Beavers score 28 unanswered points late to take lead back from Ducks
Isaiah Newell rushes for a touchdown during the annual rivalry game against the University of Oregon Ducks on Nov. 26. Redshirt-Freshman Newell recorded his first two touchdowns of the season during the game.
November 26, 2022
After last week’s win against Arizona State, the No. 21 ranked Oregon State Beavers (8-3, 5-3 PAC-12) hosted the No.8 Oregon Ducks (9-2, 7-1 PAC-12). In their last contest, the Ducks defeated the Beavers 38-29.
It looked as though the same outcome might have taken place this year in Reser Stadium, but after a valiant effort, the Beavers won the game 38-34.
In the opening drive of the game at Reser Stadium, Beaver kicker Everett Hayes found the scoreboard first with a field goal from 50 yards out.
When the Ducks got the ball back, quarterback Bo Nix began to deliver. Nix would find wide receiver Chase Cota on a 44-yard touchdown pass to give the Ducks the early lead of 3-7.
Led by quarterback Ben Gulbranson, the Beavers kept driving hopes alive late in the first quarter. Running back Jam Griffin can slip past defenders, finding his way into red zone territory. Gulbranson would cap off the drive with a one-yard touchdown rush, his third of the season.
With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, senior linebacker Cade Brownholtz came up big for the Beavers on fourth down, blocking a punt recovered by Jack Colletto.
The Beavers failed to capitalize on the special teams’ execution as Gulbranson turned the ball back over to the Ducks on first down as Christian Gonzalez earned his fourth takeaway of the season.
After being stopped inside the red zone on fourth down, the Ducks looked to find the endzone and take the lead before the half. With 17 seconds remaining, Troy Franklin caught a nine-yard touchdown pass as the Ducks moved to a 14-10 lead.
In their first drive of the second half, Ben Gulbranson and the Oregon State Beavers continued to struggle in the passing game, as Jeffrey Bassa intercepted Gulbranson’s pass for his second turnover of the game. The Ducks would cap the drive off with a Jordan James rushing touchdown from two yards out.
Leading 21-10, the Ducks would show no mercy in the third quarter. An eight-play, 67-yard drive puts the Ducks ahead by three scores.
With 8 minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Beavers hoped to bring this game back within reach. However, the Oregon defense remained resilient as wide receiver Tre’shaun Harrison fumbled on first down to give the Ducks the ball across midfield.
With the many woes of the offense early, running back Deshaun Fenwick provided some needed life to the Beaver offense on the ground. Four plays and 74 yards later, Fenwick finds the endzone on a four-yard touchdown rush, his first since Week 8 against Washington. Everett Hayes tacks on the extra point to make the score 31-17.
Once again the Ducks found themselves knocking on the door of Beaver territory, as Nix found tight end Terrance Ferguson on a 53-yard gain to put the Ducks inside the red zone. On fourth and goal Nix would run the clock out to start the 4th quarter and the final minutes of the game.
In the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, Oregon kicker Camden Lewis extended the Ducks’ lead 34-17.
Down multiple scores, the Oregon State Beavers rushing attack began to shorten to the ducks lead. With continuous success in the rushing attack, the Oregon State running back room single-handedly brought back the Beaver’s lead.
Without throwing a pass since early in the fourth quarter, the Beavers compounded their comeback with help from the special teams unit. Oregon punter Ross James fumbles the snap on fourth down giving the Beavers back the ball in prime field position.
With 6 total completions from Gulbranson, the Beavers relied on the legs of Gulbranson to bring the score within one score.
With 9:30 remaining in the game, the Beavers were able to hold the rushing attack of the Ducks to a minimum on fourth down as they turn the ball over across midfield. The Beavers would make quick use of the drive as OSU rushes for the fifth touchdown of the competition.
Newell finds the endzone for his second of the game, taking back the lead for the first time since the opening quarter of play.
In their final offensive drive of the game, Beaver defensive back Alex Austin forces an incompletion on 4th down in the final minutes of the game.
With less than 2 minutes left in the game, the Beavers offense took the field one last time in victory formation as the Beavers win 38-34.