Doman to start at QB — Cougars' 3rd this season

PROVO — For as long as he can remember, Brandon Doman has wanted to be the starting quarterback at BYU.

His dream is about to come true.

BYU coach LaVell Edwards announced Tuesday that the 6-foot-1-inch junior will start Saturday against New Mexico.

"It's an awesome opportunity," Doman said. "It's coach Edwards' last home game. This is an important game for our team."

It will mark his first start at quarterback since his senior season at Skyline High in 1994. Doman served a mission to Argentina out of high school and joined the program in 1998. He played sparingly in a backup role in 1998 and 1999. Midway through '99 he was moved to wide receiver, where he caught nine passes for 83 yards.

During the offseason, Doman contemplated moving to safety, but with the lack of depth on the roster at quarterback, he returned to that position full-time. Cougar coaches had intended to redshirt Doman this season, until injuries to Bret Engemann and Charlie Peterson forced him into action.

Even while he was buried on the depth chart behind Engemann and Peterson, Doman knew he'd eventually get his shot to play. "I believed all year long that I'd have the chance to start," he said. "I had a feeling it would happen. Now, here it is."

Doman takes over a team that has stumbled to a 4-6 record and is trying to avoid giving Edwards his first losing season since 1973. In their most recent outing, the Cougars were destroyed by Colorado State, 45-21.

"Tensions are heavy. It's been a rocky year," Doman said. "Everyone is curious to see what will happen with a new quarterback. I believe we're ready and rarin' to go. We need to come out and score a couple of touchdowns right off the bat. We need to take it to (New Mexico)."

Doman is BYU's third starting quarterback this season. Engemann dislocated his shoulder in the sixth game of the season at Syracuse while Peterson, who has started the past four games, has been battling ankle and shoulder injuries. Peterson did not practice the week of the CSU game but started anyway. He was ineffective in the first half and was replaced by Doman in the second half. Doman led the Cougars to three touchdowns.

For the season, he has completed 14 of 28 passes for 149 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He has carried the ball six times for 39 yards.

Peterson is practicing this week, but his shoulder is still not 100 percent, according to Edwards. At the same time, Edwards said, Doman isn't starting simply by default.

"Brandon has worked very hard. He deserves to start," he said. "He's bright and a very good leader. He's a good athlete and a tough kid."

Doman, who was an option quarterback in high school, is adept at tucking the ball under his arm and running for positive yardage when there are no open receivers. Coaches are encouraging him to do just that when plays break down. Still, Edwards added that there won't be many changes to BYU's offensive scheme with Doman at the controls.

Senior right tackle Ford Poston said that Doman's style won't be much of an adjustment for the offensive line.

"We won't miss a beat," he said.

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E-MAIL: jeffc@desnews.com