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Provo • The Cougars have lost another standout offensive lineman, probably forever.
Before Friday night's game against Utah State, BYU announced that sophomore OL Famika Anae was not cleared to play "due to the cumulative effects of many injuries, primarily to his knee."
Anae is not expected to continue his football career, according to the school release. Solomone Kafu, a sophomore, started in Anae's place at left guard.
Against Utah, junior Houston Reynolds suffered a torn Achilles tendon and was lost for the season.
No more weekday games
BYU's football season reached its midpoint Friday night. But their string of playing non-Saturday games, at least this season, came to an end.
All six of BYU's remaining games will be played on Saturday, after the Cougars played twice on Thursday (vs. Washington State, vs. Boise State) and twice on Friday (vs. Hawaii, vs. USU) the first half of the season.
"I like the earlier games on Thursdays or Fridays," BYU quarterback Riley Nelson said earlier this week. "You are usually the only game going on, so everyone around the country is watching. That's cool."
Before Friday's game, the Cougars were 2-1 in the non-Saturday contests, having defeated Washington State and Hawaii and having lost to Boise State.
"We've done it so much that we've kind of got it figured out," Nelson said. "But all our games after this week are on Saturdays, so it will be nice to get back to that routine as well."
Hill gets the start
For the second straight game, freshman Taysom Hill got the start at quarterback for the Cougars. BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said in his pregame comments on KSL radio that senior Riley Nelson would be available to play as a "last resort," but the Cougars were hoping to give him at least one more week of rest.
Against Hawaii last week, Hill secured the first win in BYU history for a true freshman starting his first game. He was 12 for 21 for 112 yards and two touchdowns with one interception against the Warriors.
Briefly
The Cougars' uniforms on Friday night included pink accessories in an effort to promote breast cancer awareness. … BYU's alumni flag-bearer was former linebacker Paul Walkenhorst.
Twitter: @drewjay