2024-09-22 19:25:03
CORVALLIS — The Oregon State Beavers got back on track Saturday with a convincing win over Purdue at Reser Stadium.
The Beavers topped the Boilermakers, 38-21, to improve to 3-1 on the season.
Jam Griffin ran for 137 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries, and Anthony Hankerson added 89 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Skyler Thomas led OSU’s defense with seven tackles — including four solo stops — and two pass breakups.
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Devin Mockobee broke free for a 63-yard run to push Purdue into the red zone. Then, two plays later, he found the end zone on a three-yard rush up the middle.
The Beavers strung together another long scoring drive. This time, Jam Griffin finished it off with a 14-yard touchdown run to bolster Oregon State’s lead.
The Boilermakers had no problem moving the ball on their latest drive. They needed just 2:33 of game clock to go 75 yards on seven plays. Reggie Love III capped off the series with a 2-yard touchdown.
Zachary Card took a fly sweep and burst up the right sideline for a 26-yard touchdown. That marked the second time today that the freshman receiver has picked up chunk yardage on a sweep.
The Beavers have shown a tendency to chop and change their offensive line throughout this season.
Near the end of the third quarter, Luka Vincic entered the game at right guard in place of starter Flavio Gonzalez.
Oregon State forced Purdue to punt on its first drive of the second half and took over at its own 23 yard line.
From there, Gevani McCoy led the Beavers on a 75-yard drive to the Purdue 3. But the series came to a halt when, on 4th-and-goal, McCoy’s pass to Taz Reddicks was broken up in the end zone, forcing a turnover on downs.
Gevani McCoy led a bright two-minute drill at the end of the first half to set OSU kicker Everett Hayes up for a 29-yard field goal, giving the Beavers a two-score lead.
Halftime statistical leaders
OREGON STATE
Total offense: 208 yards (116 rushing, 92 passing)
Passing: Gevani McCoy — 7-for-13, 92 yards
Rushing: Anthony Hankerson — 52 yards, 11 carries, 1 TD
Receiving: Darrius Clemons — 3 receptions, 35 yards
PURDUE
Total offense: 121 yards (89 rushing, 32 passing)
Passing: Hudson Card — 2-for-7, 32 yards, 1 TD
Rushing: Devin Mockobee — 70 yards, 9 carries
Receiving: Max Klare — 1 reception, 32 yards, 1 TD
Purdue quarterback Hudson Card launched a perfectly placed deep ball down the right sideline to Max Klare for a 32-yard touchdown to put the Boilermakers on the board with 6:30 left in the half.
Facing 4th-and-2 at Oregon State’s 13-yard line, Purdue opted to go for it and attempt to move the chains rather than kick a field goal.
But Isaiah Chisom and Skyler Thomas combined to bring down Reggie Love III and force a turnover on downs.
Sophomore safety Jaheim Patterson, who transferred in from Kilgore College last offseason, got into the game at safety for the Beavers early in the second quarter to spell Skyler Thomas.
Patterson had a bright fall camp for OSU and was a standout during the final scrimmage. He played on special teams earlier this year, but Saturday marked his first defensive snaps of the season.
Anthony Hankerson plunged into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run to cap off a 12-play, 71-yard scoring drive. The Beavers already have 77 rushing yards on the day.
The Beavers have been efficient running the ball so far. They are facing 2nd-and-6 at the Purdue 6-yard line.
The Beavers received a much-needed spark from freshman outside linebacker Zakaih Saez, who made an incredible play to intercept Purdue quarterback Hudson Card and then ran it back for a pick-six. The Beavers also produced a turnover on the Boilermakers’ first drive of the day when Nikko Taylor forced a fumble and Thomas Collins recovered it.
Former Michigan receiver Darrius Clemons made his long-awaited Oregon State debut on Saturday.
The junior wideout got in the game on OSU’s second drive of the evening.
On its first drive of the game, the Beavers attempted to convert on 4th-and-short at their own 28-yard line. But Gevani McCoy’s pass down the right sideline sailed incomplete and OSU turned the ball over on downs.
It’s difficult to reconcile the version of Oregon State’s defense that showed up at Reser Stadium last Saturday with the group that appeared earlier this season.
Less than two weeks ago, the Beavers‘ revamped defense pitched its first road shutout in 41 years when it stonewalled San Diego State in a 21-0 victory. On that day, OSU flashed a disruptive defensive front stocked with up-and-coming pass-rushers and a veteran secondary capable of creating havoc plays.
Last Saturday, though, Oregon State was boat-raced on its home turf by its in-state rivals.
Oregon gashed the Beavers for 546 yards of total offense and 7.5 yards per rushing attempt. After struggling for consistency during close wins over Idaho and Boise State earlier this season, Ducks‘ quarterback Dillon Gabriel torched OSU for 291 yards and two touchdowns on 20-for-24 passing on Saturday.
Most of the concerns surrounding Oregon’s injury-stricken offensive line were put to rest last Saturday as the Ducks limited the Beavers to just 11 quarterback pressures and zero sacks.
“Self-inflicted stuff,” Oregon State coach Trent Bray said this week. “There wasn’t really anything that made us go, ‘Wow, they had our numbers.’ Just either giving them too much respect and playing too soft in coverage, or basic fundamental techniques weren’t there. And they have been all year. So that’s something that where it’s, ‘OK, Why’d this happen?’
“We’ve got to go out there, we’ve got to execute, especially in those big moments, big games, that’s where it becomes even more crucial.”
So, where does the Beavers’ defense go from here?
Oregon State vs. Purdue will be broadcast nationally on CBS. 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 and Sling.
Oregon State 24, Purdue 14: The Beavers’ defense is much better suited for success against Purdue than it was against pass-happy Oregon last week. Gevani McCoy and OSU’s offense showed signs of progress against the Ducks and could be due for a breakout performance. (Jarrid Denney)
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Sept. 20:
Odds: Oregon State by 4.5
O/U: 50.5
Money line: Oregon State -200, Purdue +165
Saturday’s forecast called for a high of 77 and a temperature of about 75 at kickoff.
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