This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Utah Utes finally got their offense going in the second quarter of Saturday's game against Oregon State, but they still didn't have an answer for Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion.

Mannion threw for two touchdowns in the first half and another in the third quarter to help the Beavers take a 34-24 lead after three quarters.

The quarterback was 18 of 29 for 294 yards with top receiver Brandin Cooks catching five passes for 134 yards.

Utah's Travis Wilson was 16 of 27 for 230 yards and a touchdown. His second-quarter effort was a vast improvement over the first, when Utah managed just 12 yards on offense. He threw an interception that was returned 27 yards for a score in the opening minute of the third quarter.

The defining play in the second quarter came when Mannion fired a pass between Utah defenders Trevor Reilly and Keith McGill to Connor Hamlet for a 7-yard touchdown that put the Beavers ahead 20-7 with 3 minutes, 13 seconds remaining in the half.

That play, like so many before it, highlighted Utah's unsuccessful effort in covering the receivers with Mannion making pinpoint throws. —