Oregon State University’s sold out student section was among the first to witness yet another Beaver loss on Friday at Reser Stadium, this time against the University of Houston.
OSU lost 27-24 in overtime after being up 24-10 near the start of the fourth quarter. Two Houston passing touchdowns in a row in the fourth spelled the end for the Beavers, who were unable to score in OT.
Oregon State is now 0-5 for the season, the first time since 1996 that the team has lost their five opening games.
“They came out and played a really good football game against a really good team,” OSU Head Coach Trent Bray said after the game. “To let it slip away at the end, I’m disappointed for them, not myself.”
Oregon State started strong. A first-quarter interception from freshman Trey Glasper was Houston’s first turnover of the season. The pick led to a rushing touchdown from Jake Reichle, the first time the Beavers scored first all season. The Beavs followed it up with another touchdown on their next drive.
The Beavers didn’t let their lead slip until the very end. Marquis Crosby and Cornell Hatcher Jr. both scored touchdowns. Throughout the third quarter, Houston ended their drives behind where they started.
Not everything went perfect for the Beavs, however. Their special teams unit, which made numerous mistakes against Fresno State earlier this season, allowed two field goal attempts to be blocked. The blocked attempts came at the end of each half, with the attempt by backup kicker Cameron Smith being the potential game winner if it hadn’t been blocked by a multitude of Cougar defenders.
“We did a good job for three and a half quarters,” safety Skyler Thomas said. “We’ve just got to finish for all four quarters and beyond.”
With RB2 Salahadin Allah injured, the Beavers opted to use a few different players in the position alongside RB1 Anthony Hankerson. Most notably, the redshirt freshman Hatcher Jr. ran for 93 yards over 17 attempts, including his touchdown-scoring run.
“(Hatcher) ran great,” Bray said. “He got vertical, ran hard, I mean he was a big part of… those last two scores. Had some big time runs.”
OSU lived and died by the run. Six rushers ran for 189 yards over 49 attempts. In comparison, the team had 20 receptions on the night with 201 receiving yards.
Wide receiver Trent Walker and tight end Bryce Caufield made up the majority of the receiving yards, with 103 and 48 respectively.
“It sucks. That’s all I’ve got to say. It sucks,” Walker said. “I feel almost guilty, because being captain, I feel like it’s on us for how we’ve been playing.”
OSU quarterback Maalik Murphy had a 60.6% pass completion percentage, and didn’t throw an interception for the second week in a row. Murphy made a few notable passes over the course of the game, including one to Walker, who was being covered by three defenders.
“I don’t doubt anyone in that locker room at all, and I think that showed tonight in the way they came out and played,” Bray said.
Oregon State will next head eastward to take on Appalachian State on Oct. 4 at 12:30 p.m. PDT.
“I still think of it as a high point, just because of the position we’re in- a lot of people would be killing for our position,” Thomas said. “Just got to come back every day… play for those coaches, play for that staff, play for the people of Corvallis.”
