Rising, defense shine in romp by No. 12 Utah

Cameron Rising threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns and added 73 yards and a score on the ground to lead No. 12 Utah to a 4216 victory over visiting Oregon State on Saturday.

The Utes (4-1, 2-0) forced four turnovers to avenge their only Pac-12 loss from last season. It was the first time Utah finished with four interceptions in a game since a 52-45 victory over UCLA in 2016.

Two of those takeaways came in the red zone.

“We found our toughness,” senior safety R.J. Hubert said. “This team has guts, passion, they’re tough, and I love these guys.”

Third-string quarterback Ben Gulbranson threw for 177 yards and two interceptions to lead the Beavers. Gulbranson played the final three quarters after starter Chance Nolan left with a neck strain.

Oregon State (3-2, 0-2) suffered its second straight loss despite rolling up 417 yards and 21 first downs.

Utah broke open a close game with a pair of thirdquarter touchdowns. Devaughn Vele scored on a 16-yard catch. Then, R.J. Hubert picked off a pass from Gulbranson in the end zone and returned it 70 yards to set up Jaylen Dixon’s 22-yard scoring run.

A 4-yard toss from Rising to Dalton Kincaid gave the Utes a 42-16 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Clark Phillips III intercepted Nolan twice in the first quarter, becoming the first Utah player since Julian Blackmon in the 2017 Heart of Dallas Bowl to have multiple interceptions in the same game. The sophomore cornerback finished with three interceptions — the first Utah player to do since Robert Johnson had three picks against Colorado State in 2009.

“There’s nobody who studies more film than Clark and that leads to big plays,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “The more film you study, the more big plays you’re going to make.”

Phillips snagged his first interception on Oregon State’s second play from scrimmage to set up Dixon’s diving 19-yard catch three plays later that gave Utah a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.

The Beavers answered on their next drive. Silas Bolden took a pitch and ran 29 yards untouched on a reverse to even the score. Phillips jumped a route for his second interception and returned it 38 yards to put Utah back in front midway through the first quarter. WASHINGTON STATE 28, CALIFORNIA 9 >> Cameron Ward threw for 343 yards and three TDS as the Cougars beat the Golden Bears despite Ward being intercepted twice in the end zone.

Renard Bell caught eight passes for 115 yards and a touchdown for Washington State (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12), which played four of its first five games at home.

Jack Plummer completed 23 of 33 passes for 273 yards for Cal (3-2, 1-1), which was coming off a big win over Arizona.

After a scoreless first quarter, Washington State got a 34-yard punt return by Robert Ferrel, coupled with a personal foul on the Bears, to start a drive on the Cal 20-yard line. Jaylen Jenkins ran the ball in from the 2 for a 7-0 lead.

On WSU’S next drive, Ward was intercepted in the end zone by Cal safety Daniel Scott. The Golden Bears advanced to midfield, but Plummer was sacked on consecutive plays and they had to punt.

Washington State, leading 7-3, had the first drive of the second half, and Ward quickly connected with Bell on a 47-yard completion to the Cal 17.

Ferrel caught a 17-yard touchdown pass barely a minute into the half for a 14-3 lead.

Freshman Jaydn Ott scored on a 2-yard run for Cal early in the fourth.

Ott, who ran for 274 yards and three touchdowns a week earlier against Arizona, was held to 69 yards.

RICK BOWMER – AP