Coming into its game against Utah, Oregon hadn’t scored in the second half in almost a month.
That changed on Saturday, as Oregon scored 24 points in the second half to rout Utah, 41-20. True freshman quarterback Braxton Burmeister threw only 12 passes, completing nine, for 47 yards, but Oregon rushed for 347 yards and scored three touchdowns in the second half.
In his return to Autzen, Darren Carrington II caught nine passes for 130 yards in a losing effort.
Key plays
— Big man touchdown alert! On fourth down at Oregon’s one-yard line, Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley’s pass gets tipped but falls directly to offensive lineman Darrin Paulo, who makes the catch while on his back in the end zone. The call would stand after a review to make it 17-13 Oregon.

Oh my pic.twitter.com/ZNJSfIQMko
— Gus Morris (@JustGusMorris) October 28, 2017

— Oregon’s ensuing drive yields a 38-yard field goal to extend Oregon’s lead to 20-13. The field goal is the first time Oregon’s scored in the second half of a game since its 45-24 win over Cal back on Sept. 30.
— Utah took its next drive all the way down to Oregon’s 25-yard line. But a 43-yard field goal attempt missed wide left to preserve Oregon’s 20-13 lead.
— An already wild game got wilder as the third quarter wound down. Oregon ran a reverse to Charles Nelson, who, after stumbling from a missed tackle, fired a pass to tight end Jacob Breeland in the endzone. Breeland came down with the ball to put Oregon up 27-13.
— Tony Brooks-James scores on a 23-yard run to give Oregon a commanding 34-13 lead.
— Utah’s comeback effort gets off to a good start following Brooks-James’s score. Huntley connects with Siaosi Wilson for a 29-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-20.
— Oregon tightened its grip on the game when Kani Benoit ran for a 21-yard touchdown with two minutes left in the game. That score extended Oregon’s lead to 41-20.
Oregon passing 
Braxton Burmeister — 9-of-12 for 47 yards and one touchdown.
Charles Nelson — 1-for-1 for 22 yards and one touchdown.
Oregon rushing
Royce Freeman — 20 carries for 139 yards
Tony Brooks-James — six carries for 105 yards and one touchdown
Kani Benoit — nine carries for 71 yards and one touchdown
Oregon receiving
Charles Nelson – Two receptions for nine yards
Jacob Breeland — one reception for 22 yards and one touchdown
Utah passing
Tyler Huntley — 25-of-43 for 293 yards and two touchdowns
Utah rushing
Zach Moss — 10 carries for 53 yards
Utah receiving
Darren Carrington — nine receptions for 130 yards
Siaosi Wilson — two receptions for 40 yards and one touchdown
Darrin Paulo — one reception for one yard and one touchdown.
 
Follow Gus Morris on Twitter @JustGusMorris