Tag: Oregon State Beavers

Oregon State Beavers quarterback Gevani McCoy (4) warms up before the annual rivalry game against the Oregon Ducks on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.

Purdue, Oregon State try to move on from ugly losses

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Purdue and Oregon State will both try to bounce back from last weekend’s lopsided home losses against in-state opponents when they meet Saturday in a nonconference clash in Corvallis, Ore.

The Beavers (2-1) fell 49-14 to No. 9 Oregon and the Boilermakers (1-1) were pounded 66-7 by then-No. 18 Notre Dame.

The 59-point loss was the worst in Purdue’s history.

“We had a very candid conversation about it,” Boilermakers coach Ryan Walters said of meeting with his players. “The fact, right now, is that we are a 1-1 football team that has lost to a ranked, nonconference opponent. But the fact, also, is that … we have to own the worst loss in program history. That falls on my shoulders.”

Purdue mustered only six first downs and 162 yards of total offense compared to Notre Dame’s 27 and 578. The Boilermakers were outgained 362-38 on the ground.

Reggie Love III had 10 carries for 61 yards and Hudson Card completed 11 of 24 passes for 124 yards with one TD and two interceptions against the Fighting Irish.

A silver lining for Oregon State in its loss to the rival Ducks was quarterback Gevani McCoy rushing for a season-best 52 yards on six carries and completing a season-high 22 passes for 172 yards with no touchdowns or picks.

Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel threw only four incompletions (20 of 24) and had 291 yards passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

“We were either giving them too much respect or playing too soft in coverage,” Oregon State coach Trent Bray said. “Basic fundamental techniques weren’t there when they have been all year. We’ve got to go out there (and) execute, especially in those big moments.”

Oregon State is one of the most inexperienced teams in the nation, with 18 players making their first start this season.

Oregon State and Purdue have met just twice previously, with both matchups taking place in West Lafayette, Ind. The Beavers won 22-14 in 1967 but lost 30-21 to the Boilermakers in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Oregon State Beavers head coach Trent Bray watches the game against Idaho State Bengals during the second half on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024 at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Ore.

Oregon State aims to unleash ground attack vs. San Diego State

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Oregon State and San Diego State will take a step up in competition when they meet on Saturday night in a non-conference game in San Diego.

The Beavers (1-0) ran over Idaho State 38-15 last Saturday, compiling 362 rushing yards along the way.

San Diego State stepped on the gas in the second half in a 45-14 win against Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday night. The victory came in the debut of Aztecs head coach Sean Lewis.

“We’ve got a tough challenge with San Diego State coming up this week,” Oregon State coach Trent Bray said. “Good team. Talented team. Well-coached team, and then playing on the road is always a challenge, so we’ve got to be at our best and improve from Game 1 to Game 2.”

Bray said the Aztecs feature an offense that’s similar to his own.

“Last week was unique in a lot of ways,” Bray said. “Not only their offense (but) their defense, and so we’re kind of back to what we’re more familiar with and what we’ve practiced against, so I’m excited about that.”

Bray said he was impressed watching film of San Diego State true freshman quarterback Danny O’Neil.

O’Neil completed 22 of 33 passes for 214 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Bray said they’ll try to make O’Neil throw into tight windows.

“I feel good about our ability to do that,” Bray said.

Lewis said the Aztecs will need to control the line of scrimmage much better than Idaho State did against the Beavers.

Jam Griffin rushed for 160 yards on 20 carries and Anthony Hankerson had 155 rushing yards on 24 carries with both scoring two touchdowns for Oregon State.

“They’re going to lean on the run game and possess the ball,” Lewis said. “We have to do a good job killing the run and taking that advantage away from them, which is going to be a strong test.”

Lewis said the Aztecs also need to cut down on their penalties after drawing 16 flags for 149 yards last week.

“We have to be a lot more detailed and be a lot more disciplined,” Lewis said. “The number of penalties was inexcusable and were major contributors to extending drives or hurting our own drives, so that’s something we need to put a great deal of emphasis on.”

