Y. running backs need time to heal

PROVO — For BYU, it's a good thing this is a bye week, if for no other reason that its banged-up offensive backfield can use the time to rest and recover.

While running back Fui Vakapuna is nursing a high-ankle sprain, fullback Manase Tonga is scheduled to undergo surgery today for a broken bone in his hand.

Tonga suffered the injury when he fumbled into the end zone in the third quarter of BYU's 47-17 victory over San Diego State on Saturday.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said Monday that Tonga suffered a partial fracture to his non-dominant hand, and that doctors likely will insert a screw to repair the injury.

Still, Mendenhall expects Tonga to play in the Cougars' coming game against UNLV on Sept. 21. "He'll be playing in some sort of brace or cast," he said.

Mendenhall wasn't aware of the injury until after the game, when Tonga approached team trainers and doctors, who diagnosed the fracture.

Vakapuna, who sustained the ankle sprain in the first half of the SDSU game after rushing four times for 56 yards (14 yards per carry) and a touchdown, should also be ready to play against UNLV, Mendenhall said.

The Cougars have relied heavily on their ground attack this season. Vakapuna has tallied 50 carries for 301 yards and six touchdowns while Tonga has had 16 carries for 90 yards.

Running back Curtis Brown has rushed 91 times for 358 yards. Brown needs 401 yards to break the school career rushing record, currently held by Jamal Willis.

FUTURE QUARTERBACKS: Despite the lopsided nature of BYU's game with SDSU, the Cougar coaching staff didn't consider inserting third-string true freshman quarterback Jacob Bower into the contest to give him some game experience.

That's because the plan is to redshirt Bower this season, Mendenhall said.

Mendenhall explained that he wants starter John Beck and backup Jason Beck to play out the season. However, both players are seniors, and the other quarterbacks on the roster, like Bower, are freshmen.

That could mean the Cougars will enter the 2007 season without a quarterback with college experience. BYU has three other freshman quarterbacks — Max Hall, who redshirted at Arizona State and is ineligible this season due to NCAA transfer rules; Sam Doman, who is redshirting; and James Lark, who is also redshirting. Lark plans to leave for an LDS mission after the season.

Mendenhall said he is not ruling out the possibility that the Cougars could bring in a junior college quarterback prior to the 2007 campaign to provide depth and experience to the position.

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E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com