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Provo • After a week of speculation over the starting quarterbacks, freshman Tanner Mangum started for BYU and redshirt freshman Hayden Moore started for Cincinnati on Friday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Mangum, who pulled his hamstring against East Carolina six days ago, completed his first pass to Terenn Houk, then misfired on second and third down and the Cougars had to punt.

"He isn't 100 percent, but he will play, and he'll play as long and as well as he can, under the circumstances," coach Bronco Mendenhall told KSL radio before the game.

Moore was given the nod over opening-day starter Gunner Kiel, who was cleared to play last Sunday after suffering a neck injury in Cincinnati's 53-46 win over Memphis on Sept. 24. He was sensational from the start, completing 7 of 13 passes for 118 yards on the Bearcats' first two drives.

BYU offensive lineman Ului Lapuaho suffered a high ankle sprain in the 45-38 win over East Carolina last week and did not play.

Holiday on Houk

BYU's receivers have been relatively healthy this season, after being plagued by injuries the past few years.

Last week against East Carolina, inside receiver Houk could barely walk on Thursday or Friday, according to receivers coach Guy Holliday, but played in Saturday's game and caught four passes for 43 yards on a sprained ankle.

"As you mature as an athlete, you learn that if you want to be part of the action, you realize you only get so many opportunities to touch the field. He was an inspiration. He showed up when people didn't think he would," Holliday said. "As a coach, you don't force that on a player. That is a player's mentality. That mentality showed. Really, that is what leadership is all about. Leadership is, before you can help somebody else, you got to be able to help yourself. … I think that was an incredible performance. So that is what you want from your seniors."

On Hill's big decision

Mendenhall said Monday that injured quarterback Taysom Hill, who watched the game from the sidelines on Friday night, will decide after the anticipated bowl game whether he will return to BYU for his final year of eligibility, enter the NFL draft, or retire from football.

"Where we left [their last discussion] is that we will let the entire season go, all the way through the bowl game, let schooling, job opportunities, NFL assessments, all that happen, get as much information as we can, and then I will advise him at that point. I am not going to try to persuade him. I am just going to be a sounding board and try to help him make a great decision."

Briefly

NFL scouts from the 49ers, Jets, Saints, Chiefs and Browns attended the game. … BYU was 11-4 under Mendenhall in Friday night games prior to the Cincinnati game. … Pink ribbons adorned the field and BYU's jerseys as the Cougars participated in their annual breast cancer awareness game. … Former BYU running back Luke Staley carried the BYU alumni flag onto the field. Staley was inducted into the BYU Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday night, along with former linebacker Rob Morris. … Temperature at kickoff was 73 degrees.

drew@sltrib.com Twitter: @drewjay