–Field Level Media

Oregon State quarterback Ben Gulbranson (17) warms up before the spring showcase at Reser Stadium, Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Corvallis, Ore. Oregon State Spring Game36

Sun Bowl: Quarterbacks in focus when Oregon State faces Notre Dame

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Sun Bowl could have featured a quarterback battle between Sam Hartman and DJ Uiagalelei.

Instead, two signal-callers making their first starts of the season will be on display when No. 16 Notre Dame battles No. 19 Oregon State on Friday in El Paso, Texas.

Hartman opted out of the contest for Notre Dame to prepare for the NFL draft, while Uiagalelei of Oregon State entered the transfer portal.

Also, Beavers second-string quarterback Aidan Chiles entered the portal and chose Michigan State, the school that just hired Jonathan Smith away from Oregon State to be its coach.

So, when the Beavers (8-4) and Fighting Irish (9-3) line up in the Sun Bowl, it will be Ben Gulbranson (one pass attempt this season) for Oregon State and Steve Angeli (25 attempts) for Notre Dame.

The good news for the Beavers is that Gulbranson went 7-1 as a starter in 2022 before being buried on the sidelines this season. In his last extensive action, he was the MVP of the Las Vegas Bowl when Oregon State routed Florida 30-3 to end last season.

“It’s kind of helped me become a more well-rounded person,” Gulbranson said of the situation. “You realize football is a gift. It’s an opportunity. It’s a privilege to play this game. I think being able to kind of step back and see it like this is pretty sweet. I’m cherishing every snap I get, whether it be in practice, whether it be in a bowl game.”

Angeli threw four touchdown passes in his limited work this season and gets to make his case for being the Notre Dame starter in 2024.

“Obviously, I’m now the starter, but my preparation — the way I’m preparing for the game — doesn’t change,” Angeli said. “Now it’s time for the real bullets to fly. We’ve got a job to do to get to 10 wins (by winning) the Sun Bowl. And that’s my only job, my focus.”

Among the other Notre Dame standouts to opt out of the bowl include running back Audric Estime (1,341 yards, 18 touchdowns rushing) and All-American left tackle Joe Alt.

Oregon State’s list of opt-outs includes star linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (team-best 107 tackles) and receiver Anthony Gould (718 yards to tie for team lead).

Beavers star running back Damien Martinez is not expected to play despite having a suspension for a DUI arrest lifted by the school. Martinez rushed for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season.

It isn’t just the player front where Oregon State is making adjustments.

After Smith took the Michigan State job, defensive coordinator Trent Bray was promoted to head coach. However, Bray elected to focus on filling out his staff and recruiting and isn’t part of the coaching process for the Sun Bowl.

Instead, wide receivers coach Kefense Hynson is serving as interim coach, and he’s excited about Oregon State’s third all-time meeting with Notre Dame. The Beavers won the first two — a 41-9 shellacking in the Fiesta Bowl to end the 2000 season and a 38-21 victory in the 2004 Insight Bowl.

Hynson wants to finish on a winning note after Oregon State lost to then-No. 5 Washington and then-No. 6 Oregon in its past two outings.

“It’s another test,” Hynson said. “You’ve got a really, really good team, they’re well coached, they’ve got good players. Then obviously, finishing the year the way we finished it, we’re excited to just get back on the grass and try to finish the year with a ‘W.’ “

Notre Dame enters the contest with a two-game winning streak. It also features Bronko Nagurski winner Xavier Watts as the national defensive player of the year. The junior safety led the nation with seven interceptions during the regular season.

The Fighting Irish are 20-21 all-time in bowl games, including 1-0 at the Sun Bowl. Oregon State is 12-7, including a 2-0 mark in El Paso.

–Field Level Media

Nov 11, 2023; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers running back Damien Martinez (6) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon State lifts suspension on RB Damien Martinez before Sun Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oregon State sophomore Damien Martinez, an All-Pac-12 first-team running back, will play in the Sun Bowl game after the school lifted his suspension on Friday.

Martinez was suspended on Nov. 30 after his arrest on Nov. 29 on DUI charges in Corvallis, Ore. The 19-year-old was pulled over for allegedly speeding and subsequently cited for DUI, reckless driving, reckless endangerment and possession of marijuana by a minor.

