He is erratic, as he showed Thursday, but he's a winner, as he also showed Thursday in Utah's 31-28 win over Oregon State.

Johnson, whose inefficiency and two turnovers led him to be booed by Ute fans in the third quarter of Thursday's win over Oregon State, played as well as a quarterback can in the game's final minutes.

On the final two drives he was 7-for-8 for 91 yards and a touchdown. The rest of the game, he was 10-for-22 for 110 yards, plus an interception returned for a touchdown and a fumble that led to another Oregon State score.

The difference? His determination, Johnson said.

"This team has worked too hard from January until now; I couldn't have it on my heart that we lost because I turned the ball over," Johnson said.

For a quarterback who is 14-1 as a starter since returning from a shoulder injury in 2007, being booed at home was an unusual situation, but Johnson said he understands why fans are getting upset with Utah's offense.

Unlike 2007, when the Utes' offense was generally regarded as insufficient but the Utes still won games in workmanlike manner, the 2008 Utes seem to like putting themselves in a difficult situation, then winning dramatically.

There were first-half struggles against UNLV followed by a 28-point second half, the three turnovers Johnson had against Air Force in the first half that were forgiven after he led the Utes on a game-winning 80-yard drive in the final minute, and then his cold-and-suddenly hot performance against Oregon State.

His worst moments were in the third quarter, when he was 3-for-7 for 22 yards, fumbled and was sacked.

"That third quarter, I would have booed, too," he said.

At least fans know Johnson is tired of the inconsistency, too. The win over Oregon State and how it played out gives Johnson as much to criticize as celebrate as the Utes prepare for the second half of the season starting with Saturday's game at Wyoming (2-4). Wyoming (2-4) is coming off a 24-0 loss to New Mexico.

Much like he did after the win at Air Force when he apologized for his play, Johnson said he is determined to improve with difficult games against TCU and BYU ahead. The Utes can get away with mistakes against teams like Utah State and Weber State, but not the conference leaders, Johnson said.

Utah's margin of victory was 20 points in 2007; this season it is 16 points, thanks to the stop-start nature of the offense and turnovers that have put the defense in bad situations.

"I know I have to take better care of the ball," he said. "As a team, we're still averaging over 30 points, and that's pretty good, but I know there is room for improvement."

If anything, the hostilities he faced at home against Oregon State by his own fans were a good preparation for what should be a rowdy crowd in Laramie. The Cowboys will have revenge on their minds after what happened last season when Utah beat the Cowboys 50-0.