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Provo • Coach Bronco Mendenhall met with BYU's receivers last week, and basically told the under-performing crew to get with the program, or get out.
Senior Luke Ashworth must have heard him loud and clear.
Ashworth caught his first pass in more than a month — he caught six, actually, including one for a 12-yard touchdown — to help the Cougars beat Wyoming 25-20 on Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Ashworth had 57 of BYU's 81 receiving yards.
"That might have been the happiest I have been for any player on our team in this game, just to see him break through," Mendenhall said. "… Listening to our offensive coaches, and who they wanted that ball to go to in critical times, they wanted it to go to him."
Ashworth needed to step up because junior receiver McKay Jacobson was feeling some tightness in his knee on the first series and did not play the remainder of the game. Trainers said Jacobson could have played, but the decision was made to hold him out.
"It feels really good," Ashworth said. "I think our offense is clicking. We are all starting to get some confidence, so it has been good."
Offensive leaders
Once again, the Cougars turned to their running game to control the clock and move the ball. Bryan Kariya rushed 19 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, and J.J. Di Luigi carried the ball 16 times for 82 yards and a score. Freshman Joshua Quezada gained 59 yards on 14 carries.
"It didn't come easy, but we had a lot of will out there," Di Luigi said. "We played with a lot of heart. Our offense was able to throw the ball down the field a little more, and our defense, I can't say enough about their play today."
drew@sltrib.com Twitter: @drewjay