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Team Navy holds on for 26-20 victory in Alumni Game

By Darnell Dickson - | Mar 31, 2023
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Former BYU running backs Fahu Tahi (3) and Manase Tonga (11) celebrate a touchdown during the Alumni Game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Friday, March 31, 2023.
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Former BYU quarterbacks Ty Detmer (right) and Max Hall look through the playbook during the Alumni game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Friday, March 31, 2023.
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Former BYU defensive back Corby Eason (left) defends receiver Colby Pearson (3) during the 2023 Alumni Game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Friday, March 31, 2023.
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Former BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy (right) interviews former tight end Dennis Pitta during the Alumni Game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Friday, March 31, 2023.
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Former BYU receiver Aleva Hifo (right) catches a pass against the defense of former defensive back Brian Logan during the Alumni Game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Friday, March 31, 2023.

There was probably no way for the 2023 BYU Alumni Game to match the drama of last year’s event, but Friday’s Team Navy vs. Team Royal battle still came down to the final play.

Former Cougar defensive back Spencer White, who was a late replacement for Andrew Rich, picked off a deflected Ty Detmer pass to preserve a 26-20 victory for Team Navy in front of an estimated crowd of 5,000 at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Last year’s Hail Mary bomb from Max Hall to Bryan Kehl was the game-winner. This year was a showcase for all the quarterbacks who played, but White was the defensive star.

The story was that Rich’s son was sick, which kept the former Cougar from making the trip to Provo. Team Navy defensive coordinator Ben Criddle called up White (1999, 2002-05) and asked him to step in. Wearing Rich’s No. 22 jersey, White also intercepted a deflected pass on Team Royal’s first possession of the game.

“Thankfully, my wife is a personal trainer so she makes sure I stay at a certain percentage of body fat,” White said. “Otherwise, there’s trouble at home. I work out but not this kind of thing where you’re sprinting and stopping. So, yeah, today was a little bit of a challenge. I love that they’re doing this and really embracing the alumni. It’s great to have the fans out here. It’s a fun environment to see guys like Ty Detmer and John Beck and some of their other heroes. It’s pretty special.”

While White’s defensive performance stood out, the MVP could have gone to a number of players.

Bronson Kaufusi (2012-15) caught a pair of touchdown passes and a one-point conversion for Team Royal. John Beck (2003-06) threw scoring passes to Jonny Harline (2004-06), Fahu Tahi (1999, 2002-05) and Cody Hoffman (2009-13) for Team Navy.

“There were a few throws I wish I would have been a little bit better, but it does take you back,” Beck said. “It doesn’t feel like it’s been 20 years since we threw the ball together. It was cool to hit a couple of third downs to some guys I played with. It’s competitive, I’m not going to lie. I wanted guys around me to play well but at the same time, those are your teammates that you’re playing against. There were a lot of laughs and a lot of smiles.”

Former Cougar quarterback Brandon Doman (1998-01) said he wanted to show his kids how he used to do it, and completed all four passes on a drive that ended in a touchdown strike to Algie Brown (2010, 2013-16) for Team Navy. Hoffman finished with eight catches for 100 yards and a touchdown for Team Navy.

Near the conclusion of the BYU scrimmage that preceded the Alumni Game, BYUtv on-air personality Blaine Fowler said, “These alumni guys all need to be careful out there.” It wasn’t all good news on that front: Quarterback Max Hall (2006-09) ruptured his Achilles late in the game but still stayed out on the field in crutches to sign autographs and meet adoring fans afterward.

The Alumni Game began with a highlight reel on the stadium big screen, followed by the player introductions to “Legend” by The Score. Each player who was introduced received a personal greeting and a hug from current BYU coach Kalani Sitake. Current BYU cornerback coach Jernaro Gilford (1999-03) playfully grabbed his hamstring while running out for his introduction. Many of the players were joined by their children (or grandchildren) as they emerged from the tunnel in the southeast corner of the stadium. Patti Edwards, wife of the late BYU coaching legend LaVell Edwards, assisted with the coin flip before the touch-football game started and posed for a photo with the players before the game started.

White’s interception turned the ball over to Team Navy, which drove down the field behind Beck’s pinpoint accuracy and finished with a touchdown pass from Beck to Harline.

Detmer led Team Royal on a scoring drive to end the first quarter, finding Trey Dye (2014-17) on a 10-yard scoring pass. Detmer connected with Aleva Hifo (2016-19) for the conversion to tie the game at 7-all.

Beck’s pass to J.J. DiLuigi (2007-11) got Team Navy down to the 1-yard line, then Beck flipped a short pass to Tahi for a 13-7 lead. With 17 seconds left, Hall tossed a short scoring pass to Kaipo McGuire (1992-96) and got the conversion throw to Kaufusi for a 14-13 Team Royal lead at halftime.

Doman’s touchdown pass to Algie Brown and conversion to Matthews gave Team Navy a 20-14 advantage. Detmer was 5 of 8 on Team Royal’s next drive and found Kaufusi in the back of the end zone to tie the game at 20-all. Uona Kaveinga (2010-12) deflected Detmer’s throw for the conversion and the game remained tied.

Beck drove Team Navy into Team Royal territory but failed to convert a fourth down. At that point, game officials decided to give each team one more possession. Beck’s pass to Hoffman gave Team Navy the 26-20 lead and Mitch Matthews couldn’t come down with the conversion in bounds.

White ended the game with his interception on Team Royal’s first play of their possession.

“This was awesome,” said Kaufusi, who also confirmed he’s decided to end his NFL career and begin life in the private sector. “There are so many feeling and emotions that come to you. You step onto this field after putting so much time, sweat and blood into the game and it’s just so fun to be with the guys. Kalani told us to have a great time and have fun.

“Not a lot of people know this but I was offered as a tight end out of high school. I wasn’t going to play football. I was a basketball player. But I played tight end in the NFL for two years so its fun for me to go full circle.”

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