2024-10-06 21:40:18
Thanks to a gutsy fourth-quarter comeback and a gritty goal-line stand, the Oregon State Beavers escaped with one of the more dramatic wins in recent program history.
Oregon State topped Colorado, 39-31, in double overtime Saturday at Reser Stadium in Corvallis.
Oregon State placekicker Everett Hayes nailed a 44-yard field goal to send the game to overtime. After trading scores with the Rams, the Beavers took control of the game for good when Anthony Hankerson uncorked a 25-yard touchdown run on OSU’s first snap of double overtime.
The Rams had a chance to tie it while facing 4th-and-goal at the Oregon State 11-yard line. But sophomore cornerback Andre Jordan Jr. came through with a game-sealing pass breakup to close out the win.
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Anthony Hankerson scored on a 25-yard touchdown run on Oregon State’s first snap of double overtime, and Gevani McCoy found Jermaine Terry II for the two-point conversion.
Gevani McCoy broke off a 19-yard touchdown run to tie the game and force double overtime.
Fowler-Nicolosi linked up with Caleb Goodie for a 17-yard touchdown to put the pressure back on Oregon State.
The Rams took over with 20 seconds left in regulation and moved the ball to midfield but could not find a way to put points on the board.
The Beavers and Rams will head to overtime tied up at 24-24.
Gevani McCoy led a savvy two-minute drill to set up a 44-yard field goal for Everett Hayes. The veteran placekicker drilled it to tie the game at 24-24 with 20 seconds to go.
Anthony Hankerson lost a fumble on 3rd-and-1. Gray, the Beavers’ veteran all-conference offensive lineman, dove on the ball and recovered it to keep Oregon State alive.
The Rams ripped off several explosive plays — including a 52-yard reception by Tory Horton — to reach the low red zone. Then, Avery Morrow punched in the go-ahead touchdown to give Colorado State a 24-21 lead with 1:56 to go.
Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi found star wideout Tory Horton for a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it a one-score game with 7:59 to go.
The Rams attempted a two-point conversion, but it failed as Fowler-Nicolosi was brought down for a sack.
Oregon State freshman inside linebacker Dexter Foster got in the game and immediately made his presence felt. The former Central Catholic standout bulldozed running back Avery Morrow in pass protection and brought down Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi for a 10-yard loss.
The Beavers took control of the game by orchestrating a 14-play, 87-yard drive that spanned 8:51.
Gevani McCoy finished it off with a 7-yard touchdown run to push OSU’s lead to 21-10 with 14:52 to go.
Oregon State dominated time of possession in the third quarter. The Beavers ran 16 plays, including 10 rushing attempts, and chewed up 10:16 of game clock.
The Rams ran just eight plays during the period.
The Beavers opted to attempt to keep their offense on the field for 4th-and-2 at their own 48-yard line, and the gamble paid off. McCoy Gevani McCoy found Taz Reddicks on a slant for an 8-yard completion to move the chains.
Oregon State has found its footing.
After some early uncharacteristic turnover issues, Gevani McCoy and the Beavers’ offense moved the ball at will on their final two drives of the half. Oregon State racked up 205 total yards in the first half, including 140 rushing yards.
With Jam Griffin sidelined, Anthony Hankerson has taken on a bell cow role. He ran for 49 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in the first half.
McCoy is 6-for-10 passing for 65 yards and one interception.
Anthony Hankerson capped off a 70-yard, 13-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run up the middle to give Oregon State a 14-7 lead with three seconds left in the half.
The scoring series chewed up 5:04 of game clock.
Colorado State kicker Jordan Noyes drilled a 25-yard field goal to give the Rams a 10-7 lead with 5:13 left in the half.
CSU sprung a long touchdown run earlier in the drive, but it was negated by a holding call.
Oregon State star running back Jam Griffin will miss the remainder of the game due to injury, according to The CW broadcast.
Griffin is the Beavers’ leading rusher and ranked 31st nationally in rushing yards entering Saturday.
Gevani McCoy kept the ball on a speed option and burst free for 29-yard touchdown to level the score at 7-7 with 11:04 left in the second quarter.
The Beavers have netted just 60 yards of total offense — 54 of which have come on the ground — thus far. So far, the havoc plays produced by Colorado State’s defense have been the difference.
The Beavers’ first two drives of the day both resulted in turnovers.
After Gevani McCoy’s interception on the opening series, Jam Griffin lost a fumble at midfield on the ensuing drive and Will Prendergast recovered it for the Rams.
After McCoy’s untimely turnover, Colorado State’s Justin Marshall punched in a 12-yard touchdown on the first snap of the ensuing series to open the scoring.
Oregon State starting quarterback Gevani McCoy threw his first interception of the season on the Beavers’ opening drive, but by no fault of his own.
McCoy hit tight end Jermaine Terry III in the hands on a slant route, but the ball deflected into the air and Rams’ defensive back Gabe Kirschke hauled it in.
The Beavers’ defense looked sharp on Colorado State’s opening drive and forced the Rams to punt at midfield.
But Oregon State was without starting strong safety Jack Kane and starting cornerback Jaden Robinson. Tyrice Ivy Jr. and Andre Jordan started in their respective spots.
OSU is also missing veteran cornerback Kobe Singleton; he was not in uniform during pregame warmups. Starting nickel Noble Thomas Jr. is out for the season due to a knee injury.
Through the first five weeks of the 2024 season, few teams in all of college football have displayed a rushing attack as consistent and effective as Oregon State’s.
The Beavers rank seventh nationally with 267.8 rushing yards per game and lead the country in time of possession at more than 37 minutes per game. Led by its hard-nosed tandem of star running backs — Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson — Oregon State has found plenty of offensive success while embracing a smashmouth brand of football.
“We wanna be in control of the game,” Oregon State coach Trent Bray said. “We want to run the ball, and we want shots downfield to come off the run game — which I think has started to show up.”
So, after bulldozing their way to a 3-1 record thus far, what is next for the Beavers’ vaunted rushing attack?
Oregon State vs. Colorado State will be broadcast nationally on The CW. Ted Robinson and Ryan Leaf will call the game from the booth at Reser Stadium, with Nigel Burton reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include Fubo (free trial) and Sling.
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Friday:
Saturday’s forecast calls for a high of 73 with a temperature of about 71 at kickoff.
How can Oregon State football’s star-studded rushing attack get even better?
Why did Jonathan Smith leave Oregon State?
Oregon State football adds home-and-home series with BYU for 2027, 2028 seasons
How Oregon State football bounced back for a big win over Purdue
PHOTOS: Oregon State football vs. Purdue
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