Brigham Young Cougars Spring Game Recap: Whites 18, Blues 17

The snowy conditions for the Brigham Young Cougars spring game was an omen. White quarterback Riley Nelson pulled the whites to within one point on a 15-yard touchdown run, and then connected with tight end Bryan Sampson for a game-winning two-point conversion.

The White team was comprised of the first-team defense and the second-team offense; the Blues were first-team offense and second-team defense. That made the game, theoretically, evenly matched with first-team O vs. first-team D, and second-team D vs. second-team O.

The game was a defensive battle. Both defenses kept the offenses scoreless in the first half. It was the Blue defense that got the scoring started with a Jordan Johnson interception return for a touchdown. Even after the White defense recovered a snap fumbled by reserve quarterback Christian Stewart at the Blues 11-yard line, the Blue defense only allowed the White team to kick a field goal.

Chase Pendley for the Blue team and White teammates Daniel Sorensen and Eathyn Manumaleuna led all tacklers with 5 tackles each.

The Blue defense did have one lapse during regulation, which allowed White receiver Rhen Brown to make a 73-yard touchdown catch.

Blue quarterback Jake Heaps had his side poised to win the game with a last minute field goal, but Justin Sorensen’s 37-yard attempt was wide right.

Heaps was an accurate 16 of 21 (76%), but only managed 126 yards passing. The low yards per attempt (6) could be a result of the wet, snowy conditions.

With the boost from the 73-yard TD, Nelson finished the day 8 of 11 for 149 yards. Nelson also had the 15-yard touchdown run in overtime.

The defenses lost control of the game in the overtime period. With J.J. DiLuigi scoring on a 17-yard run, each offense scored from at least 15 yards out. It was a big offensive play by the Whites (2-point conversion) that was the difference in the game.

Uona Kaveinga, Sae Tautu, Graham Rowley and Mike Hague were dinged up, but none of their injuries were major. Their participation during summer drills should not be impacted.

Click here for the complete coverage of spring football on BLUE COUGAR FOOTBALL.

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