Oregon State football team beats San Diego State and scores rare away shutdown

SAN DIEGO – Even boring victories.

Oregon State used its running game and defense to secure its first road shutout in 41 years, beating San Diego State 21-0 on a warm, muggy Saturday night at Snapdragon Stadium.

OSU (2-0) got rushing touchdowns from Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson, enough for a Beavers defense that controlled SDSU for nearly four quarters. Oregon State ran for 237 yards and had a possession advantage of more than 2-1.

The Beavers capped it off with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Gevani McCoy to Bryce Caufield late in the fourth quarter.

Oregon State's last away win without conceding a goal was the infamous 0-0 tie at Oregon in 1983. The Beavers' last win without conceding a goal was in 1976, a 59-0 victory in Hawaii.

While the Beavers controlled the game with their running game, they also played a lot of passes. Quarterback Gevani McCoy threw 26 times for 181 yards. OSU receiver Trent Walker set a career high with eight catches for 92 yards.

The Beavers limited San Diego State's best offensive weapon, Marquez Cooper. The senior running back, who is the NCAA's active rushing leader with over 4,100 career yards, had 13 carries for 53 yards.

San Diego State managed only 179 offensive yards. SDSU did not cross the halfway line for the first time until midway through the third quarter.

Oregon State dominated the first half but only led 7-0 at halftime. The Beavers more than doubled San Diego State's total yardage, managing 11- and 13-play drives, but were only able to score one touchdown in the first half.

That happened on the Beavers' opening drive. It was a jam-packed drive, as Griffin touched the ball on four of five plays and finished with a 16-yard touchdown run that saw him cross the goal line by diving into the end zone.

San Diego State didn't get past the halfway line on any of its six first-half drives. SDSU's offense suffered from penalties and a running game that didn't produce much.

OSU had a chance to extend its lead before halftime when the Beavers pushed to SDSU's 21 in the final seconds, but the drive was unsuccessful as Everett Hayes missed right on a 38-yard field goal attempt.

The Beavers had a chance to go up 14-0 early in the third quarter when they ran a perfectly executed flea flicker. McCoy threw a long strike to a running Walker, who dropped the ball at the SDSU 10.

That led to a punt and San Diego State's first sign of life on offense. A 35-yard pass from Danny O'Neil gave SDSU first and goal at the 7. But on third and goal, Jack Kane saved the Beavers by forcing O'Neil to fumble. Nikko Taylor caught the ball at the OSU 2, keeping the shutout intact.

Oregon State turned the game around with a nerve-wracking drive, going up 14-0 early in the fourth quarter. The Beavers pressured San Diego State with their running game and a long pass, and Hankerson finished the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. It was similar to Griffin's touchdown in the first quarter, when he ran around the left side, outran the defense, and then dove into the end zone. The biggest pass was a 41-yard pass from McCoy to Walker on third down.

Two minutes later, Amarion York made a great special teams play with a blocked punt that gave the Beavers a short field. That drive was unsuccessful as Hayes missed a 54-yard field goal attempt with 8:52 left.

The Beavers played Saturday's game without three potential starters: Nickel Noble Thomas Jr., outside linebacker Olu Omotosho and receiver Darrius Clemens, all of whom had various injuries that kept them out of action.

Oregon State is back in action next Saturday when the Beavers host Oregon at 12:30 p.m. at Reser Stadium (Fox).

— Nick Daschel can be reached at 360-607-4824, [email protected] or @nickdaschel.

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