Like many folks here at LaVell Edwards Stadium, I was a little late getting to today's game because of orange cones. But I made it. Jim McMahon just carried the alumni flag onto the field, and Jordan Pendleton was the BYU player carrying the team flag.

I can sense a lot of anxiety and anticipation as fans wonder which young guys are going to step forward today, which veterans are going to live up to expectations and how this two-QB system is going to work. It really is a season of uncertainty, but promise. O'Neill Chambers returned the opening kick to the 22 yard line and Riley Nelson is getting the new season underway.

With the game out of reach, the Beavers have a new quarterback Ryan Katz running the show and he looks impressive. He is going against second-team players but he has thrown some good balls including a touchdown. He gets a chance to do some more experience-gaining because Tonga fumbled an onside kick without being touched. Hall remains in the game, which surprises me a little.

Rayburn has a lot of work ahead of him having covered BYU basketball today and then heading up our blogging duties.

Bronco Mendenhall managed a smile, sort of, as he was doused with a cold victory ice bath. Santa Claus and Chewbacca were on the sidelines helping BYU celebrate.

The Cougars are allowing this pasting of Oregon State to get a little closer than they'd like. A deep TD pass, and then an onsides kick recovered by the Beavers. This game should have been over by now. But, a win is a win.

Manase Tonga, in the game to run for Unga, was given the ball and he knocked defenders down on every play. He punched one in for a touchdown sending two defenders flying near the front of the endzone, much like bowling pins.

The Cougar players are oppenly celebrating, letting their game faces slip to reveal big smiles in the avalanche of evidence that they dominated the game.

Even if BYU doesn't score after Oregon State's latest mistake, it's over. Just a matter now of the final margin. Scott Johnson just ended his career in sweet fashion as well. And that was an impressive return. And I just heard over a walkie-talkie from someone on the sidelines. "We have confetti on the field. There's confetti on the field." I think maybe the celebration has begun.

Scott Johnson will feel good about coming up with a pick after he was essentially called for 30 yards in penalties on one play. He stepped in front of a questionable pass and returned in deep into OSU territory.

On a day when the team has already won, that will be a personal victory for a player who plays emotional football for BYU.

With BYU leading 37-13, at what point do you let the underclassmen get in the game?

With Unga losing a ball in the scrum, the Beavers are back on offense and with less than seven minutes left, they perhaps can't win but they sure will try. BYU loses the chance to get younger guys some bowl experience. On the other hand, the seniors in the game may want to stay on the field as their college football careers wind down.

Still, Cougar players and fans would rather feel like they crushed OSU from start to finish and another OSU score makes the game look a lot more competitive than it really was.

I don't think that Oregon State touchdown has the Cougars in any kind of a panic that the Beavers are going to pull this one out. But I do think it bruised the pride of BYU's defense some, because it's played very well and didn't want the Beavers tasting the end zone again.

And just for the record, the wind is still swirling and gusting, but not quite as bad. But, I think most of the litter that normally lines Las Vegas' freeways is now circulating through the skies in front of me. In fact, I think I just saw Wayne Newton blow by.

I agree with Jim that this game is mostly or completely over. The OSU team wants to end with something positive to take from the game so it is still playing hard but they were completely beaten.

It will help with the cosmetics of the final score if they manage to tack on a touchdown but barring a complete BYU meltdown, there just isn't time to come back. Even if there was, they haven't stopped BYU's offense much or at all.

If Oregon State turn this one around, I'd be stunned. Who wouldn't? They can get nothing going, BYU's defense has totally shut the Beavers down, and they're the ones making all the mistakes. Well, if this game's not in the oven yet, the door is at least open. And I think if BYU can score and capitalize on this mistake, you can lick the stamp and mail this one off as another Vegas Bowl win. And in case you were wondering, a lot of fans think so, because Sam Boyd is beginning to empty some.

OSU's hopes to win are slim but to keep them them from falling to "none" they need a score right now. For the Beavers, it is do-or-die.

Conversely, BYU's defense looks as if they smell blood and are playing football with energy and without any hesitation. They can almost end the game with a turnover or a couple of stops.

One of the criticisms the BYU program has received in the Bronco era is that the team doesn't come with enough fire in big-time situations. Nobody can make that claim about this game.

