PROVO -- The first week of spring practice came to a close on Friday as the BYU football team donned full pads for the first time.
“Our players were anxious to put on their pads and play today,” said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. “The execution was not quite as clean, but I like their eagerness.”
Momentum shifted often between the offense and defense during team drills. It began with the running game, as senior Harvey Unga had two early carries for 11 yards and JJ Di Luigi recorded a 16-yard run. Quarterback James Lark found Di Luigi for an 11-yard completion and the first down on third-and-9, but the defense responded with a sack by linebacker Jordan Atkinson and tackle for loss by defensive back Robbie Buckner.
During blue zone work, freshman quarterback Jake Heaps tossed up a 19-yard pass to BJ Peterson for the lone touchdown of the day. Riley Stephenson’s PAT was good.
Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Thomas Bryson recorded a sack for a five-yard loss, helping keep quarterback Riley Nelson and the offense from picking up a first-down. The defense then keyed in on a fake field goal attempt to end the series.
Heaps connected with senior wide receiver Luke Ashworth on back-to-back passes for a combined 40 yards to open the final team period of the day. The defense responded, with a Vic So'oto sack for a six-yard loss. Stephenson took the field again, this time converting a 40-yard field goal.
Junior Jadon Wagner recovered a Nelson fumble in the endzone on the first play of the next series, scoring for the defense.
The day ended with one final drive headed by Lark. He connected on consecutive passes to Di Luigi and Cody Hoffman for two and seven yards, respectively. The defense stuffed a Bryan Kariya rush, while Lark’s pass fell incomplete on third-down to end the series.
Practice will resume on Monday and is closed to the public.