After watching both practice today, Oregon St. head football coach has announced that Cody Vaz will start for the Beavers Saturday night against Arizona St.

Vaz came on in relief of Mannion last Saturday night in Seattle against Washington, and led the Beavers to a game tieing touchdown, on a pass from Vaz to Connor Hamlett, before the Huskies rallied for the game winning field goal in their 20-17 victory.

Mannion was playing for the first time after missing 2 games due to a knee injury, and threw for a touchdown, but also struggled with his accuracy, and threw 4 interceptions.

Vaz led Oregon St. to wins over BYU and Utah in the 2 games he started that Mannion missed.

Jordan Poyer and Markus Wheaton missed contact portions of practice today as planned, but Riley said both are "on schedule" in their day to day rehabbing.

Poyer sprained his ankle in the Washington game, but finished the game, and there's little doubt about his return.

Wheaton was knocked out in the second quarter, and is undergoing concussion-like symptom evaluations. Wheaton was alert and showed no lasting ill effects Saturday night, but due to the nature of the traumatic hit, will be re-evaluated daily, should symptoms subsequently surface.

Storm Woods also sat out practice, resting a sore knee, but is expected to be ready to go Saturday.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo,com