Trib's take: Wow. Well, that Oregon State-Fresno State game just became an instant classic.
The Beavers outlasted the Bulldogs in a 35-32 thriller down in the Central Valley of California, winning on a Jack Colletto touchdown run on the final play of the game. It was a back-and-forth affair that saw three lead changes in the last two minutes. The biggest play of them all was the chess match between OSU head coach Jonathan Smith and Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford.
After Oregon State got the ball on the 2-yard line thanks to a pass interference call with three seconds to play, Smith initially put out his field goal unit. Right before OSU kicked the ball through the uprights, Tedford called a timeout to ice the kicker. When the teams came back out, Oregon State was instead running out their wildcat package featuring the ever-dangerous Colletto. Tedford called another timeout to talk it over. After the second break, Colletto came back and rammed the ball into the end zone for the win — the Beavers' first-ever victory at Fresno State.
Fresno State led for most of the second half, using field goals aplenty to chip away at Oregon State's early 14-7 advantage. Midway through the third quarter, Fresno State led by as many as nine points, but the Beavers never showed any quit. OSU quarterback Chance Nolan struggled throughout the night, and his receivers struggled at times with drops. However, down the stretch, the entire OSU offense stepped up to win the game.
For all the palpitations the game caused, Oregon State's ledger remains perfect. The Beavers improve to 2-0 on the year with their two toughest nonleague tests behind them.
Big picture: The Beavers needed to experience this type of win. They went into enemy territory — a place where they have never won before — and squared off with a team hungry to prove their own worth among the Group of 5 powers. They faced off with an NFL-caliber quarterback in Jake Haener, who went off for 360 yards. They had a rough day on defense, allowing just shy of 500 yards of total offense to Fresno State. They took the lead with a late comeback, and then gave it right back by letting Haener drive 75 yards in 45 seconds for a touchdown. In the end, none of that mattered. The Beavers kept fighting and got the win in a game many OSU teams from years past would have lost. A D V E R T I S I N G | Continue reading below
Oh, yes!: The Beavers' skill-position players showed up in a big way. Colletto had two touchdowns, including the winner. Luke Musgrave had a great day capped off by a huge catch to put the Beavers in scoring position on the final drive. Tre'Shaun Harrison provided highlight-reel fodder with his whirling dervish act, spinning his way to a late go-ahead touchdown with 1:50 to play. On the ensuing 2-point conversion, Silas Bolden caught the ball safely — adding two more points to the six he scored on a 36-yard scamper in the first half. Deshaun Fenwick rushed for over 100 yards for just the second time in his career, emerging as the feature back as he went for 102 and a touchdown.
Oh, no!: As noted, the defense did not have its best day at the races. In the season opener against Boise State, the Beavers racked up five turnovers. In the follow-up against Fresno State, they took the ball away exactly zero times. Oregon State's offense was equally turnover-free, which helped keep the Beavers in the game, but the defense didn't make it easy. OSU did a good job to limit the Bulldogs to field goal attempts — but the Beavers also had some luck in the form of two missed field goals and a missed extra point from Fresno State kicker Abraham Montano. Still, they allowed Fresno State too many yards, too many red zone trips and (almost) too many points.
Next game: Oregon State vs. Montana State, 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17, at Providence Park in Portland (PAC-12 Networks).
For more: Read our weekly On College Football column at pamplinmedia.com most Mondays, in print each Wednesday.
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