QB Hill poised for first start

Hill replaced the injured Riley Nelson in the fourth quarter last week at Boise State and led BYU on a 94-yard scoring drive in the Cougars’ 7-6 loss.

“If the call does come to me, I will be ready and prepared,” said Hill, who completed 4 of 10 passes for 42 yards and ran for 72 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown, on 12 carries against the Broncos.

Nelson, a senior, continues to struggle with lower back pain and is a game-time decision.

“Playing with an injury affects you physically and mentally,” Nelson said. “I know I’m not playing my best.”

While Hill received the majority of the work in practice this week, coach Bronco Mendenhall refused to name a starter.

“Why share something with our opponent that they don’t need to know about us before game day?” he said.

■ CHOW RETURNS – Former BYU assistant coach Norm Chow returns to Provo, Utah, for the first time as an opposing head coach. Chow left BYU in 1999 after spending 27 years in the program. Along the way, he coached an offense that featured quarterbacks Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco, Ty Detmer and Steve Sarkisian.

“A lot has gone on since then,” Chow said. “I know very few people there now. I was there in a different era. It’s just a game where we need to get back on track. It’s not about me.”

Chow left the head coaching job at Hawaii’s Waialua High and Intermediate School to join the BYU staff in 1973. During his career in Provo, the Cougars won 244 games and the 1984 national championship, and Detmer won the Heisman Trophy in 1990. Chow was named Hawaii’s head coach in December.

■ DEFENSIVE MISMATCH – The Cougars and Warriors are moving in opposite directions on defense. BYU is allowing 12.5 points per game compared with 40 by Hawaii.

The Cougars didn’t allow an offensive touchdown last week in their loss at No. 24 Boise State. They are ranked No. 7 in total defense (236 yards) and are tied for No. 8 in rushing defense (68 yards).

Hawaii’s defense surrendered 335 yards rushing in a 69-24 home loss to UNR last week. The 69 points are the most the Warriors have allowed in a home game in 62 years.

■ TURNOVERS NEEDED – BYU and Hawaii are tied for 89th in fewest defensive turnovers. Each team has four. Mississippi State leads the country with 15.

The Cougars failed to force a turnover in their past two games, while the BYU offense turned the ball over six times.

Two of those turnovers were returned for game-changing touchdowns. The Cougars lost at Utah and Boise State by a combined four points.

■ WADSWORTH DILEMMA – Former Silverado High School standout Michael Wadsworth has had an interesting journey to Provo. He signed with Hawaii in 2009 and played for the Warriors during his freshman season. But, while serving his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he decided to transfer to BYU.

Wadsworth asked Hawaii to release him from his scholarship, which it did, with one exception – he could play anywhere but BYU. The Warriors contend the Cougars illegally contacted Wadsworth during his mission, which would be a violation of NCAA rules. BYU refutes the claim.

“We don’t recruit players while they are on their missions,” Mendenhall said. “We won’t, didn’t and haven’t violated any rules, nor will we in the future.”

Wadsworth opted to transfer to BYU and join the team as a walk-on. He will be in uniform tonight.

Dave McCann is a news anchor for KSL television in Salt Lake City and is play-by-play voice for BYU sports on BYUtv. He is also the host of True Blue, which airs Monday nights at 5:30 on BYUtv. He can be reached at dmccann@ksl.com or on twitter @DaveMcCannKSL.