ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer
Oregon State can’t afford a slow start this weekend.
The Beavers took time to find their groove in the opener against Portland State, falling behind 14-13 at halftime before emerging with a 29-14 victory in Corvallis last Saturday.
That could mean disaster this Saturday against Hawaii, which gave then-No. 25 Washington a 17-16 fight in their opener.
Oregon State dropped openers to lower-division Eastern Washington in 2013 and Sacramento State in 2011, and it looked for a time like they might be in danger of falling to the Big Sky’s Vikings.
But the Beavers’ defense came alive in the second half — holding Portland State to 40 yards and no points — while allowing quarterback Sean Mannion and the offense to take over.
Mannion threw for 328 yards and a touchdown, while Storm Woods ran for 125 yards on 16 carries.
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