The Benton County District Attorney’s office said Friday that after reviewing evidence — including newer evidence not available to police on Nov. 29 — “we do not believe sufficient evidence exists to meet the higher burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt in order to support criminal convictions in this matter.”

Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes said in a statement Friday: “Due to the District Attorney’s decision not to file charges on the DUII or similar offenses against Damien Martinez, he will be allowed to participate in the upcoming bowl game.”

No. 19 Oregon State (8-4) faces No. 16 Notre Dame (9-3) on Dec. 29 in El Paso, Texas.

Martinez has rushed for 1,185 yards — second in the Pac-12 — and nine touchdowns on 194 carries in 12 games this season for a 6.1 average per carry and 98.8-yard average per game. His two-year total is 2,167 yards and 16 TDs on 355 carries in 25 games.

The Beavers lost head coach Jonathan Smith to the same post at Michigan State, and quarterbacks D.J. Uiagalelei and Aidan Chiles have entered the transfer portal.

–Field Level Media

Nov 4, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer against the USC Trojans during warmups at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 Washington aims to stay hot vs. No. 11 Oregon State

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While No. 5 Washington maintains pursuit of a College Football Playoff spot, keeping coach Kalen DeBoer in Seattle has become a hot topic.

The coach who is 21-2 in less than two seasons with the Huskies will try to lead Washington to its 18th consecutive victory when it faces No. 11 Oregon State in Pac-12 play on Saturday night at Corvallis, Ore.

If Washington (10-0, 7-0 Pac-12) defeats the Beavers (8-2, 5-2), it will clinch at spot in next month’s Pac-12 title game.

As for DeBoer, his name is one of the hottest in college football after the quick revival of the Washington program.

He received a $1 million raise to $4.2 million 12 months ago, but his contract that runs through the 2028 season will need massive reworking to lift him into the upper echelon of coaching salaries.

DeBoer insists he wants to stay put and he also offered that new athletic director Troy Dannen has made overtures about sweetening his deal.

“There’s just a lot of things that I love about this place,” DeBoer said. “This is a championship football program. I’ve said it since Day One. It’s got the bones of championships. I love the way we’ve been accepted into this place. It’s a great place to coach.

“Like I said earlier, (Dannen) is doing everything he can to help myself and the staff continue this journey that we’re on.”

The journey currently has Washington on the outside of the playoffs as it enters the 108th meeting with Oregon State.

The schools first met in 1897 and there are no guarantees of the series continuing with Washington leaving for the Big Ten next season and the Beavers hung out to dry on the realignment front.

DeBoer also is aware that Saturday’s game decides whether the Beavers continue to harbor long-shot CFP aspirations.

“Oregon State still has an opportunity, if they win out, to get in the way I see it, knowing that they are going to bring everything they got,” DeBoer said. “They are playing at home and they are playing well and they have good momentum and we are realizing we are going to get their best shot.”

Beavers coach Jonathan Smith stopped short of calling it the biggest game in his six seasons as Oregon State coach. But he knows it is huge.

“Kind of where the records are, that makes it big,” Smith said. “That’s a good program. They win a lot of games. We’re playing late, Game 11. You want to play in the biggest games at the end of the year. This is a big one.”

Washington ranks fifth nationally in scoring offense at 41.0 points per game and sixth in total offense at 503.9 yards per contest. Heisman Trophy candidate Michael Penix Jr. has passed for 3,533 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions while running back Dillon Johnson (790 yards, 11 touchdowns on the ground) is thriving after back-to-back efforts of 256 yards against Southern California and 104 in last weekend’s 35-28 win over then-No. 16 Utah.

Oregon State is coming off a 62-17 annihilation of visiting Stanford. Damien Martinez tied the school record of four rushing touchdowns in the first half before calling it a day. He has rushed for 1,024 yards while DJ Uiagalelei has thrown for 2,254 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions.

The Beavers also have developed a rabid atmosphere at remodeled Reser Stadium. Oregon State is 16-1 at home since the start of the 2021 season.

“They a good football team and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Smith said.

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Oregon State Beavers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei #5 makes a pass against Arizona Wildcats defensive lineman Isaiah Ward #90 during the second half at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports

No. 16 Oregon State shifts focus to Colorado after deflating loss

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If No. 16 Oregon State is still thinking of what might have been last week at Arizona, there’s a good reason.