The defense is laying hits and seems pretty pumped after many plays. Reporters here at the DNews have been writing all week that the practices were spirited and the team seemed to have the right attitude and it seems that what they saw in practice and in interviews is showing up in the game. They are dominating not only the game but almost every play.

It isn't only the defense putting the hurt on. The offensive line is pounding the Beavers, giving Unga room and then he is punishing the defense as well, knocking them backward at contact on virtually every play. Wind or not, Oregon players are landing on their backs on most plays.

A couple of times this season BYU's defense has impressed with its aggressive hitting, quick pursuit and knack of coming up big in big situations. This is as good as it's played this year. The Beavers can find a seam to run through, can't get outside, and the receivers are finding little space in their routes and finding BYU's hands on most passes. The Cougars are shutting down. Remember how potent this Oregon State offense was a few weeks back against Oregon, in that shootout for the Rose Bowl berth? Not even close to a similar output tonight. Just a strong defensive effort tonight by BYU, and if it even kind of keeps up, the Beavers won't catch up.

It isn't often that a team that is behind wants to chew up some clock but if I am a Beaver fan right now, I want my team to keep the ball out of BYU's hands for as much of this quarter as possible.

Most importantly, the team needs a score, but my secondary concern would be not letting the Cougars have the ball back many more times, especially in good field position, this quarter. Oregon State is having some success through the air now.

I think Max Hall and Dennis Pitta are finishing up their college careers at BYU in nice fashion. Both are making big plays at critical times. Halls is passing with some zip, and making good decisions. Pitta is just his steady self, but what other way would he want to finish his days in BYU blue.

But, a 23-point lead is not insurmountable. Still, I think BYU's energy is going to be tough for Oregon State to overcome. And the Beavers look flat and stunned.

While 30-7 seems like a big number early in the third quarter, and it is, I think the wind makes the final quarter really tough for BYU's defense no matter what the score is. A couple of 6-yard BYU punts will change the complexion of the game in a hurry.

Dennis Pitta caught a Max Hall toss through the middle of the defense to log another score. It will be interesting to see how the Beaver attack is changed after the half.

Here's a good chance for BYU to really put the dagger in. Like I said, rallying from this deficit in this wind is a big task. And it's going to take risks. Right now, Oregon State is 0-1 in the risk department with that failed fake punt. So, if the Cougars make the Beavers pay, they'll put them in a very big hole. I think they'll grind it in on the ground here. Or go to Pitta or George.

On my television OSU is heading right to left which is against the wind. That means BYU will be heading that way in the final quarter which also means BYU better make hay right now.

So with a 23-7 lead and tough conditions for throwing the football, should BYU change its game plan for the second half or keep the foot down and continue doing what got the Cougars the nice lead? Being too conservative tends to hurt teams. But one way Oregon State can get back in this game is with the Cougars turning it over. I'm expecting much of the same stuff, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more running plays. I'd like to see Manase Tonga get a few more touches, and keep the tight ends going. Not sure the long passes would be a good idea. But, all that might depend on how Oregon State comes out defensively.

The Beavers are looking at a tough situation deep in its own territory. Another 2-yard punt and BYU will be in field goal range. You don't see this situation often in any game.

With all the momentum in BYU's favor and a third down in its own territory and looking at a punt into the wind, the Beavers were in a spot. However a Sean Canefield pass for a first sparked a drive that looked like it would lead to a score. It turns out the wind prevented so much as a field goal and Jan Jorgensen knocked down a fourth down pass.

With minutes until the half BYU has to be pleased with how things have gone. I can't recall a game when the direction a team is headed matters so much in a game and it will be interesting to see how that plays out in the second half.

It was important for BYU to hold Oregon State right there to keep the momentum. The Beavers desperately needed to make something happen before heading into the locker room. That was a killer not converting after moving that far into the wind. In a nutshell, that really hurt the Beavers. If BYU can simply not turn over the ball before the break, the Cougars are sitting pretty good.

The Beavers managed a 2-yard punt on its latest offensive drive. The ball went almost strait into the air and then bounced backwards once it hit. Punters, and surely special teams coahces realize this as well, will need to shoot out low and strait kicks instead of high and deep as they usually do.

If they can't be effective doing this, teams playing into the wind will probably want to just think about offense in terms of four downs and go for it rather than kick the ball into the wind.