The Oregon State Beavers pounced the Idaho State Bengals 38-15 at Reser Stadium. In what was both teams’ season opener, the victory also marked the Beavers’ first win of the Trent Bray era as they demonstrated their rushing attack and solid defense throughout the game.
The Beavers’ ground game, led by Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson, bulldozed through the Bengals’ defense. Griffin finished the game with 160 yards on 20 carries, including two touchdowns, while Hankerson added 155 yards on 24 carries with two scores of his own. The Beavers’ rushing attack amassed 362 yards, overwhelming the Bengals’ defense and controlling the game’s tempo.
Oregon State led Idaho State in time-of-possession, holding the ball for 37:29 compared to the Bengals’ 22:31.
The Beavers started the game as they finished it: running the football. While the game’s opening drive culminated in a Jam Griffin fumble at the ISU 16-yard line, the Beavers intercepted Idaho State QB Jared Cook eight plays later.
On the Beavers’ ensuing possession, Hankerson capped a 6-play, 63-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
While Oregon State would force a punt on the Bengals’ following drive, the Beavers spotted ISU two points on an errant snap from their own 17-yard line that rolled out of the back of the endzone.
Trailing 9-2, the Bengals replaced Cook with Kobe Tracy, who immediately marched down the field and hurled a 35-yard touchdown to wideout Christian Frederickson as the first quarter expired.
Idaho State did not enjoy their 9-7 lead for very long.
Oregon State responded by engineering a 12-play, 51-yard drive that took 5:26 off the clock and resulted in a field goal that shifted the lead back to OSU. After getting the ball back, Tracy continued driving, bringing the Bengals to Oregon State’s 30-yard line on a 4th and 3 that they could not convert. Tracy was dragged down 2 yards short and the Beavers went right back to running the football.
Less than five minutes before the half, the Beavers challenged the Bengals to stop them from running the ball. The Bengals could not. Oregon State’s 12-play drive featured no pass attempts, but seven rushing attempts by Hankerson and four by Griffin. Hankerson punched it in from the 6-yard line on 3rd and 2 with 27 seconds remaining in the half.
The Beavers headed to the locker room at the half leading 17-9. The score proved to be the turning point as the Beavers never looked back.
Oregon State’s defense also played a crucial role in the victory. The Beavers forced two interceptions by Jack Kane and Skyler Thomas and held the Bengals to just 311 total yards.
The Bengals struggled to find any rhythm offensively, with their running game being stifled and their quarterbacks under constant pressure. Idaho State quarterbacks Jordan Cooke and Jackson Sharman combined for just 106 yards passing and two interceptions, as the Beavers’ defense pursued them throughout the contest.
The third quarter saw the Beavers extend their lead with a quick strike when starting QB Gevanni McCoy launched a 55-yard touchdown pass to David Wells Jr. This widened the gap to 24-9. The play showcased McCoy’s efficiency as he finished the game completing 9 of 10 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Idaho State’s efforts to mount a comeback were stymied by Oregon State’s defense and their own mistakes. The Bengals committed crucial penalties and turnovers that halted their momentum. A horse collar tackle penalty in the third quarter and a holding penalty in the fourth quarter were especially damaging, as they derailed promising drives and allowed the Beavers to maintain control of the game.
Oregon State continued to pound the ball on the ground with a commanding lead, using their rushing attack to run down the clock. Salahadin Allah added to the Beavers’ rushing totals near the end of the game, with Allah breaking off several runs with the game out of reach. By the end of the contest, Oregon State tallied 362 rushing yards on 58 attempts.
Reflecting on the game, Oregon State head coach Trent Bray spoke about the Beavers’ strategy. “From an identity standpoint, I think that establishing the run game and getting that going was very important to us.”
Regarding the Beavers’ new football landscape with the Pac-12 now having only two teams, Bray opined, “It was just normal; we’re out to play a game, we don’t care who we play against, and we’re ready to go win.”
The Beavers will aim to build on this victory as they prepare for their next contest against the San Diego State Aztecs. The game is set for Saturday, September 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Reser Stadium.
For Idaho State, the loss was likely a tough pill to swallow, given their early lead. The Bengals will return home to face the Western Oregon University Wolves on September 7, looking to bounce back and secure their first win of the season.
The Beavers’ blueprint for winning through running the football while playing solid defense was executed against an FCS opponent, and their prospects for a season with double-digit wins will see its second test on September 7 when they visit San Diego State.