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FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) -- Fui Vakapuna ran for two touchdowns and Manase Tonga ran in a third score as BYU turned to its ground game in a 24-3 victory over Colorado State on Saturday night.
Curtis Brown had 81 yards on 16 carries and Vakapuna ran for 38 yards in BYU's sixth straight win. Quarterback John Beck was 22-for-30 passing for 290 yards and an interception for BYU (7-2, 5-0 Mountain West).
Colorado State (4-5, 1-4) was limited to 151 yards of total offense and 26 yards rushing.
Quarterback Caleb Hanie was 13-for-23 for 125 yards passing and fumbled twice as the Rams fell for the fourth consecutive time.
BYU drove 50 yards on its second possession of the game to take a 7-0 lead. Zac Collie caught a 21-yard pass from Beck to get the Cougars to the 11 and two plays later Manace Tonga scored from the 3.
The Cougars were driving for another score when Colorado State cornerback Darryl Williams intercepted a pass in the end zone.
Colorado State managed its initial first down of the game on a 13-yard run by Nnamdi Ohaeri with 1:06 left in the first quarter and got as far as the Cougars 46. Facing a third-and-inches, Hanie fumbled the snap through his legs for a 6-yard loss before having to punt the ball away.
The Rams got on the scoreboard with 8:18 left in the second quarter on a 28-yard field goal by Jason Smith. Derek McLaughlin's 17-yard shanked punt set Colorado State up at the BYU 44.
The Cougars came right back to take a 14-3 lead into halftime, driving 76 yards on 14 plays to score on a 5-yard run by Vakapuna with 55 seconds left. Beck kept the drive alive by completing a 25-yard pass to McKay Jacobson on a third-and 16 from CSU 41.
Vakapuna's 3-yard run with 22 seconds left in the third period extended BYU's lead to 21-3. Thirty-six yards of the 57-yard drive came on the ground.
Colorado State managed only one first down and 27 yards in the third quarter.
Jared McLaughlin kicked a 25-yard field in the fourth quarter.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
