Young guns on tap

PROVO — Today's first-ever meeting of Brigham Young and Stanford pits a pair of college football programs with storied quarterback traditions — the Cardinal boasting standouts John Elway and Jim Plunkett and the Cougars starting their QB lists with the likes of Jim McMahon, Steve Young and Ty Detmer.

All eyes will be on the two current starting QBs when BYU (2-1) squares off against Stanford (1-0) in the 4:30 p.m. game at LaVell Edwards Stadium. But it's not because Stanford's Trent Edwards and BYU's John Beck are bidding to join their heralded passing predecessors any time soon.

No, these two are young guns — emphasis on "young."

Edwards, a redshirt freshman, makes his first career start after coming in midgame when the Cardinal fell behind 10-0 to San Jose State two weeks ago. In three quarters, he completed 21-of-37 for 278 yards and two touchdowns, leading Stanford to a 31-10 victory.

Beck becomes only the second true freshman to ever start at quarterback for the Cougars, stepping in for injured starter Matt Berry, who fractured his throwing hand in last week's 10-7 victory at New Mexico.

Beck's game credentials pale in comparison to Edwards. In his single series in the Georgia Tech opener, Beck's cameo went fumble-sack-interception. Against No. 4 Southern California in the second game, he fared better — until getting knocked out at the end of the game, suffering a concussion when sandwiched by two Trojan defenders and missing last week's game.

His passing numbers are only 1-of-6 for 12 yards, with the pick thrown in the opener. He can lay claim to being the Cougars' No. 2 rusher — but since he's averaging only seven yards a game, that's more a condemnation of BYU's running game.

Stanford is one of the nation's youngest teams — half of its 94 players are either true freshmen or redshirt freshmen, with only 14 juniors and 14 seniors. Only two seniors are on the two-deep chart, one being tackle Kirk Chambers, the former Provo High standout who has started every game in his four seasons.

The Cougars started 2003 relatively young and inexperienced on offense. And while BYU will be playing its fourth game of the season (compared to Stanford's second), injuries are keeping the Cougar offense rather inexperienced.

Besides Beck, sophomore fullback Fahu Tahi will make his first start of the season in place of the injured freshman FB Tafui Vakapuna. And while starting center Scott Jackson is likely to see playing time just a week after suffering knee-ligament damage in the New Mexico game, backup Hanale Vincent may see considerable action.