Utah Utes vs Oregon State Beavers Box Score on Oct 15, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Oct 15, 2016

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Joe Williams rushed for 179 yards and one touchdown as No. 21 Utah survived a late Oregon State comeback for a 19-14 victory on Saturday at Reser Stadium.

The Utes (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) became bowl eligible on a wet and blustery day after gaining only 78 yards in the second half. Troy Williams completed 4 of 13 passes for 42 yards on the day as Utah went primarily with its ground game.

Joe Williams, who started the first two games of the season before choosing to give up football, matched his career high with 34 carries but was stuffed on fourth down at the Oregon State 25 with 37 seconds left to play.

However, the Beavers (2-4, 1-2) turned the ball over on downs on their final possession to end the game.

Third-string quarterback Marcus McMaryion came on after injuries to starter Darrell Garretson and backup Corey Blount to cap a 65-yard drive with a 14-yard pass to Hunter Jarmon with 1:48 to play.

Artavis Pierce scored Utah's only touchdown of the second half on an 18-yard run in the third quarter. The Utes finished with a season-low 317 yards to 297 for Oregon State.

Utah took advantage of Oregon State miscues on special teams to score three times for a 12-0 halftime lead.

After a 15-yard punt, the Utes drove 73 yards in 10 plays and scored on Joe Williams' 5-yard run for an early 7-0 lead. They added a safety on the last play of the first quarter when the Beavers long snapper sent the ball over punter Nick Porebski's head and out of the end zone.

Utah went 55 yards after Oregon State's free kick in 12 plays before settling for a 25-yard field goal by Andy Phillips.

Joe Williams finished the half with 142 yards on 19 carries as the Utes had a 229-55 edge in total offense.

Oregon State's best scoring opportunity came late in the half when Devin Chappell recovered a backward pass at the Utah 42. However, a personal foul by senior tackle Sean Harlow for unnecessary roughness pushed the Beavers back into their own territory and led to Pobreski's fifth punt of the half.

NOTES: Utah's leading rusher, Armand Shyne, was lost for the season with a knee injury suffered in last week's win over Arizona, which led to Williams' return to the team this week. ... Oregon State's Ryan Nall, who had a career-best 221 rushing yards against California before injuring his foot late in the game, started and carried just once for 32 yards in the first half before heading to the sideline.