Each week during the college football season the Daily Herald will highlight the performances of high school and JC athletes who have committed to BYU or are being recruited by the Cougars.

• X-Man: BYU prospect Xavier Su'a-Filo is liking this defense thing. For the second straight playoff game, Su'a-Filo (6-5 265 OL) made a huge impact on the defensive side of the ball. His blocked punt turned the momentum as Timpview won its third straight Class 4A state football title last Friday, holding off Cottonwood 34-28. Timpview (13-0) trailed 28-21 in the second half when Su'a-Filo's block gave the T-Birds great field position and momentum.

"That play I think I was supposed to come out, but coach told me to stay in because we didn't have the right personnel," Su'a Filo said. "There's a gap, I tried to out-quick the guy and then there was one blocker and I just tried to bull-rush him and once I got there I just stuck my hand out."

Timpview's Ofa Latu recovered the ball at the Cottonwood 24. The big play set up an 18-yard touchdown run from quarterback Casey Rumsey to tie the game at 28 with 4:13 left in the third quarter and the T-Birds went on to score again to take the lead for good.

Su'a-Filo and BYU commit Craig Bills (6-2 205 S) were starters on all three Timpview state championship teams.

• Still rolling: BYU's top prospect for the Class of 2010, Skyline (Wash.) quarterback Jake Heaps (6-2 190), is getting closer to another state title.

Heaps passed for 204 yards and two scores and ran for another touchdown as Skyline hammered Auburn 38-2 in the Class 4A quarterfinals last week. One big play occurred in the second quarter, when Heaps connected with sophomore Kasen Williams on a 47-yard bomb that led to a Skyline score.

"I saw Kasen one-on-one with the guy, and I like my chances with that," Heaps told the Seattle Times.

Skyline (12-0) has won 26 straight games and plays Ferris on Saturday in the 4A semis.

• Just short: BYU prospect Harvey Langi (6-1 205 RB, Class of 2011) was a workhorse in the Class 5A championship game with 32 carries for 99 yards and a touchdown. But Alta produced a clutch drive in the final two minutes to win its second straight state title with a 21-17 victory. Bingham, which lost its first two games of the season, ended the season with an 11-3 record.

Langi finished his sophomore season with 206 carries for 1,342 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and 18 touchdowns.

• From the Islands: BYU's top prospect for the Class of 2009, Hawaii's Manti Te'o (6-2 225 LB), and his Punahou (10-1) teammates had a first-round bye in the state playoffs and will take on Farrington (9-3) in today's semifinals.

Te'o's list of favored schools remains BYU, Notre Dame, USC, Stanford and UCLA.

Leilehua and Kahuku, led by BYU commit Jray Galea'i (6-0 170 S), play in today's other semifinal. Kahuku will benefit from the return of BYU Class of 2010 prospect Kona Schwenke (6-4 203 DE), who suffered a knee injury in the OIA quarterfinal victory over Mililani and hasn't played since.

• Wants to be a Cougar: BYU has received a commitment from one of the biggest lineman in the state of Oklahoma, according to Total Blue Sports.

Brad Wilcox (6-7 270 OL) of Edmonds, Okla., has given the Cougars an oral commitment and becomes the 16th commitment for the Class of 2009. Wilcox was also offered scholarships by Oregon State and Iowa State. In addition, he received recruiting attention from Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Washington, New Mexico, Boise State and Kansas State.

• Closing in: BYU prospect Kyle Van Noy (6-4 202 LB) had four receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown as undefeated McQueen (Nev.) kept rolling with a 55-7 win over Reed in the Northern 4A regional semifinals. McQueen will get a chance to repeat as region champion, today against No. 2 Bishop Manogue. The regional final will double as a state semifinal.

• End of the line: Oak Ridge (Calif.) couldn't hold a 21-3 third quarter lead and fell in the first round of the playoffs to Woodcreek, 31-24. BYU commit Brett Thompson (6-3 210 WR/RB) had a rushing touchdown in the first quarter as Oak Ridge finished the season 5-6.

• Can't touch this: The blowouts continue as Oaks Christian (Calif.) and BYU prospect Zac Stout (6-1 215 LB) enter the playoffs.

Oaks Christian blasted South Torrance 64-14 last week in the first round of the state playoffs. Stout contributed seven tackles as Oaks Christian (11-0) moves on to face Pioneer Valley today in the second round.

In 11 games this season, Oaks Christian has outscored its opponents 553-69.

• Playoff run: Palm Desert (Calif.) defensive back and BYU commit Trevor Bateman (5-11 165) got back on track just in time after two straight losses to end the season.

Palm Desert (9-2) routed Burroughs 41-7 on the road to open the playoffs with Bateman posting touchdown runs of 64 and four yards.

"It was just good blocking, I've got to give it to the line," Bateman told the Palm Desert Sun. "It was just line execution and they opened a big hole, and I ran it down the sideline."

The 9-2 Aztecs host Citrus Hill in the second round of the playoffs today.

• Shocker: BYU commit Mitch Matthews (6-5 195 WR) caught five passes for 58 yards as Southridge (Ore.) upset No. 2 South Medford 52-21 in the Class 6A quarterfinals. Southridge will play Beaverton in the semifinals today.