CORVALLIS — No decisions were made or starting positions announced Saturday at Oregon State’s spring football game at Reser Stadium. It is much too early for that.

But that does not mean there were not some lasting impressions made that could go a long way toward influencing decisions in the months ahead.

Connor Blount made some positive steps as he ch-allenges Jake Luton to be the starting quarterback when the Beavers open their season Sept. 1 at Ohio State.

Blount, who redshirted during last year’s 1-11 season, passed for two touchdowns Saturday at Reser Stadium and came away feeling as though he put his best foot forward during the spring’s 15 practices.

“I think I put myself in a good spot,” the sophomore said. “I’ll leave that up to the coaches, but for me, obviously you want to improve. But as far as the spring went I think I’m pretty happy with it.”

Luton started the first four games in 2017 before losing the rest of the season due to injury.

Saturday, he threw two interceptions and had two snaps that turned into lost fumbles, one on an apparent low snap and another just dropping the ball.

But the senior finished the day with a short touchdown pass to receiver Timmy Hernandez on a fade to the back of the end zone. Hernandez had two touchdowns in all.

Luton said the offense started slowly but recovered well.

A starting quarterback is expected to be named sometime during preseason practice leading up to the season opener.

Still, Luton said the quarterback room is a fun place and that those involved have “a good time.”

“We come in and we push each other to compete to get better, because we’re all gunning for that spot. That’s the way it should be,” he said.

Jack Colletto and Mason Moran also saw time at quarterback in Saturday’s two-hour practice, which included some rain for about the first 45 minutes.

Safety Jalen Moore was the recipient of one of Luton’s two picks.

The junior said he did what secondary coach Greg Burns told him to do, and read the quarterback and made a play.

Moore said he feels good about the “huge progress” the defense made over the past five weeks.

“Everyone is doing their job and following their assignments,” he said. “Just being coachable. That’s all we need to do, and make sure we hold everybody accountable and make sure they’re doing their thing.”

Added defensive coordinator Tim Tibesar: “We’ve still got some room to improve, certainly. It’s been kind of a gradual process as we’ve gone through spring. But we’re better after 15 practices than we were at one. It was nice to see that we got a couple takeaways. That was encouraging to see. Then we’ve just got to keep working every day to get better. That’s what our goal’s going to be.”

Luton, Blount and Colletto were each given a series of plays in 11-on-11 situations in the first scrimmage session.

Luton’s series ended with an interception by redshirt freshman cornerback Justin Gardner. Luton had a pass knocked down and took a noncontact “sack.” Artavis Pierce had a long run and Luton completed a pass across the middle to receiver Connor Laferty.

Blount connected on long passes to Hernandez and Colby Taylor before finding Hernandez for a 5-yard touchdown.

Colletto had a ball dropped by tight end Bryce Bramscher, a pass that would have gone for good yardage. Colletto was then “sacked” by defensive end Jaelen Bush to end the drive.

The 11-on-11 work returned later in the practice.

Blount finished one of his next two series with a touchdown, a 35-yard pass to the right flat to B.J. Baylor, who found his way to the end zone. Blount had a 10-yard run earlier in the drive but also misfired on a couple of deep balls.

Colletto, like Luton, had a fumbled snap.

Luton was intercepted by Moore late in the practice. Colletto had a long run on a series that Hunter Mattson finished with a 9-yard touchdown run after breaking two tackles.

Mattson, a Corvallis High graduate, could be in the running for some playing time this fall after the Beavers lost two of their top three rushers, Ryan Nall and Thomas Tyner. Nall left early for what he hopes is an NFL career. He was not taken in the NFL draft, which wrapped up Saturday, but he did accept a free-agent offer by the Chicago Bears. Tyner, the former Aloha High standout who starred at Oregon before playing last season at Oregon State, has retired from football.

Mattson, a sophomore in his third year in the program, said he is ready to take what he has learned and apply it to the field.