To play a team like that and you see that many balls come your way, he showed improvement. We needed that to happen. He and (cornerback) Rob (Daniel) made enough plays to help us win. – BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, on Michael Davis
BERKELEY, Calif. — Way back in August, BYU coaches decided to move sophomore wide receiver Michael Davis to cornerback.
After some ups and downs this season, Davis had some serious on-the-job training — including the Cougars’ 42-35 victory over Cal Saturday.
Facing the Golden Bears’ talented quarterback, Jared Goff, Davis was tested. He lost some battles, but in the end, he won some, too.
Goff threw for 393 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Kenny Lawler hauled in 12 catches for 138 yards and three touchdowns.
But BYU won the game.
“He grew up. There were a lot of plays that he was close on throughout the game, not quite able to get a hand up or make a tackle or being in position fast enough,” coach Bronco Mendenhall said of Davis. “To play a team like that and you see that many balls come your way, he showed improvement. We needed that to happen. He and (cornerback) Rob (Daniel) made enough plays to help us win.”
On Cal’s final drive, Goff threw three passes on Davis' side of the field, but the Cougars kept the Bears out of the end zone. Davis almost intercepted one of the passes.
“I rose to the occasion,” Davis said, “and I played my best.”
“I was so proud of Mike Davis. He’s a young kid that’s been moved back and forth from offense to defense. He does it with a smile,” said defensive back Skye PoVey, who was playing in place of injured Craig Bills. “To see him make big plays like that, I mean, they were trying to pick on him. He’s kind of newer to the position and they tried to go at him and he came up big. Three big plays, almost a pick on one of them.”
Davis recorded seven tackles and two pass breakups.
“Mike Davis worked his butt off to get on the field,” Daniel said. “When you see his work pay off, all you can do is be happy for him.”