The Top Performers of the Week feature highlights the top athletes of each sport currently in play. Check back each week to see which athletes are standing out in Cougar sports.
Max Hall – Football – Junior – Mesa, Ariz.
Heisman Trophy candidate Max Hall completed 27-of-35 passes for 271 yards and seven touchdowns in just two and a half quarters of play, leading No. 15 BYU to 59-0 trouncing of UCLA. Hall’s seven touchdown passes ties a BYU single-game record held by Jim McMahon (1981) and Marc Wilson (1977). It breaks the old MWC record of five held by several players.
Hall was nearly flawless in the first half against the Bruins completing 23-of-29 attempts (.793) for 237 yards and six touchdowns in just seven possessions. The Cougars converted on 8-of-9 third down conversions in the first half. Hall’s six touchdown passes in the first half is a new BYU record eclipsing the old record of five held by Gary Schiede (1973), Marc Wilson (1977), Jim McMahon (1980) and Robbie Bosco (1984). BYU’s 35 points in quarter No. 2 is the highest scoring second quarter in school history and the one point shy of the school record of 36 points in a quarter.
Hall left the game with 7:43 to play in the third quarter after leading BYU on a seven play 69-yard drive to give BYU a 49-0 lead. During the drive he was 3-for-3 for 32 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown pass to Harvey Unga. Four different Cougars caught touchdown passes from Hall on the day.
The Walter Camp Football Foundation named Hall its National Offensive Players of the Week for his efforts versus UCLA. Hall was also named MWC Offensive Player of the Week for the second week in a row.
Jan Jorgensen – Football – Junior – Helper, Utah
Rotary Lombardi Award and Lott Trophy candidate Jan Jorgensen helped give BYU the momentum for a overwhelming victory over UCLA with his physical play at the line while tying the Mountain West Conference record for career sacks.
Just after BYU scored its second touchdown of the game to take a 14-0 lead, the junior defensive lineman turned the momentum of the game solidly in the Cougars’ favor just three players later when his hit on Bruin quarterback Kevin Craft forced a fumble that BYU recovered. On the next play, the Cougars scored on a 37-yard BYU touchdown pass to take a commanding 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Jorgensen recorded four tackles, three of them solo, with two forced fumbles, two quarterback hurries and one sack against the Bruins. His second sack of the season gives him 20.5 sacks in just over two years to tie the MWC record for career sacks (also shared by Michael Tuohy of New Mexico and Chase Ortiz of TCU).
Mitch Payne – Football – Sophomore – North Ogden, Utah
Mitch Payne had a busy day for No. 15-ranked Cougars connecting on a perfect 8-of-8 PAT attempts in a 59-0 pounding of Pac-10 foe UCLA. The eight PAT conversions tied the MWC record for a sophomore in a single game. In addition, Payne made his only field goal attempt of the day, a 24-yarder with just 3:08 remaining in the third quarter. He accounted for 11 of BYU’s 59 points.
For the season, Payne has connected on 17-of-18 PAT attempts and has made his only field goal try. The Cougars have scored 15 touchdowns and one field goal in 18 trips inside the “bluezone.”
Kyle Perry – Cross Country – Senior – Sandy, Utah
BYU’s Kyle Perry, a two-time All-American, finished third behind Kenyan runner Aron Rono of Azusa Pacific and Finland’s Morten Bostrom of Northern Arizona at the 8K 64th Annual Aztec Cross Country Invitational.
Perry was BYU’s top runner at 24:42 with a 4:59 mile pace, 21 seconds ahead of the nearest conference competitor, Air Force’s Matt Williams, outside of Perry’s teammates. “The top five runners were under the course record,” said BYU Coach Ed Eyestone. “This was a hilly course, but it was nice to see Kyle resume his position as one of our top runners. He had a cramp the week before, so this is an indication he will always be close to the front.”
Perry was named MWC Player of the Week.
Bryn Porter – Volleyball – Senior – Camarillo, Calif.
Senior outside hitter Bryn Porter was named to the InnTowner Invitational All-Tournament team last weekend after leading BYU with 3.33 kills per set. Porter paced the Cougars with 17 kills against Boise State and 11 winners against Central Michigan, the only Cougar in double figures. She also tallied 12 putaways in a tight five-set loss to No. 14 Wisconsin, who hosted the tournament. The Camarillo, Calif., native notched her fourth double-double of the year with 13 digs in a four-set win over the Broncos. On the year, she has led BYU in kills in six matches, helping the Cougars go 6-0 in those contests.
Jennie Marshall – Soccer – Freshman – Modesto, Calif.
Jennie scored the first goal of her BYU career against Idaho State when she corralled a loose ball in the box after it rebounded off the keeper and was able to put it in. She is the third freshman to score this season for the team. Her goal provided the final 2-0 margin of the game and helped the Cougars snap a three-game losing streak.