Oregon State Simultaneously Rolls And Limps To Lopsided Win Over Cal
Oregon State secured a second consecutive winning season Saturday night, rolling to a frigid 38-10 win over California. The Beaver defense dominated, only allowing 156 yards, with only 9 net yarda on the ground, and 3 points (the Bears' only touchdown came on a second quarter scoop and score by Jeremiah Earby after a fumble in the Beaver backfield ).
The Oregon State offense used a 4th consecutive 100 yard rushing night by Damien Martinez (105 hard earned yards this time), and 166 for the game, mostly in the first half, and also a timely uptick in passing after halftime to dominate possession by over 13 minutes.
The second half passing breakout by Ben Gulbranson, who came out of the locker room to hit 10 of 12 passes, his best stretch since taking over for injured Chance Nolan in the Utah game, was made necessary after a series of injuries short-circuited much of the Beaver rushing game.
Gulbranson got a lot of help from Tre'Shaun Harrison, who had a game high 8 catches, for a game high 79 yards, including the 8 yard catch, below, that expanded the Oregon State lead to 31-7 just over 4 minutes before the end of the 3rd quarter.
Harrison also had a hand in the wildest play of the night, which started that scoring drive, with a 27 yard catch and run that led to a fumble that rolled 7 yards forward, beore Tyjon Lindsey scopped it up and ran for 10 more yards.
Special teams contributed as well, as Anthony Gould got his second punt return, above, for a touchdown of the season, this one for 55 ysrds, and a 21-0 OSU lead 3 minutes into the 2nd quarter. Everett Hayes, finally fully recovered from his injury, also added a 49 yard field goal, the forst FG for the Beavers in several weeks.
The dominating win wasn't without pain though, as the already banged up Beavers suffered a half dozen injuries to starters, many of which may linger for part or all of the 3 remaining games of the season.
Do everything Jack Colletto, after converting a 4th down with a 37 yard completion to Gould, above, that eventually led to a Gulbranson sneak for the first touchdown of the game on Oregon State's first drive, suffered a hamstring injury tring to dive for a first down in the second quarter. Colletto left the game, and never returned to the sideline. Further assessment is planned for Sunday, one of many sessions for the OSU training staff.
Already missing Deshaun Fenwick, OSU the running back corp suffered another loss when Jam Griffin, who had the Beavers 2nd touchdown with 2:14 left in the first quarter, on a 5 yard run, left with a wrist injury. Griffin was considered to be available to return if needed, but was help out to avoid further agravation while Martinez, with help from Kanoa Shannon and the awakened Oregon State passing game, carried the load the rest of the way.
That wasn't an automatic event though, as Oregon State, already missing Marco Brewer, who had already been lost for the season, made multiple shuffles to respond after both Heneli Bloomfield and Talise Fuaga went out with knee and ankle injuries.
The defense had to adapt as well. With John McCartan a game day scratch already out with a quad contusion, the loss of Colletto further cut into the LB depth as well as on offense and special teams.
And in the second half, both Alex Austin and Jaydon Grant also got knocked out of action.
The dominating win has to be taken with considerable measure; after all, it was Cal, which suffered its 6th loss in a row, and hasn't won outside the Bay Area in 3 years. But with nearly half a roster out from the start of the season, the adjustments made that limited the Bears' outstanding freshman RB Jaydyn Ott, below, to 20 yards rushing, and only 6 more receiving, were noteworthy in any context.
2 sacks and 6 tackles for a loss keot Cal's offense off balance almost all night. Add a fumble recovery, and Kyrei Fisher-Morris' interception of Cal QB Jack Plummer on the first play of the Bears' 2nd series, below, and Cal was climbing uphill all night.
Even Cal's early 4th quarter field goal that came with the Bears 4 scores down, when they needed expedited scoring, instead took over 6 1/2 minutes and 16 plays, which played into Oregon State's amended by injuries game plan of getting the game over with.
The latest check box win for Coach Jonathan Smith made it a winning season a week earlier than was accomplished last season, and improved the current Reser run over the last 2 seasons to 10-1. The Beavers, now 7-3 & 4-3 in the Pac-12, next head to Tempe, to take on Arizona State next Saturday, in only their 2nd day game of the season. Hopefully, with a better outcome than the other mid-day start at Utah did, though the combination of injuries ane the fact that Oregon State hasn't won there since 2009, and only once since 1969, make this a tough check box to check off.
However, the Devils (3-7, 2-5), having been eliminated from any post season possibilities after losing 28-18 at Washington State, and playing with an interim coach, might mot be as bedeviling as usual for the Beavers.
And Oregon State will still be riding the emotional lift of having accomplished an surprisingly satisfying win, having had to overcome injury induced adversity.
Cue the fight song!
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com
(Photos by Andy Wooldridge)