Nonconference play was a grind for Oregon State, but the Beavers finished it with a winning record by coming back to beat San Jose State, 35-21, on Saturday night.

Gary Andersen's team trailed 21-14 at halftime, but a 21-0 third quarter explosion turned the game around. Linebacker Caleb Saulo's 41-yard interception return for a touchdown, a sensational effort that featured a nifty juke on the way back, punctuated that run.

By the time this one was over, the Beavers' early sweat was far in the rear-view mirror: They ended up amassing 303 rushing yards and outgaining the Spartans 438-253.

What this win means for Oregon State: The Beavers won a game in which they were favored, but every success is important for Andersen's program as it gets its feet wet in this new era. Oregon State's adjustments, second-half energy, and ground domination were all positive signs for a club that must now turn around and play Stanford after a short week. The Cardinal come to Corvallis next Friday after their win at USC.

What this loss means for San Jose State: The Spartans drop to 1-2 on the young season. They return to conference play next week against Fresno State. Three quarterbacks -- Malik Watson, Joe Gray, and Kenny Potter -- played for San Jose State, so it'll be interesting to see if the team makes any progress in determining a true No. 1 at that position.

Player of the game: Oregon State running back Storm Barrs-Woods. He rushed for a career-high 151 yards on only 17 carries. That's a whopping 8.9 yards per rush. A week after having a limited impact on the Beavers' loss at Michigan, Barrs-Woods was a fantastic centerpiece in his team's offense.

Stat of the game: Oregon State rushed for 303 yards, its highest total since since 2008, when it racked up 323 yards in a game at Washington State. Barrs-Woods' career night was one key, as was quarterback Seth Collins' sterling rushing performance: 16 carries, 114 yards, two touchdowns.