The Sports Xchange
Oct 31, 2015
SALT LAKE CITY – Quarterback Travis Wilson threw for 198 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 56 yards and another score to help No. 13 Utah pull away from Oregon State for a 27-12 victory Saturday night.
Running back Devontae Booker added 121 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries to help the Utes (7-1, 4-1 Pac-12) retain a one-game lead over USC and UCLA in the Pac-12 standings.
Quarterback Nick Mitchell threw for 204 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for 40 yards to lead the Beavers. Mitchell started in place of quarterback Seth Collins, who did not make the trip to Utah while sitting out with a knee injury.
Oregon State (2-6, 0-5 Pac-12) remained winless in Pac-12 play.
Utah's offense finally found some life in the fourth quarter after two scoreless quarters when it totaled just 92 yards. Kicker Andy Phillips broke the ice early in the quarter when he drilled a 49-yard field goal.
Then Utah extended its lead to 24-6 on a 2-yard quarterback keeper from Wilson with 9:21 left.
Oregon State gave itself a chance at a comeback, scoring on a 2-yard pass from Mitchell to receiver Victor Bolden to make it 24-12 with 8:07 remaining. Receiver Jordan Villamin gained 74 yards on a catch-and-run to set up the scoring play.
Phillips, however, hit a 45-yard field goal with 3:21 left to cap the scoring.
Utah took a 7-0 lead when Booker capped off its opening drive with a 1-yard scoring run. The Utes ran 12 straight plays on that drive - starting with a 14-yard run by Booker where he hurled a defender - and averaged 6.3 yards per carry.
The Utes went to the air on their next scoring drive. Utah took a 14-0 lead after tight end Harrison Handley hauled in a strike from Wilson for a 39-yard score.
Oregon State clamped down defensively in the second quarter. The Beavers allowed the Utes to accumulate just 32 yards on offense and it opened the door for a rally. Kicker Garrett Owens made field goals from 23 and 31 yards to trim Utah's lead to 14-6 by halftime.
NOTES: Through its first seven games, Oregon State ranked last in the Pac-12 in passing offense (153.1 yards per game) and passing efficiency (96.9). ... Utah RB Devontae Booker rushed for a career-high 229 yards against the Beavers last season. ... Utah LB Jared Norris started after sitting out against USC last week. ... Oregon State coach Gary Andersen played center at Utah for two seasons (1985-86) and was the team's defensive coordinator from 2005 to 2008.