BYU NewsNet - Blue-White Scrimmage Showcases New Players

The BYU football team played its annual Blue and White game Saturday, as it closed out the spring session in front of nearly 17,000 enthusiastic fans at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The fans were treated to a show of the up-and-coming players in the program, with many watching in shirtsleeves and sunglasses as junior college transfers, freshmen and other developing talent saw the bulk of the action.

Before the offense-defense contest, the players took part in team, seven-on-seven and situational drills for 40 minutes.

"I think the format for this event is exactly right," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "After starting with some situation work that I felt was important to get in, we gave a chance to our younger players to see what they could do in front of a live crowd. They had a chance to demonstrate where they stand. We have a very good idea of the two-deep. What we found out today, possibly, are those who might travel, might be involved with special teams, and those who might be the next tier of players."

The offense, defense and even the special teams showed promise with a generally consistent performance, and several outstanding plays.

Sophomore quarterback Kurt McEuen lead the team on the first drive, getting down to the 16-yard line on a pass across the middle to senior running back Isaac Taylor, who turned up field before being drilled by freshman defensive back Gary Nagy and junior linebacker Coleby Clawson. Sophomore kicker Mitch Payne got the offense on the board with a 26-yard boot that split the uprights.

Interestingly, Payne's most notable effort of the day was on a field goal miss. Setting up for a whopping 58-yard field goal try, Payne sent a booming kick toward the goal, with exclamations rising from the crowd. While on-line for a make, the kick was just short, hitting the crossbar as a hearty applause for the effort was heard around the stadium.

The offense managed a touchdown under junior quarterback Brenden Gaskins, moving the ball efficiently as Gaskins completed passes to junior running back Bryan Kariya, freshman running back J.J. Di Luigi, senior running back Isaac Taylor and freshman wide receiver Spencer Hafoka before junior fullback Kelly Bills punched it in for the score.

Snow College transfer Andrew Rich showed his athleticism, making a great play on a pass by McEuen, picking it off and scrambling the other way for nearly 10 yards before being brought down.

Freshman quarterback Stephen Covey took the reins on the last drive of the day, connecting with sophomore Ryan Folsom on a 10-yard pass immediately.

Several plays later, freshman defensive back Jameson Frazier ended the scrimmage as he made an athletic interception, a leaping grab of a Covey pass.

"I saw the move that he made as he set up for the pass," Frazier said. "I just tried to make a good move and it worked out well."

The Cougars will now focus on final exams before beginning another round of offseason conditioning. The players report to Fall Camp on Aug. 1. BYU will kickoff the 2008 season on Aug. 30 against Northern Iowa at LaVell Edwards Stadium.