HYRUM — There is a reason that Mountain Crest senior Alex Kuresa has been a starting quarterback since his freshman year, and he showed everyone why.
Kuresa threw six touchdown passes and ran for one more in the Mustangs' 51–7 Rocky Mountain Bowl blowout against Las Vegas.
The Mustangs had over 500 yards of total offense when Kuresa was pulled from the game with five minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
When asked about the offensive performance, Kuresa would not take all the credit, citing spectacular play by his offensive lineman.
"The line gave me loads of time and made it easy for me," said Kuresa.
Line play is always vital in a football game, and proved to be a big factor on both sides of the ball for the Mustangs today. Many times the Mustang front line was able to drop the Vegas quarterback for a loss with no other help from the secondary.
Packed with juniors, the Mustang defense only allowed one score, which pleased Mountain Crest Head Coach Mark Wootton.
"They're getting better," said Wootton. "They're very young. We only have three or four seniors out there."
Despite being young, the defense were able to play well and come up with the stops needed to allow their signal caller to get back where he is dangerous to opponents, on the field and under center.
The diligent Mustang quarterback knows the secret to success when taking the snaps for a great football program like Mountain Crest.
"My work ethic," said the 6'1", 165-pound. Kuresa. "I'm undersized and I pride myself on how I work."
Kuressa made it look easy, throwing to a full arsenal of Mustang receivers, including sophomore Faimafili Laulu-Pututau, senior Nate Rigby, senior Troy Pickett, and even the backup quarterback Taylor Root. He also connected with Schofield Smith on one of two successful two-point conversions.
Before Kuresa's scoring onslaught commenced, however, the Mustangs were not so confident. On the first play of the game, Las Vegas quarterback Hasaan Henderson connected with senior wideout Cameron Rogers for a whopping 86-yard touchdown pass.
Las Vegas coach Chris Faircloth knew what the Mustangs could do before they even stepped on the bus to make the journey to Cache Valley.
"We knew we were getting into one heck of a team," said Faircloth, who has played a Utah team in each of the last six years. "(Kuresa) is just like the next level quarterback. He's a patient kid with good feet."
Kuresa's dominance on the field lifted Mountain Crest to their third win of the season. The Mustangs will be on the road next week, taking on 1 – 3 Bonneville next Friday.