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HYRUM -- While Cougar fans watch Jake Heaps and Riley Nelson battle for the starting quarterback position at BYU, the next quarterback in line is getting ready for his final high school season.
Alex Kuresa may not look like a big time college football recruit, but he definitely plays like one.
"He's very competitive, [has a] real big heart and loves to win," says Mark Wootton, head football coach at Mountain Crest High School.
"He thinks he's 10 foot tall in his mind, and that's the difference," says David Kuresa, Alex's father.
Alex's small stature doesn't bother the coaches at BYU. Cougar Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall offered Alex a scholarship, and Alex accepted.
"I had some time to talk with Bronco, and I almost couldn't believe it," Alex says. "But it's exciting, and all that hard work's paid off, and it was just pretty much a dream come true."
Kuresa now begins his fourth year as the starting quarterback at Mountain Crest High School, where he led the Mustangs to three straight appearances in the 4A state semifinals. Each time, they fell to eventual-champion Timpview.
"It's huge just being that close, and then it's heartbreaking," Alex says. "People don't understand how big of a part of our lives Mountain Crest Football is. And to work for that your whole entire life, and then have it come so close and end is literally heartbreaking."
Now in his senior year, Alex hopes to finally lead the Mustangs to a state championship.
"A lot of kids get to a big game, and they don't know what to do. But we've been there; we know how it is. And hopefully we'll get over the hump this year, and that's the plan," Alex says.
In just 10 days, Alex opens up against fellow 4A power Highland.
E-mail: jjensen@ksl.com
