BYU looks forward to honoring seniors in final home game


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PROVO — When BYU takes the field Saturday against Fresno State the Cougars will be playing for pride. For some on the BYU football squad, this will be their last chance to step onto the field at LaVell Edwards stadium.

BYU kicker Trevor Samson has only spent two years kicking at BYU (not including a redshirt year), but the senior says he has a personal vendetta for his final home game.

"Fresno is my hometown," Samson said, "they (Fresno State) recruited me a little bit out of high school, then overlooked me through my junior college years because I was too small."

When asked about Samson, special teams and outside linebacker coach Kelly Poppinga had nothing but praise. "He's super consistent," Poppinga said, noting Samson's 85.7 percent career field goal conversion rate.

That percentage ranks Samson as the number one kicker in BYU history. "When he goes out there we have a really good chance he's going to put three points on the board," Poppinga said.

Besides Samson's hopes to beat his hometown team, Samson is also hoping to make up for last week's missed extra point.

"You think about it a little, but (…) obviously as a kicker you have to let it go and move on," Samson said of the missed kick.

Fellow senior and linebacker Jherremya Leuta-Douyere is focused on the game at hand, but also a little nostalgic. "It's another game, but at the same time, it's like, dang, where did all the time go, (…) It's been a life changing experience to say the least, "

Defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi has been a part of a lot of senior days at BYU, but this one will be different. Saturday will be coach Kaufusi's son Bronson's last home game as a Cougar

BYU defensive lineman Bronson Kaufusi (90) poses for a selfie as BYU defeats Boise State on Sept. 12, 2015, at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo. (Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
BYU defensive lineman Bronson Kaufusi (90) poses for a selfie as BYU defeats Boise State on Sept. 12, 2015, at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo. (Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)

"Everyone wants to come and now I've got to come up with 40 tickets," joked coach Kaufusi. "We'll just enjoy the day, what it brings, and hope he plays well,"

It would be difficult to imagine the senior defensive end not playing well. Bronson Kaufusi's career ranks in the top five in BYU history in four categories: fifth all time with 36 tackles for loss, and third all-time for sacks (22.5), quarterback hurries (16) and forced fumbles (5).

To go along with his success on the field, Kaufusi is a captain and has been praised as a representative of BYU.

"(Bronson) is a model of what you want to be like." Leuta-Douyere said of Kaufusi "If there's a person to represent BYU, it's Bronson."

When it comes to selecting captains, coach Kaufusi asks the question, "Who's a complete person that can lead?"

Kaufusi said the team did a good job in selecting Taysom Hill and Bronson. "They represent everything that BYU stands for."

The Kaufusis had a good start to the week as son/brother Corbin had a career-high basketball day for the Cougars scoring 17 points along with 10 rebounds for his first career double-double in a 66-65 loss at Long Beach State.

BYU athletics as a whole are undefeated at home so far this year, the football team hopes to do itsd part to continue that. Leuta-Douyere said that staying undefeated at home has been a season goal for the team.

The Cougars play Saturday for the last time at LaVell Edwards stadium this season. Kickoff against Fresno State is at 1 p.m. MST.

Listen to post-practice interviews with Samson, Poppinga, Kaufusi and Leuta-Douyere in the "Cougar Cuts" section below.


David Boyle is a student at Brigham Young University studying journalism. He is from Monticello, Utah, and is thrilled to be covering BYU football and basketball for fall 2015. Follow David on twitter @dboyle119

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