The Beavers’ 27-24 loss was punctuated by a failed fake field goal on the final play of the first half as well as settling for a field goal on an earlier possession after getting inside the Wildcats’ 20-yard line.

Oregon State has to move forward, though, starting with a matchup against Colorado on Saturday in Boulder, Colo.

“We should have won the (Arizona) game,” Beavers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei said, “but we left stuff out there. We’ve got to clean that up.”

Uiagalelei would like to be more efficient this week. He was just 16 of 30 against the Wildcats for 218 yards and two touchdowns. He had connected on fewer than 50 percent of his attempts until completing his final four throws on a late scoring drive that got Oregon State within three points.

It was a potentially damaging loss for the Beavers (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12). They had a controllable path to the Pac-12 Conference championship game before the defeat but now will need to win out and perhaps get some help to reach Las Vegas the first week in December.

Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith said after the defeat that he was eager to call the fake field goal from the Arizona 16. The problem was the play started with three seconds left and that kicker Atticus Sappington was asked to run about 20 yards to the end zone against faster, more athletic players.

“I was just champing at the bit to get the thing called,” Smith said. “What we anticipated, really what we got, was a pretty good look. I just rolled the dice on that one and hindsight was not good … a bad call.”

The Beavers were without two starters in the defensive backfield against the Wildcats. That could make them very vulnerable against a precise passer such as the Buffaloes’ Shedeur Sanders.

Although Sanders was held to 217 yards on 27-of-43 passing in a 28-16 loss at UCLA last week, he has completed 71.1 percent of his attempts for 2,637 yards and 22 touchdowns. In 346 passes, Sanders has tossed only three interceptions.

However, he didn’t have his usual gaudy numbers at UCLA because the Bruins’ front seven had their way with Colorado’s offensive line. Sanders was sacked seven times for 51 yards and the Buffaloes couldn’t generate enough of a rushing attack to keep Sanders upright.

“The hardest thing to acquire is linemen,” Colorado first-year coach Deion Sanders said. “When people have a good one, you rarely see linemen jump and go to different schools. I think we have some guys that is gonna be good with a little seasoning, but overall, we just don’t have the fight or passion to do what we want to do.”

At 4-4 overall and 1-4 in the conference, Colorado needs two wins from its final four games — Arizona, at Washington State and at Utah are its last three opponents — if it is to convert its 3-0 start into a bowl game.

The Buffaloes have lost four of their past five, but Smith wouldn’t categorize his upcoming foe as “struggling.”

“This league is tough and competitive. They have been competitive throughout,” Smith said. “Dramatically different than, let’s face it, last year. And so, this is a good football team. They can score in bunches. One of the best quarterbacks we’re going to play, defensively flying around, the home atmosphere they’ve created, you can see it on tape. It’s a tough place.”

Oregon State owns a 7-6 lead in the all-time series, including a 42-9 win last year in Corvallis, Ore.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (5) warms up before the game against the San Diego State Aztecs at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

No. 18 UCLA continues tough stretch at No. 15 Oregon State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 18 UCLA will face its third consecutive top-15 opponent when the Bruins visit No. 15 Oregon State on Saturday in Pac-12 Conference action in Corvallis, Ore.

UCLA (4-1, 1-1) opened that stretch with a 14-7 setback at then-No. 11 Utah on Sept. 23. The Bruins returned from a bye week to beat then-No. 13 Washington State last Saturday, 25-17.

Despite the diverging results, UCLA allowed only one offensive touchdown to both the Utes and Cougars.

The Cougars came in averaging 45.8 points per game and had not scored less than 31 points in any of their four previous contests. Meanwhile, the 17 points Washington State finished with were the most the Bruins have allowed this season.

“Our defense played outstanding. The effort that whole group played the entire game, and it was at all levels,” UCLA coach Chip Kelly said Monday. “Our guys did a great job containing a very mobile quarterback.”

The Bruins allowed just 216 total yards of offense, including 12 rushing yards.

