OSU athletics

By Nick Daschel | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Rewinding Oregon State’s best performance of the season, a stunning 41-34 overtime win over Colorado in the form of 13 takeaways, quotes and notes

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1. When my oldest daughter was pre-kindergarten, she often used to look at the parents – usually it was Mom and just about as she was to get in trouble -- and innocently ask, “Are you happy?”

So, are you Beaver fans? My guess is no. You’re way north of happy. Most Oregon State fans would have been happy just to be in the game and show some fight. Winning a game, one where the Beavers were down 31-3 and riding a 22-game road losing streak, well, that calls for partying atop the Space Needle with expensive spirits in both hands, and lighting cigars with a $100 bill.

After last week’s debacle against California, who could have seen this coming? Surely not the oddsmakers, who made OSU a 24-point underdog. And yet, the Pac-12 usually throws a couple inexplicable surprises at us every year. Put this one in that category. Then lock it. Because nothing else will come close.

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Jack Dempsey

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2. Jake Luton was OSU’s best quarterback coming out of preseason camp. Few who watched most of camp could argue otherwise. He gave Oregon State the best chance in the passing game, and figured to have a chip on his shoulder after the way the 2017 prematurely ended. But Luton has had little chance to prove it. Through the first seven games, Luton has played fewer than five quarters. It might have been eight, if the OSU offense had done anything during the first half against Colorado.

But desperate times – outscored 80-10 over six quarters including California last week – called for desperate measures. Luton, clearly not 100 percent when he stepped foot on Folsom Field, put a hurt on Colorado’s defense, hitting 28 of 39 passes for three touchdowns and 310 yards. To call it the best Oregon State individual performance of the season would be, well, forgetting Jermar Jefferson’s games of 234 and 251 rushing yards. But those came in losses, so yes, what Luton did is No. 1.

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Jack Dempsey

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3. Why wait until the second half to play Luton rather than start him? It was a tough call for coach Jonathan Smith. The offensive coaches have seen Luton move in practice, and surely if they thought he could move well enough, he would have started over Jack Colletto at quarterback. Smith said in postgame that “we did feel like he was available, (but) he was just in such a limited fashion mobility-wise.” Though neither Luton or Smith said specifically, there’s definitely a feeling Luton gave Smith a heads up that he wanted to go. And down 31-3 early in the third, it was time to try something.

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Dustin Bradford

4. A little lost in the Luton fireworks was a workmanlike performance by running back Jermar Jefferson. The freshman ran 30 times for 135 yards and became the eighth individual in OSU history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Jefferson has 1,034 yards through eight games.

From a record-book perspective, what’s at stake for Jefferson during the final four games?

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Oregon State’s freshman season rushing record of 1,253 yards, set by Jacquizz Rodgers in 2008. Jefferson needs to average 54 yards during his final four games to break the record.

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The Pac-12 freshman rushing record is 1,546 yards, held by Oregon’s LaMichael James. Jefferson needs 513 yards to break the mark; not easy, but doable.

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OSU’s single-season rushing record is 1,690 yards, set by Steven Jackson in 2002. Jefferson needs 657 yards to break this record. He’s capable, but it’s going to take at least one 200-yard game in November.

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Jefferson has five 100-yard games. He could tie the school’s season record of nine, held by Ken Simonton and Jackson, with four 100-yard games in November.

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36 yards!



What a way to end the first quarter.



Colorado leads 7-0. #GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/RBh6yDbxt9 — Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) October 27, 2018

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5. That said, as well as Jefferson has played this season, when Luton is healthy, Oregon State’s best offensive play is Luton to receiver Isaiah Hodgins. For some reason, Hodgins becomes invisible when Luton isn’t on the field. With Luton? Those two have been on the field for most of three quarters against Nevada, and the second half/overtime against Colorado. During those five quarters, Hodgins has 23 catches for 326 yards with Luton as quarterback.

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Dustin Bradford

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6. This wasn’t just Luton’s game. It was a day when Oregon State’s defense grew up a little. Sure, the Beavers gave up 34 points and 536 yards. And receiver K.D. Nixon torched the defense with 13 catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns. But there were statistics to like, such as the Buffaloes converting only 4 of 15 on third down. In forcing six Colorado punts, it matched what OSU’s Pac-12 opponents had attempted the previous four games combined. Oregon State had only one sack, but it came during a key fourth quarter situation.

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Dustin Bradford

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7. Let’s wait until the end of the season to name Oregon State’s MVP on defense. But a certain contender is outside linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr. He’s had several nice games of late, and none better than Saturday, after Rashed Jr. had three tackles for losses among his seven stops. Rashed Jr. now has nine of OSU’s 30 tackles for losses this season.

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Dustin Bradford

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8. Despite a less than stellar first half, Oregon State has found a valuable use for Colletto. He scored two touchdowns, both on 1-yard quarterback sneaks. He is Tim Tebow-like in those situations, and the Beavers could easily utilize those skills in future goal-line situations.

