Fresno State lead in the stats but Oregon State pulled off the win with a gutsy call by Beaver Head Coach Jonathan Smith on the last play of the game. On the road and down 32-29 on the Fresno State 2 yard line, instead of kicking a field goal and sending the game into overtime they direct snapped to their 6’ 3” 240lb Senior LB Jack Colletto who ran it in for a score and a 35-32 win on the road. What an exciting game that was close all the way–tied 7-7 after the 1st Qtr, 14-13 Oregon State at the break with Fresno State up 23-21 at the end of the 3rd Qtr and then an exciting 4th Qtr with three lead changes. Smith made the decision during the timeout called by Fresno State Head Coach Jeff Tedford who wanted to make sure he had the right personnel on the field to defend. As Smith commented; “They called a timeout and I kept thinking to myself, we came here down here to win the game, not to go to overtime. The opportunity with Jack Colletto on the 2 and we did it.”
Fresno State edged the Beavers in 1st Downs, 24-23; Total Yards, 492-to-397; and time of possession. It was a clean game with no interceptions or fumbles. Oregon State logged more tackles, 61-to-54, but Fresno State had one more sack with both teams posting five tackles for loss. Oregon State Junior QB Chance Nolan connected on slightly more than 50% of his passes, going 14-of-27 for 219 yards and 1 TD to Senior WR Tre’Shaun Harrison. Junion RB Deshaun Fenwick did the bulk of the work on the ground for the Beavers rushing 19 times for 102 of their total 178 yards and one of their four rushing TD’s with two more picked up by Colletto on just 3 carries for 6 yards and the last on a 36 yard run to the house by WR Silas Bolden.
The Bulldogs were both more proficient and efficient in the air with their QB Jake Haener, courtesy of the transfer portal from Washington, connecting on 29-of-45 for 360 yards, 1 TD to Senior WR Eric Brooks and no interceptions. Senior RB Jordan Mims carried the load on the ground, rushing 21 times for 122 of their 132 yard total and both of their TD’s.
The AP notes in their Takeaway for ESPN that; “The Beavers won for the first time in six trips to Fresno State and got through a tricky opening stretch against Boise State and Fresno State with two wins. “That’s big,” Smith said. “These are two quality teams that we just played. Our main goal isn’t to be great non-conference. But these two games set us up. The type of style Pac-12 compared to these two teams is not much different.” The Beavers head back to Corvallis to host Montana State next Saturday.