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Provo • As BYU running back J.J. Di Luigi ran down the center of the field, he saw the linebackers and safeties part before him. There was a clear path to the end zone. He had one thought.
"I was thinking, 'Riley, please hurry up and look at me,'" Di Luigi said. "I knew I was wide open."
Quarterback Riley Nelson found the streaking Di Luigi, and he hauled in the pass for a 48-yard touchdown to reclaim the lead — and eventually the 23-17 win — for the Cougars. Now the junior won't wonder if he's catching anyone's attention.
During an offseason full of question marks at key positions, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall maintained that he wasn't concerned about his running back situation.
Harvey Unga, BYU's all-time leading rusher, left a huge shadow in the program. But Di Luigi, who had less than 300 rushing yards prior to this season, showed against Washington how he could one day leave a mark of his own.
Di Luigi was a consistent contributor on a night when the Cougar offense was inconsistent. The tailback had 71 yards on the ground on 13 carries and 83 yards on four receptions, leading the team in both categories.
"I would say he met expectations," coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "It's good to see a guy labor through the system for a few years and then come through like that."
Whether he lined out wide or took the backfield, he simply was electric as a playmaker on most of his touches. On a few option looks, he hurt the Washington defense on the outside. When he caught passes, he grabbed at least a few yards after the catch.
And of course there was that game-winning touchdown.
"He really showed his speed on that play," Nelson said.
Di Luigi is a long way off from being Unga in any respect. He's more than 3,000 rushing yards short of his numbers, to start, and he'll continue to work in tandem with junior Bryan Kariya in the run game.
But Di Luigi isn't concerned about filling Unga's shoes.
"There's no replacing Harvey," he said. "I'm just going to try to what I can do to help my team. My teammates put their trust in me, and it's easy to play when people believe in you."
The Cougars also had a development in the tight end mix, where the team is trying to find a successor to career receptions leader Dennis Pitta.
Redshirt freshman Richard Wilson nabbed three passes for 45 yards, second only to Di Luigi in yardage. His highlight came on a 25-yard strike from Jake Heaps to get the BYU offense into Huskies territory.
Wilson's game could bring clarity to the position where there is no definitive starter, but Mendenhall declined to comment on if Wilson would be considered the leading tight end.
"I think Richard's continuing to do a nice job," he said. "I'm happy that he made the plays he did."
Big shoes to fill
Jake Heaps and Riley Nelson for Max Hall, quarterback: 24-40 for 262 yards passing, two TD passes (Nelson).
J.J. Di Luigi for Harvey Unga, running back: 71 yards rushing on 13 carries, 83 yards receiving on four receptions, TD catch.
Richard Wilson for Dennis Pitta, tight end: 45 yards receiving on three receptions.