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Jack Dempsey

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9. Though Oregon State pulled out the win, it didn’t stop some people from savaging kicker Jordan Choukair on social media. Choukair missed the extra point kick with 29 seconds left that would have given the Beavers a 35-34 lead. Earlier this season, Choukair missed a 35-yard field goal on the final play of the game in a 37-35 loss at Nevada.

One comment on Twitter: “If we had a kicker, It’s over. Leave Choukair in Boulder.”

Twitter being Twitter, Choukair had a response:

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Actually I’m on my way back to Corvallis with the rest of the team! I hope my 9 points helped the team get this win! Great team win! Go Beavs! — Jordan Choukair (@Jordan_Choukair) October 28, 2018

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Dustin Bradford

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10. Seems like a moot point now, but the Beavers might want to think about some sort of change up at halftime. For a second straight game coming out of halftime, the Beavers defense didn’t seem ready. This time on the first play of the third quarter, it was Colorado running back Trevon McMillian running straight up the middle and not stopping until he was 75 yards and in the end zone. Last week, it was Cal running back Patrick Laird coming out the halftime locker room to run 53 yards on a similar play.

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Did he catch it! YES HE DID!



Two-point conversion to Hodgins and we've got a three-point game! #GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/dy4hNS0sAh — Oregon State Football (@BeaverFootball) October 27, 2018

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11. The 28-point comeback tied the greatest in Oregon State history. In 1981, OSU erased a 28-0 deficit against Fresno State, beating the Bulldogs 31-28.

The top five in Pac-12 history:

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34 points (2017): UCLA 45, Texas A&M 44. Bruins trailed by 34 points with 4:08 left in the third quarter.

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30 (1993): California 42, Oregon 41. Bears trailed by 30 points with 10:17 left in the second quarter.

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28 (1981): Oregon State 31, Fresno State 28. Beavers trailed 28-0 with 9:30 left in the fourth quarter.

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28 (1984): Washington State 49, Stanford 42. Cougars trailed by 28 points with 5:38 left in the third quarter.

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28 (2018): Oregon State 41, Colorado 34. Beavers trailed by 28 with 14:41 left in the third quarter.

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Dustin Bradford

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12. Time to schedule more games in Boulder? Chew on this stat: Since 2014, Oregon State is 2-1 at Colorado’s Folsom Field, and 1-22 elsewhere other than Reser Stadium.

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Dustin Bradford

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13. And finally, if the Beavers win their final four games, they’ll be bowl eligible. Impossible? So was winning after falling behind 31-3.

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They said it

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OSU coach Jonathan Smith

On his team battling adversity:

“They know what they are reading out there in regards to what is coming and the opportunities we have had and missed on. … we do have a good vibe around practice and the day-to-day.”

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Dustin Bradford

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Oregon State safety Jalen Moore

Returning home to Colorado, where he grew up:

“It’s awesome to win back home. Growing up as a kid I always wanted to go to Colorado, so I feel like they slept on me, and winning here means everything.”

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Dustin Bradford

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Beavers quarterback Jake Luton

On twice exiting the game in goal line situations so Jack Colletto could run the ball:

“I love him getting in there and pounding the rock on the goal line. I think I might be more excited for him than he is for himself.”

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Dustin Bradford

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Oregon State running back Jermar Jefferson

On who he first talked to after the game:

“The first person I hugged was my mom. I love my mom. She does everything for me.”

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Dustin Bradford

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Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre

On who he first talked to after the game:

“The first person I hugged was my mom. I love my mom. She does everything for me.”

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MacIntyre

On Colorado’s confidence after blowing a 28-point lead:

“I imagine it’s shook a little bit, to be honest. … we definitely should have won the football game and we didn’t.”

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MacIntyre

On viewing the Oregon State game film:

“I have to go watch the film, which I really don’t want to go watch.”

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Dustin Bradford

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Colorado quarterback Steven Montez

On going forward:

“I don’t know how much I want to play into trying to get the guys fired up after this game. The biggest thing right now is we need less guys who want to be the only one talking. We need more guys who want to listen and embrace this brotherhood.”

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Jack Dempsey

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Colorado receiver K.D. Nixon

Despite catching 13 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns, who’s taking the blame?

“Honestly, I blame it all on myself. You know I should have stepped up. I caught the two touchdowns I had and I have to take the blame for it.”

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Jack Dempsey

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Notable

Oregon State losing streaks that came to an end Saturday:

A 22-game road losing streak, dating back to 2014.

A 17-game losing streak against FBS opponents

A 13-game Pac-12 losing streak

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The 28-point lead is the largest Colorado has ever surrendered.

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Colletto became Oregon State’s third starting quarterback this season. It is only the second time since 1997 that the Beavers have started three quarterbacks during a single season (also 2015).

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Oregon State had 99 offensive plays, 60 after halftime. The Beavers had averaged 76 plays in their previous seven games.

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Since 2013, Oregon State has won three of its four overtime games. The Beavers beat Cal 47-44 in 2016, and Utah 51-48 in 2013. The Beavers lost in overtime to Utah 29-23 in 2014.