Oregon State Makes Bold Statement To Cal Davis
Or maybe that should read a Bolden statement. Silas Bolden returned an early second quarter punt for a a 65 yard touchdown that put the Beavers up 28-0, on a run that covered nearly 150 yards, almost entirely crossing the field, and then halfway back across, as Bolden weaved thru and outraced Cal Davis defenders.
1 minutes later, DJ Uiagalelei connected with Bolden for a highlight reel type 22 yard catch and run touchdown.
After that, he got the Sammie Stroughter treatment, as the Aggies began just punting the ball out of bounds, rather than risk any unnecessary touches by Bolden, something not seen to the extent Cal Davis Coach Dan Hawkins instructed his punter to do since teams resorted to that to counter Stroughter a decade and a half ago.
And Cal Davis didn't even see Oregon State's best speed kick returner and wide receiver, as Anthony Gould was held out with a practice-sustained ding.
Bolden's 4 catches for 65 yards and the score made him the leading receiver of the game, in addition to 85 return yards, and also a 5 yard fly sweep.
It was the most notable sign of the main problem for the Aggies. Though Damien Martinez's 64 yard touchdown run on Oregon State's first play from scrimmage gave a good indication of things to come.
Oregon State opened a 38-0 lead by halftime, on the way to a 55-0 lead, before (for the second week in a row) the 2nd and mostly 3rd string devense gave up a touchdown drive that accounted for almost half of the opponent's offensive production in the game. If that is the biggest problem Beavers Coach Jonathan Smith and Defensive Coordinator Trent Bray have to worry about, they will take it.
Uiagalelei was again a transforming force on offense, and though he was only 8 of 13 passing, for only 107 yards, and rushed for just 11, he accounted for 3 scores, including another Jack Colletto-esque 3 yard touchdown run for the Beavers' second touchdown, after Martinez was tripped up at the 3 yard line, after another 45 yard run.
The real reason Uiagalelei was out was he had run out of mayonaise, having had enough time to make sandwiches for the entire starting offensive line, which played like angry rhinoceroses, and made the bulk of 450 yards of offen, and many of the 55 points, possible.
Martinez also got the entire second half off, after gaining 104 yards on just 7 carries.
The only reason Deshaun Fenwick didn't join Martinez with another 100 yard night, was after 70 yards on 8 carries, and 14 more on 2 catches, was the Beavers got Isaiah Newell some 4 yards per carry work.
Cal Davis has some good players, did some interesting things with scheme, and will actually not grade out too badly, even after a 55-7 demolition. The Aggies will probably have a winning season in the Big Sky Conference, and likely contend for an FCS playoff berth. But the difference against Oregon State was a drastic difference in speed, both on individual matchups, and generally as a team.
Aiden Chiles got the entire second half at quarterback, and accounted for 2 touchdowns, completing 9 of 13 passes, for 42 yards and a 10 yard touchdown pass to Riley Sharp, and running for 11 yards, the last 1 for the Beavers's last touchdown, just over 5 minutes into the last quarter.
And the defense was throttling, especially after the Aggies first drive, which featured 8 & 38 yard runs by Lan Larison, before Andrew Chatfield tipped a Miles Hastings pass that Easton Mascarenas-Arnold made a diving interception catch of.
"Well, proud of the guys," Smith said. "Told them that in the locker room. Just the maturity, the approach this whole week. I thought we had a good week of practice, and they were excited to play at home, the first one at our new place. So their approach during the week, was really pleased with the preparation, and then it played out in the game."
After that, all there was to do was Party at Reser, and begin to look ahead to next weeks opponent, San Diego State, who lost at home to UCLA (OSU's opponent on Oct.14) 35-10.
Oh, and Cue the Fight Song! (Again!)
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com
(Photos by Andy Wooldridge)