The Oregon-Oregon State football rivalry game was first played 130 years ago in 1894 and used to be called, until just a few years ago, the Civil War. In that time they have met 127 times with the Ducks leading the series 68-to-49 with 10 ties. The game is normally played in even numbered years in Corvallis at Reser Stadium, the home of Oregon State, and in Eugene in odd numbered years. As in many of these in-state rivalry games emotions can get very high and in an effort to mitigate rioting the games in 1912 and 1913 were played at a neutral site in Albany following riots after the 1910 game that led to the cancellation of the game the following year. I imagine this year’s version of the rivalry might make 1st Year head coach Trent Bray rethink his preseason comments regarding his optimism on making it into the 12 player national championship.
With Oregon State unable to score on their first possession of the game, missing a field goal at the end of an 11 play 49 yard drive down to the Oregon 26, the Ducks would take the early 7-0 lead on a 4 yard Jordan James run into the end zone. Oregon State would come right back and tie it up on an Anthony Hankerson 6 yard TD run at the end of a 13 play 75 yard drive with time expiring in the 1st Qtr. But a tie is as close as the Beavers would get in this one as Oregon would score twice more in the half, once on a 54 yard Dillon Gabriel TD run and 2-point conversion and another on a TD pass from Gabriel to Traeshon Holden to go up 22-7 with just under 4 minutes left in the half. Oregon State would score again before the break on another Hankerson TD run to make it 22-14 going into the locker room but the Beavers wouldn’t score another point as Oregon would hold them scoreless the rest of the way while putting up three more TD’s and two more field goals to win it 49-14.
Oregon Senior QB Dillon Gabriel lit it up connecting on over 80% of his throws for 291 yards, 2 TD’s—one to Sophomore RB Jaydn Lamar and the other to Senior WR Traeshon Holden—and no interceptions as well as running it 4 times for 64 yards and another score—just one of four rushing TD’s on the day for the Ducks to go along with 240 yards on 32 rushing attempts. Junior RB’s Jordan James and Noah Whittington combined for 150 yards of the Oregon total as well as three TD’s—two for James. While those guys were putting together 550+ yards of total offense the defense forced two Oregon State three-and-outs to start the second half and held the Beavers to a total of just 81 yards of offense after the break. For Oregon State, Junior QB Gavani McCoy connected on 22-of-34 for 172 yards, no TD’s and no interceptions with the only scoring for the Beavers happening on the ground on Junior RB Anthony Hankerson’s two rushing TD’s. Henderson, McCoy, and Senior RB Jam Griffin combined for 136 yards on 28 rushing attempts.
After rushing for more yards in this game than in both of their first two games combined head coach Dan Lanning had this to say; “I feel like we played up to our standard today. Ultimately, we want to walk away from this field saying we were the tougher team, the more physical team, and I think that showed up in the second half with our ability to run the ball and stop them.” As far as comments from the other side Trent Bray said; “I think when you’re playing a group as skilled as they are, you’ve got to be at your best, and we just weren’t today.” The Ducks start conference play next week on the road against a familiar opponent and also a new member of the Big Ten—UCLA while Oregon State will host Purdue from the Big Ten.