media outlets.
Players answered the typical questions about the upcoming season; however, for those who attended the morning's practice session, they wanted to know what happened to the offense.
"Our emphasis was on ball control today," head coach Bronco Mendenhall said following Saturday's practice. "We re-created, exactly, yesterday's practice. Today, the offense took a step forward. If they would not have been successful today, we would have re-created the practice again on Monday."
Running back Curtis Brown
During Friday's team drill, the defense posted a shutout, preventing the offense from scoring on all eight drives. On Saturday, however, the offense wasted little time correcting its mistakes.
John Beck hooked up with sophomore receiver Matt Allen for a 20-yard touchdown pass on the drill's first play. After the defense stopped the offense on the next series, Beck led another scoring drive, finding All-America candidate Todd Watkins for a five-yard completion to start the drive. After the defense came up with a stop in the backfield, Beck scrambled on the following play to pick up a first down. Senior running back Fahu Tahi took over from there, scoring on a seven-yard run.
Running back Fahu Tahi
On the next drive, senior quarterback Matt Berry led a 50-yard scoring drive, starting with a four-yard completion to tight end Andrew George. Berry scrambled for five yards then Ray Hudson racked up an 11-yard run to give the offense a first-and-10 from the 30-yard line. Running back Wayne Latu was credited with a 16-yard run to get the offense inside the Blue Zone. Two plays later, Berry found freshman receiver Luke Ashworth camped out in the back of the endzone for the offense's third touchdown in four drives.
On the following drive, the defense stiffened and prevented the offense from scoring. However, on the next series--just when the defense looked like it had Jason Beck and the offense stalled--Beck hooked up with junior receiver Joe Griffin for a 39-yard touchdown reception to mark the fourth touchdown for the offense on the afternoon.
Kicker Tyler Holt
Despite a few more big plays by the offense over the next three drives, the defense prevented the offense from scoring.
John Beck finished the scrimmage completing 11-of-13 attempts for 102 yards and one touchdown, while Matt Berry was 7-of-9 for 42 yards, including one touchdown. Griffin led all receivers with three receptions for 51 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown. Allen had two receptions for 42 yards, Jonny Harline had two receptions for 22 yards and freshman Luke Ashworth was credited with two receptions for 19 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown reception.
BYU's Offensive Line
Defensively, Manaia Brown and Paul Walkenhorst each had a sack and a tackle for loss.
The Cougars will begin the first day of two-a-days on Monday, beginning at 10 a.m. at the practice fields. Fans are invited to attend the morning practice session. Fans interested in attending will be asked to enter the practice fields using the southwest gate. As a reminder, no cameras of any kind or video recorders will be permitted.