UCLA heads into Saturday’s matchup ranked third nationally against the run at 64.6 yards allowed a game, and eighth in points given up at 12.2 a contest — though the latter statistic is skewed by both Utah and Washington State scoring touchdowns off of interceptions by Bruins freshman quarterback Dante Moore.

Oregon State (5-1, 2-1) will counter UCLA’s standout defense with an offense scoring an average of 38.5 points per game.

The Beavers rebounded from a 38-35 loss at Washington State on Sept. 23 by winning their lowest-scoring game of the season thus far, a 21-7 grinder Sept. 29 at Utah, then held off Cal 52-40 last weekend.

Oregon State ran for 203 yards against Cal with the running-back tandem of Damien Martinez and Deshaun Fenwick combining for 165. The Beavers average 205 rushing yards per game, good for No. 16 in the country.

However, D.J. Uiagalelei set the pace last week with his best passing performance of the campaign. He completed 19 of 25 attempts for 275 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions against the Golden Bears.

“Not just completing the pass, but hitting them in stride. You see some of the catches and the yards gained after it — thinking about the two third-down throws to Anthony Gould, how accurate down the field those were,” Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith said Monday.

Protecting Uiagalelei against a UCLA defense that Smith described as “long, athletic” with “as good of pass-rushers as we’ve seen” should prove crucial in this conference matchup, the last between the programs before the Bruins join the Big Ten next season.

UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu has five sacks this season, with linebacker Darius Muasau boasting four. The Bruins rank No. 14 nationally in total team sacks with 18, and No. 12 in tackles for loss with 44.

Oregon State has allowed only six sacks in six games but has given up 30 tackles for loss.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Corvallis, Oregon, USA; Oregon State Beavers quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (5) looks to throw during the second half against the San Diego State Aztecs at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

No. 15 Oregon State expecting a challenge at Cal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 15 Oregon State looks to continue its rise up the rankings when the Beavers travel to Cal for a Pac-12 game on Saturday night.

Oregon State (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) climbed four spots after defeating then-No. 10 Utah last Friday, causing the Utes to plunge to No. 18 in this week’s rankings.

This marks the first time in program history that Oregon State has been ranked the first six weeks of a season.

The Beavers’ 21-7 win against the Utes followed a three-point loss at Washington State on Sept. 23, so they aren’t taking anything for granted on the road against the Golden Bears (3-2, 1-1).

“We’ve got a big-time challenge this weekend,” Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith said. “That program down at Cal has played us tough when you look at the battles the last three or four years. … Always plays stout defense, they’ve got a good running back that’s carrying the ball and that’ll be a challenge down there and we’re looking forward to it.”

Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and wide receiver Silas Bolden remain a dangerous combination.

Uiagalelei, a junior transfer from Clemson, surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the season against Utah, while Bolden caught six passes for a career-high 100 yards and a touchdown.

Bolden also had two carries for 52 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1 early in the fourth quarter that stretched the lead to 21-0. The Beavers earned just one first down over their final four drives, however.

“On the offensive end, we want to be able to finish better,” Smith said.

Defensively, linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold has led the Beavers in tackles the past four games. He was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after totaling nine tackles, a sack and an interception against Utah.

“Easton is playing at a high level,” Smith said. “That showed up a ton on tape.”

Oregon State’s run defense is ranked fourth nationally, but the Beavers will be without linebacker Calvin Hart Jr. and defensive lineman James Rawls for the first half on Saturday. Both were ejected for targeting against Utah.

Cal held off visiting Arizona State to win 24-21 last Saturday. The Golden Bears were coming off a 59-32 loss at Washington in their conference opener the week before.

“We will never minimize winning in this conference,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said. “It’s tough.”

Wilcox has not settled on a No. 1 quarterback after TCU transfer Sam Jackson V started last week and NC State transfer Ben Finley started the week before in the loss to the Huskies.

Wilcox spoke of the need to eliminate the mistakes that have made things more difficult on both sides of the ball.

“We have to learn how to eliminate some of these things that are giving us so much trouble,” he said. “Offensive penalties. Defensively, it’s like we’re playing good, playing good, and then we have a bust.”

Cal holds a 39-36 edge in the all-time series. Oregon State has won three of the past four.

–Field Level Media