Cougars discover new weapon in Friel

When opportunity knocked at Kaneakua Friel's door, the Brigham Young junior was quick to answer. Now, the tight end will be on the field Saturday against Weber State as a new weapon in the Cougars' offensive attack.

Friel caught six passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns in BYU's 30-6 season-opening victory over Washington State on Aug. 30. It was the most productive game for a Cougars tight end since Dennis Pitta hauled in a pair of TD catches against Air Force in 2009.

"I am just grateful for the opportunity to play," Friel said. "It feels good to be able to help the team."

Friel was the fourth-string tight end last year and only saw the field after the three teammates ahead of him suffered season-ending injuries. He finished 2011 with seven receptions for 55 yards and a score.

During a competitive fall camp, the
6-foot-5-inch, 244-pound Friel beat out those same teammates for the starting job.

"Riley (Nelson) motivates me to be aggressive," the native Hawaiian said of the Cougars' starting quarterback. "I'm not such an aggressive guy off the field, but when I'm around (my teammates) they pump me up and make me better."

■ GETTING DEFENSIVE - BYU's defense kept Washington State out of the end zone and held the visiting Cougars to minus-5 yards rushing. BYU enters the second weekend of the season ranked No. 2 nationally in rushing defense and No. 9 in scoring defense.

"One of our goals is to stop the run, but I think we get more joy in not letting teams score than stopping the run," junior linebacker Kyle Van Noy said. "I think 'stopping the run' is more for Coach (Bronco) Mendenhall. He enjoys that."

Since Mendenhall took over duties as defensive coordinator midway through the 2010 season, BYU has allowed an average of 92.5 rushing yards, which is second-best nationally behind Alabama.

■ NO MORE SCOUT TEAM - Skyler Ridley spent three years on BYU's scout team before earning his first action against Washington State, which resulted in him scoring his first touchdown on his first reception. "He's tough," Mendenhall said of the junior from Murrietta, Calif. "I like that."

Ridley finished with six receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown after starter Cody Hoffman went down with a thigh bruise and left the game in the first quarter. Both receivers are expected to play Saturday.

■ FACING THE WILDCATS - BYU hosts Weber State at noon in a game that will be broadcast live on BYUtv (Cable 352). The Wildcats (0-1) are coming off a 37-10 loss to Fresno State on Saturday.

It's the first meeting between the Cougars and the Wildcats, from nearby Ogden, since 1979, and it could be the largest crowd in front of which Weber State has ever played. The Wildcats are a member of the Big Sky Conference. BYU hasn't lost to a Big Sky team in 53 years.

Dave McCann is a news anchor for KSL-TV in Salt Lake City and is the play-by-play voice for BYU sports on BYUtv. He also hosts "True Blue," which airs Mondays at 5:30 p.m. PDT on BYUtv. He can be reached at dmccann@ksl.com or on Twitter: @DaveMcCannKSL.